We are and always have been, always will be, a social species: so two years of COVID lockdown restrictions have profoundly affected the root and heart of everything we were. Huddled at home, watching our children climb the walls (when they’re not locked to their iPhones), and all of us missing the companionship and love of our friends and family. But as we slowly emerge from lockdown, that cruel reality is becoming increasingly unimaginable: so it should come as no surprise to anyone that, with a greater sense of personal freedom, our social instincts are coming to the fore again… particularly when it comes to domestic and international travel: 91% of travellers are now more open to a different kind of vacation for 2022 (a once in a lifetime break), 72% would say “yes” to any break at all, and those ready to make up for lost time, to enjoy life to the full again, have risen from 42% to 63%.

We’re coming together again, brighter horizons beckon… and there are bluer skies ahead.

And as if to prove the point, 96% of Indians are also currently committed to supporting their local communities by travelling to and eating out at local destinations and restaurants in 2022: that’s according to the American Express Global Travel Trends Report (www.americanexpress.com), issued last month, which firmly puts in the shade the short term focus of the UK Government’s Eat out to Help Out initiative …India’s travellers are eating out locally because they want to, and because they know it will support local businesses and create more jobs within the community. And the food will be better too…compared with the homogenised fare available in most multinational chains these days, especially when you can share it with your loved ones.

Manoj Adlakha, Senior Vice President and CEO of American Express Banking, India, wasn’t mincing his words: “After two tough years, the travel sentiment among Indian travellers is upbeat where spending time with loved ones is a top priority…they plan to travel more with their families in 2022 than they did in 2021, and 89% are more interested in multi-generational family trips than ever before."

Greener Travel and Hospitality

Cultural and environmental engagement is back on the cards too (just as it was before the pandemic): 94% of travellers on the Subcontinent are now looking for a “Greencation'' for their next trip, and 93% want to travel and stay with a brand that demonstrates a steadfast commitment to minimising the impact of its operations on the environment.

Ever since it was founded, more than a decade ago, Eco Hotels (www.ecohotelsglobal.com), has been placing mother nature, local communities, and sustainability at the forefront of its business model: nurturing energy efficiency and sustainable waste management from the ground up, sourcing supplies locally to support local communities, and managing operations with a clarity of vision that does its best to make the most of every season.

So, let’s welcome a new beginning together: let’s wake up to a better World together, with bluer skies…