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written by Helen Fanthorpe
updated 22.10.2020
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written by Helen Fanthorpe
updated 22.10.2020
With travel thrown thoroughly off-course in 2020, we’re sure you’ve been thinking about what next year might bring. Here at Rough Guides, we've dug a little deeper to unearth nine travel trends for 2021. Think travel will head in a different direction? Discuss with us on Twitter @RoughGuides.
If you have to fly, think about taking positive action to off-set negative environmental impacts: look to use airlines with carbon emission off-setting initiatives and make an effort to use direct routes and airlines with energy-efficient planes. You can also look to improve your transportation options on the ground. Think about the vehicles you use – hire an electric car if you can, take the train and use public or shared transport wherever possible.
Be sure to think about the big picture too. Consider flying less and staying longer – spending more time in a destination fosters more investment in the local area, and reduces the negative impact of travelling around.
In addition, be sure to review the sustainability practices of your accommodation and other services you’ll be using. Does your hotel have a green laundry policy? What’s their recycling strategy? Does your hostel use energy-efficient appliances? Do they provide guests with maps and the option to hire bikes so you can get around in a greener way? These are some of the questions you might want to ask your lodgings, as they represent the kind of good practices sustainability-aware travellers should be looking for.
Here at Rough Guides, we’ve been thinking about sustainability a lot recently, and working with local experts and companies that keep these sorts of questions in mind. Additionally, we have been raising awareness of local initiatives that have a beneficial impact on the environment and/or the communities they operate within, which is the thinking behind our “tell us your story” initiative. Rough Guides is known for having a strong editorial voice, so we created this campaign platform to share news from sustainable tourism and community initiatives. Not only does this have the positive impact of spreading awareness of valuable projects (we’ve covered everything from a life-changing chocolate factory in the Dominican Republic to sustainable community-led tourism and conservation in Guyana), but it also embeds a positive, proactive company ethos.
Discovering Sri Lanka by train © Sotnikov Misha/Shutterstock
In 2021, we also anticipate a rise in solo female travel, and that means an increase in the number of tours and destinations being marketed to women, too. Kristin of Be My Travel Muse is among the growing number of female travel bloggers espousing the potential for solo travel to empower women. We caught up with her recently to talk about all things travel – and left feeling truly inspired.
At Rough Guides, we’ve been busy re-assessing, refining and enriching our closer-to-home offerings. To that end, we’ve just launched a new series of British Breaks Rough Guides that are ideal for UK-based travellers seeking adventures closer to home, with the destinations selected in response to customer demand and research into under-represented British break regions. You'll be able to order your new British Break from our website (eBook format) by the end of the month. In addition to publishing these staycation-oriented guidebooks, we’re publishing supplementary articles online, and our local experts in Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland are ready to work with you to create and book your personalised trip.
The Pennine Way, walking in the English countryside © Duncan Andinson/Shutterstock
Walking through Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica © Louis-Michel Desert/Shutterstock
At Rough Guides, all of our tailor-made trips are fully customizable from start to finish. Each one is planned by a local expert who will help craft the trip of your dreams to your preferences.
Hiking in the Alps © Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock
Here at Rough Guides, not only do we offer tailor-made trips organized by local experts, we also aim to provide plenty of tailored information. Is the accommodation toddler-friendly? Is the locale lively enough to keep teenagers entertained? Is there a range of restaurants to suit everyone’s tastes? Where will grandma get her fitness fix? If you can’t find the answer to any of your questions, just ask our local experts!
Rough Guides is partnered with World Nomads, who provide comprehensive travel insurance for total peace of mind while you’re away from home.
So, that’s our evaluation of 2021’s key travel developments. While 2020 has been dominated by coronavirus – an incredibly tough year for the global population – we’re hopeful that the forced reset of the travel industry will lead to better travel practices in 2021 and beyond.
Top and above image © relaxing in the evening light/Shutterstock
written by Helen Fanthorpe
updated 22.10.2020
Helen worked as a Senior Travel Editor at Rough Guides and Insight Guides, based in the London office. Among her favourite projects to work on are inspirational guides like Make the most of your time on Earth, the ultimate travel bucket list.
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