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As things slowly get back to normal, people have started to make plans for 2021.
According to a report by Airbnb, people want to safely reconnect and rediscover places that are close to their homes.
The report is based on the research data on the Airbnb platform from January to September for travel during 2021.
According to the report, people continue to search for nearby places to stay at that could be a getaway from metro cities.
The most searched lists for 2021 include towns and cities like Panchgani and Karjat in Maharashtra, Manglore in Karnataka, Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Mukteshwar in Uttrakhand.
Some factors that people are looking at while searching are living remotely, cleaner air, open spaces and wildlife.
The year of the staycation
The report says that travellers are seeking unique travel experiences by staying in one-of-a-kind accommodations on Airbnb, but are preferring to be close to home, or in their home cities. The staycation trend resonates with travellers, pointing to the perennial human need for new experiences, either for short stays or for stays that are a month or more.
Access to quiet nooks in busy cities, close to parks and gardens, immersive natural surroundings and wide open spaces are factors that play a role. Travellers are looking for a respite from the everyday with accommodation searches such as condominiums, farmstays, villas, and cottages in places such as Bengaluru, Mangalore, Pune, Guwahati and Hyderabad.
Nearby stays, close to metro to see a rise
According to Airbnb search data, guests continue to search for nearby stays that are at a driveable distance away from metro cities, to explore a slower pace of life for holidays or for inspiration.
Travellers are searching for destinations such as Gokarna, Shimla, Mussoorie, Kasauli and Alibag where they can spend time with family and friends.
Guests are increasingly looking at rediscovering the magic in their own backyards.
Established destinations as well as hidden gems near metros are seeing an interest from travellers fleeing urban life. Top spots for nearby stays include Gokarna, Shimla, Mussoories, Kasauli and Alibag.
Regenerative travel bringing travellers closer to communities
A key trend that the report noted is that as travel picks up again, consumers may prefer immersive and regenerative travel in the heart of local communities. Sustainable travel choices that are closer to remote communities and nature not only provide a boost to these communities and their members (by redistributing the economic impact of travel) but are accessible and affordable and are a transformative choice contributing to unique and individual travel experiences.
In 2021, living remotely will continue to define travel preferences with the rise with travellers aching for more access to open spaces, fresh air, and wildlife.
Many travellers may intend to work remotely in a room with a view in 2021. Entrepreneurs may explore new hubs closer to their businesses or customers.
Airbnb has documented stays by entrepreneurs looking for a hub to inspire creativity, digital nomads who aspire to work from anywhere for longer periods of time, and creatives discovering their newest masterpiece. Authors, musicians, artists, and athletes alike are increasingly looking for stays with private spaces and retreating to suburban or rural areas from big cities.
With India&rsquos festival season around the corner, guests are either looking at travelling to their hometowns or spending time together as family.
India continues to be a travel hotspot, globally
With discretionary outbound travel on a slow uptick at the moment, there are reasons to predict that travel in 2021 will bounce back in India, on both domestic and inbound sectors. Airbnb search data suggests that India remains a hotly searched-for destination globally, with cities like Gokarna, Kasol, Mangalore, Karjat, Igatpuri, Alibag and Haridwar featuring on the most searched-for list.
