‘Party package’ holidays were already declining pre-pandemic in terms of both demand and supply. Fears of infection and the process of organizing group travel will further delay recovery. It is likely that demand will never fully return as both individuals and destinations are drifting away from this party concept, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Operators and destinations that typically cater to the ‘mass party concept’ need to carefully reconsider their product and promotion in a post-COVID era amid changing consumer behaviors. Party holidays are now less desired by young generations and destinations in post-pandemic travel.” GlobalData’s Q3 2019 consumer survey found that respondents aged between 16-24 and 25-34 covering Gen Z and millennials were the most likely to take an alternative holiday with a specialized focus on areas such as adventure/sport, wellness/medical, sustainability, gastronomy and culture than their older counterparts. Therefore, it was already clear that these generations desired more authentic and transformational travel experiences pre-pandemic. Bonhill-Smith continues: “This is far different to an alcohol-filled getaway that has been typically associated with younger generations in the past. Holidays for 18-30 year olds typically catered for those that were not married and on the search for ‘sun, sand and sea’, not particularly featuring the authenticity or culture of a destination in their visit.” Many destinations that were once known as ‘party havens’ have adjusted their tourism strategies to appeal to more responsible travelers post-COVID-19. Examples can be found in…
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.
...
