TOURISM NEWS 8 Surprising Travel Trends Forecast for Winter 2021 December is historically the high season for travel in South Africa, but the second wave of COVID-19 generally kept people close to home. So, while winter may not usually be a favourite travel time for locals, industry experts are predicting a rise in 2021. Basically, they say, winter can be a magical time too. While temperatures do drop, South Africa’s winters are a far cry from those in the northern hemisphere, where staying beside the fire is something of a necessity. Here, early mornings and evenings might be chilly, but many days are actually sunny and can even be quite warm.
hosting meetings and conferences. In fact, traditional conferencing is making a strong comeback. Johannesburg, the country’s corporate hub, is leading with conferencing bookings. But Cape Town and Port Elizabeth are also showing early signs of increased events and meeting business. “Since there is so much uncertainty in the world currently, Radisson’s new policies allow bookings to be postponed for up to a year,” says McIntyre.
3. Budget-friendly travel
The coronavirus negatively impacted incomes across the globe in 2020. Many “South Africa is a beautiful country at any employees were retrenched, while many time of the year, but the mild daytime more experienced salary cuts as businesses temperatures during winter offer a pleasant battled to stay afloat. Even though the change to the scorching summer sun,” says economy has made something of a William McIntyre, Regional Director, Africa, recovery, budgets remain tight. So, those in Radisson Hotel Group. “This makes winter a a position to travel are looking for the best perfect time to explore the country.” value for their money. And this applies not only to accommodation, but also to meals Here are eight hospitality and travel trends that McIntyre forecasts we’ll see and activities.
come to the fore this winter. 1. Flexible booking policies
When travellers around the world had to postpone or cancel their bookings in early 2020, many hotels and airlines waived cancellation policies as the industry ground to a halt amidst COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns. The uncertainty that the pandemic sparked has left many travellers still concerned about losing deposits on any future travel plans.
“We are very conscious of budget restraints, which is why Radisson is keeping costs as low as possible with deals and added incentives,” says McIntyre. “Members of our loyalty club, Radisson Rewards, receive a discount on the best available rate when booking directly on our website or mobile app. And members can redeem their points against accommodation costs, which helps keep their expenses to a minimum.”
Budget constraints also mean that many travellers are choosing destinations closer “They’re more likely to book with a hotel to home; they can still get away, while or airline that will allow them to change keeping down travel costs. Staycations their travel dates without incurring cut the expense of fuel or flight tickets penalties, giving them that extra level of considerably, allowing travellers to spend confidence as they begin venturing out and money on activities and meals instead. about again,” says McIntyre.
2. Conferences make a comeback Zoom enjoyed overnight success at the start of lockdowns, but Zoom fatigue quickly became widespread as people began missing the human connection of faceto-face interaction. Now that restrictions have eased, corporates are increasingly reinstituting business travel, and even 160 responsible traveller
4. Workations
Remote working is no longer only for the lucky. When the country was forced to close office buildings, many companies discovered that staff members could perform their duties equally well at home. This has freed many staff from the shackles of an office job, affording them the freedom to manage their time, and location, differently.
