Travel as we know it hovers on the brink of extinction. The industry is faced, at this watershed moment, with two potential roads ahead: one where climate breakdown and tourism restrictions curb the pursuit of wanderlust, and one where regenerative breakthroughs change the future of travel – and the world – for the better.
Standing at this crucial crossroads, it is necessary to speculate about the best and worst-case scenarios. The threats have shifted from emerging to existential, with destinations disappearing and communities suffering from over-tourism. As it stands, tourism holds the power to transform the lives of individuals and communities, but its current impact on people and places undermines this potential. As such, the imperative is to go beyond sustainability, realigning the industry’s course and ensuring travel truly gives back.
Moving from crisis to transformation, however, will not only involve meaningful intervention but also education and ethics. ‘One of the problems with tourism at the moment is that it is the opposite of regenerative,’ explains Darrell Wade, co-founder and chairman of Intrepid Travel. ‘It’s extractive – and this cannot continue for much longer.’
‘We need to plan now for a resilient, regenerative tourism sector,’ says Dr Susanne Etti, global environmental impact manager at Intrepid Travel. ‘We must recognise that the future will be different from business-as-usual and that the climate crisis is not a competitive advantage. We must align, collaborate and accelerate collective action and innovation to decarbonise travel, as only then can our industry truly achieve its huge potential for sustainable development.’
With the next decade of travel resting on the decisions made today, the industry must pivot away from this problematic tipping point. ‘Regenerative transformation has long been demanded by the planet,’ says Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory. ‘And now it’s being demanded by people too.’
A focus on community, education and empowerment will soon be required to meet the demands of such travellers. ‘Many consumers are already rethinking their consumption of travel along these lines,’ echoes Elissa Garay, travel editor and sustainable tourism specialist.
By 2040, collective action could significantly reform the sector. A new cohort – the Travel Transformers – will define this future. Having known nothing other than climate anxiety, they will drive all new, optimistic directions in the industry, seeking purpose when travelling. Future travellers will set a new agenda, and their influence will mean that the days of snapping selfies in front of overcrowded tourist attractions will be numbered.
Intrepid Travel, in partnership with foresight consultancy The Future Laboratory, has conducted research into this new world. In this report, we navigate the social, cultural and technological changes – and tomorrow’s travel trends – which will propel the industry forward in a positive direction through to 2040 and beyond.
Travel as we know it hovers on the brink of extinction. The industry is faced, at this watershed moment, with two potential roads ahead: one where climate breakdown and tourism restrictions curb the pursuit of wanderlust, and one where regenerative breakthroughs change the future of travel – and the world – for the better.
Standing at this crucial crossroads, it is necessary to speculate about the best and worst-case scenarios. The threats have shifted from emerging to existential, with destinations disappearing and communities suffering from over-tourism. As it stands, tourism holds the power to transform the lives of individuals and communities, but its current impact on people and places undermines this potential. As such, the imperative is to go beyond sustainability, realigning the industry’s course and ensuring travel truly gives back.
Moving from crisis to transformation, however, will not only involve meaningful intervention but also education and ethics. ‘One of the problems with tourism at the moment is that it is the opposite of regenerative,’ explains Darrell Wade, co-founder and chairman of Intrepid Travel. ‘It’s extractive – and this cannot continue for much longer.’
‘We need to plan now for a resilient, regenerative tourism sector,’ says Dr Susanne Etti, global environmental impact manager at Intrepid Travel. ‘We must recognise that the future will be different from business-as-usual and that the climate crisis is not a competitive advantage. We must align, collaborate and accelerate collective action and innovation to decarbonise travel, as only then can our industry truly achieve its huge potential for sustainable development.’
With the next decade of travel resting on the decisions made today, the industry must pivot away from this problematic tipping point. ‘Regenerative transformation has long been demanded by the planet,’ says Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory. ‘And now it’s being demanded by people too.’
A focus on community, education and empowerment will soon be required to meet the demands of such travellers. ‘Many consumers are already rethinking their consumption of travel along these lines,’ echoes Elissa Garay, travel editor and sustainable tourism specialist.
By 2040, collective action could significantly reform the sector. A new cohort – the Travel Transformers – will define this future. Having known nothing other than climate anxiety, they will drive all new, optimistic directions in the industry, seeking purpose when travelling. Future travellers will set a new agenda, and their influence will mean that the days of snapping selfies in front of overcrowded tourist attractions will be numbered.
Intrepid Travel, in partnership with foresight consultancy The Future Laboratory, has conducted research into this new world. In this report, we navigate the social, cultural and technological changes – and tomorrow’s travel trends – which will propel the industry forward in a positive direction through to 2040 and beyond.
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