If you look closely at booking patterns over the last year, you’ll notice that the average length of a trip is starting to increase. For Flight Centre South Africa, the 2024/2025 holiday season saw the average trip length increase from 14,7 days to 16,2 days. And South Africa is not alone—their colleagues in Australia saw the average holiday jump from 10,5 days to 16,1! Importantly, it’s not just about longer holidays. Travellers are embracing a completely different way of experiencing destinations. Slow-paced itineraries are replacing whirlwind trips as more travellers make a conscious decision to do less but feel more, creating a deeper connection to places and people. These longer, more immersive trips (aptly called ‘quietcations’) are fantastic for one’s stress levels and mental wellbeing, but there’s an added bonus: when travellers slow down, local communities thrive. “By spending more time in one location, visitors naturally engage more with local businesses, restaurants, and cultural activities,” says Sue Garrett, Flight Centre’s General Manager Supply, Pricing & Marketing. “In fact, a study by SKIFT shows that 67% of travellers value authenticity when choosing a destination. This has led to a boom in experiences like cooking classes and cultural workshops where travellers can get a deeper sense of place. Interestingly, it applies to group and multi-gen travel too, demonstrating how a ‘slower’ more mindful approach is being embraced across generations.” There’s an environmental advantage too. A slower pace naturally lends itself to more environmentally conscious choices, from hiring bikes and selecting eco-friendly accommodations to…
Get exclusive access to this story
Subscribe to Nomad Africa and get unlimited access to our exclusive articles on African cultural heritage, travel tips, tourism news updates, industry trends and insights. Your subscription will also help support tourism in Africa. Subscription starts from only R15 ($1 USD) per month.*
Already a subscriber? Login here
*Charged for the first month after which standard rates apply. Cancel anytime.
...
