Among the many trends and changes currently shaping the tourism industry, there is one that is becoming increasingly popular and important: staycation tourism. Now you might be wondering: What exactly is a staycation?
Well, if you love tourism, care about the environment, or own a tourism business, this concept should interest you. Below, we’ll explain what this type of tourism entails and what benefits it offers.
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What is a staycation?
“Staycation” has become a novel and important concept in the tourism market over the past two years. But what is it, and what does this term mean? The word “staycation” is a combination of two words: “stay,” meaning to remain, and “vacation,” meaning a vacation. In other words, it means “a vacation at home.”
So, according to this concept, people choose to engage in regional, local, or rural tourism; and they often travel within the same city where they live. This is a new trend in tourism that has gained popularity as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Due to health restrictions in 2020 and 2021, people began to travel within their own communities.
In this sense, locals become tourists in their own surroundings and visit tourist attractions they may never have visited before, even though they were nearby and readily available.
Growth of Staycation Tourism
Certain factors have influenced the growth of staycations in the tourism market. Among these factors are the coronavirus, the high cost of living in recent years, and a greater awareness of the need to help preserve the planet. All of this has contributed to the resurgence of staycations in the market.
In June 2020, a Bloomberg article reported that experts agreed that those staying home—generally family and leisure travelers—could help boost hotel occupancy rates in the U.S. and Europe. This forecast proved quite accurate, as the number of staycationers has been increasing over the past two years since the pandemic began.
In this regard, according to a report published by HOSTELTUR in August 2022, 20% of Britons—with the United Kingdom being one of Spain’s top source markets—decided not to travel abroad, and 16% planned a staycation in order to save more money. These decisions were influenced by inflation and rising airfare prices.
On the other hand, HOSTELTUR reported that, specifically , citizens spent 2% more on staycations, including reservations at hotels and other tourist lodging providers within their own country.
Benefits of Staycation Tourism
Staycation tourism offers benefits for both travelers and tourism business owners. Here are at least three of them:
Sustainability
Sustainability has been one of the trends in the hotel industry in recent years. That’s why staycations have a lot to offer in this regard . Since they involve local tourism, people can engage in more sustainable travel—as well as environmentally friendly travel.
For example, people do not need to use modes of transportation such as airplanes, which produce a large proportion of greenhouse gases.
On the other hand, less polluting modes of transportation, such as electric trains or electric cars, can be used.
Economy
Financial savings are another of the most obvious advantages of a staycation. And on this subject, it was the 2008 economic crisis that led to staycations in much of Europe. There, inflation meant that trips abroad were limited to a privileged few.
Now, with the crisis caused by the pandemic and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine—which has driven up energy costs—staycations are the perfect alternative. It’s all about saving money while still enjoying tourism.
This is beneficial for local tourism businesses, which can see increased revenue due to the rise in demand.
Comfort
Comfort is also a plus when you take a staycation. You’ll save yourself the stress that often comes with packing and organizing everything for the trip. On top of that, there are the potential unexpected issues that can arise at the airport, such as problems with the airline due to flight delays or layovers, among other things.
Conclusion
We can conclude that the staycation has made a comeback, and this time it seems to be here to stay. There are several reasons for this. One of them is the growing awareness of sustainability among tourists. Other factors include the current energy crisis in Europe and the growth of local tourism.
Finally, if you’re thinking about investing in a project related to local or rural tourism, you’ll need professional advice. That’s the only way to ensure your project will be viable. At IHCS, we have the experience and professionalism you need.
