In a forward-thinking move, Neilson Beach Clubs has unveiled its anticipated travel trends for 2024, driven by detailed research and customer insights.
- The concept of ‘sportcations’, where holidays combine leisure with learning new skills, is one of the highlighted trends.
- Neilson’s findings reveal a growing preference for holidays offering a mix of activities, catering to all age groups.
- Data indicates a strong interest in solo travel, allowing individuals to explore destinations on their own terms.
- Emerging trends also include ‘boomerang tourism’, where younger adults revisit family holiday traditions.
Neilson Beach Clubs, through comprehensive analysis of booking data and surveys, foresees several influential travel trends for 2024. Leading these is the idea of a ‘sportcation’, combining leisure with skill-enhancing activities. This trend is gaining traction as more travellers seek to maintain their physical fitness while enjoying vacations. According to the chief executive of Neilson Beach Clubs, David Taylor, ‘People are increasingly using their time away from work to not only recharge mentally but stay in shape physically.’ This is encapsulated in the phrase ‘switching off by switching on’.
The report highlights that nearly two-thirds of British travellers (65%) consider it essential for holidays to offer varied activities to cater to all generations. Moreover, 36% prefer active holidays over traditional relaxation-focused ones. Activities such as water skiing, wakeboarding, and mountain biking have received exceptionally positive feedback, with satisfaction ratings exceeding 90%.
Furthermore, the research sheds light on social trends such as ‘boomerang tourism’, characterized by a resurgence of millennials joining familial holiday trips, with 41% willing to travel with their parents. Solo travel is also notable, with 52% of respondents open to exploring destinations independently, primarily for the freedom to do as they please. An example of an emerging interest is ‘picklecore’, with at least 38% of Britons expressing a desire to try pickleball during their holidays. Recognising this demand, Neilson plans to significantly expand its pickleball facilities by 2024.
The analysis additionally identifies a pattern described as ‘relactive personality’, referring to individuals who find relaxation through activity, aligning with the ‘sportcation’ idea. Impressively, 91% reported engaging in multiple activities during their 2023 summer holidays. This behavioural insight is especially relevant for the 24-34 age group, who are most likely to participate in fitness classes, evidenced by an 11% increase in such engagements.
These findings were derived from a survey conducted by OnePoll with 2,000 participants between November 23-27, 2023.
Neilson Beach Clubs’ report succinctly captures shifting travel preferences, indicating a notable move towards active and independently tailored holiday experiences in 2024.
