As your go-to, all-purpose photography service, we’re committed to providing you with unique, unforgettable vacation memories. So, like you, as we head into 2021, we’re anxious to find out what travel will look like, in front of and behind the camera lens! 

Of course, many aspects of life remain uncertain, but this new year is all about hope and new paths, including travel paths! The travel industry didn’t take last year lying down. It spent it’s time regrouping and reassessing, learning how to better serve its customers in a new reality and how to keep people traveling, whether for work, pleasure or necessity. 

So let’s look at what we can expect from travel in 2021.   

Customer confidence & personalization

Relationships became a big deal in 2020 as we strived to keep and maintain them amongst changing restrictions and social distancing. This goes for the relationship between the travel industry and you, and why this first point is the foundation of travel in 2021.

Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, short-term rentals, everyone and anyone in the industry, will be trying to build a meaningful relationship with you this year. What does this mean? 

First...

In the midst of an ongoing pandemic, they want to earn your confidence and trust. This means they will be focused, first and foremost, on providing safe environments for their services, taking sensible and sensitive precautions that will make you feel safe and confident as you travel. For example, rapid, non-invasive testing may become a common sight at airports and on cruise ships. They’ll also want to show you that they’re invested in your entire journey, not just the segment they play a part in. They’ll be keeping you up to date on what’s happening at your destinations and trying to ensure your entire trip is a success, not just the part they’re responsible for.

Second...

They will be wanting to get to know you even better. Not just your general demographics (female, single, entrepreneur) but your specifics (30-something, Latina, digital nomad) and your dreams (adventure, romance, sustainability). The travel industry knows that after a year of isolation and introspection you have become a more discerning traveler, no longer satisfied with pre-Covid experiences. Therefore, they want to acknowledge you as an individual seeking unique, meaningful travel experiences and deliver on them. This means you can expect companies to engage you in more personal conversations, not just send you generic surveys. And you can expect to see specials and promotions that feel unique and genuine to you! 

Domestic travel versus international travel

With countries closing borders and travel restrictions continuously changing, domestic travel became the travel of choice in 2020. It doesn’t look like this will change anytime soon in 2021. Many are unwilling to deal with the risks and requirements of international travel, and in some cases and for some individuals, there is no option for international travel as they are required to stay put by government mandates or health issues.

This means that 2021 offers us another opportunity to embrace and contribute to the “local”, whether that means our city, state, county, province, or country. There are countless reasons why domestic travel can be the best travel, but as we contemplate the future of travel in general we should remind ourselves anew that travelling domestically helps bolster local economies, provides travelers with autonomy in uncertain times, and reduces the chance of experiencing frustrating cancellations or changed restrictions.

But if you’re itching to get out into the big world, don’t worry! Reports suggest that international travel will pick up later in the year. It will look different, perhaps with health passports or similarly required documentation, but it’ll happen!

Flexibility & spontaneity

And let’s just give a shout out for what may become the word, not just of 2020, but of the entire decade: flexibility! Both the travel industry and we as travelers will need to remain flexible to have the best travel experiences possible.

In 2021 we may not be able to travel all the places we planned or hoped, but there are still many places of beauty and interest ready and eager to welcome us, especially those destinations conducive to social distancing (think tropical islands!), reliant on tourism, and recovering more effectively from the pandemic. Go, explore, be adventurous, meet new people knowing you’re taking advantage of an historic time to have experiences of a lifetime you might not otherwise have sought.

While it’s always good to plan ahead, it’s also going to continue to be challenging with health recommendations and travel restrictions changing as the situation changes. So along with remaining flexible, be a little spontaneous too. If an opportunity to travel presents itself, see what’s open, see on the current travel restrictions and requirements, get what you need, and GO! 

But if you’re like me, don’t be afraid to plan ahead too. That word flexibility is truly being embraced. Take advantage of the unprecedented no-fee cancellations offers and no-expiration offers being offered by much of the travel industry. 

Mixing business with pleasure

The “business trip” will still be on hold in 2021, especially with all of us proving just how good we are at working remotely. In fact, reports indicate that official business trips and conferences may be one of the last elements of the travel industry to return to normal.

But mixing business with pleasure in our travels may become the new norm. 

Before the pandemic many of us heard of executives traveling for business and digital nomads working remotely as they moved place to place, but it wasn’t the reality for most of us, with desks and offices. However, with 2020 that all changed. Now, not only are many of us working remotely, and will continue to do so well into this new year, but there is also a possibility to combine work and vacation like never before, carrying out laptops and Zoom links with us to a change of scenery, along with our swimsuits and hiking boots.

Those who have the opportunity and funds can even consider traveling to a country with a quarantine requirement, isolating at a short-term rental without missing a beat at work, then heading outdoors and starting your vacation post-quarantine. This isn’t for everyone, but it will become something more and more people consider in 2021, as they recognize the freedom working remotely gives them to travel and manage requirements (i.e. lockdowns and quarantines) like never before.

Road trips & outdoor adventures

If you haven’t yet embraced the fresh air and freedom of road trips and outdoor adventures, 2021 will encourage you to give them a try. For those who itched their travel bug in 2020 with these two great escapes, you already know how satisfying and epic they can be, especially in an uncertain travel climate.

Both the iconic road trip and an outdoor adventure (which are available for anyone and everyone) are perfect for social distancing and all evidence suggests they’ll continue to be a big part of travel in the new year. Not only do they give you a sense of autonomy but they work for any budget and any location. All you need is a car and some outdoors space!

In the coming weeks we’ll explore aspects of these travel projections and how to make them an exciting part of your 2021.

In the meantime, we here at Shoot My Travel will continue to offer safe, contactless photoshoots, as well as Flex Packages that let you buy now and book later, with no expiration. And our technological and customer service advancements scheduled for this year are aimed at better understanding your individual photoshoot needs at home and abroad and at home and making them come true!