According to research, in the USA the number of working travellers grew from 6.3 million in 2020 to 10.2 million in 2021. As far as accommodation is concerned, the majority (51%) of digital nomads prefer to stay at a hotel, while other options include staying at a friend or family place (41%), at an Airbnb (36%), in a car, van or RV (21%) or at a hostel (16%). In addition, Statista affirmed that 47% of digital nomads around the world are composed of 30-years-old people.

Some hospitality providers are now adopting and implementing strategies to gain profit from this trend. It is the case of Pierre & Vacances, which is offering digital workers discounts on longer stays and on Wi-fi use in its resorts for the next winter.

In addition, in an interview by CNBC, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky stated that he plans to capture this segment by generating experiences that make customers feel like they are living in a community rather than travelling to a temporary destination. This is reflected by the growing trend of co-living and co-working within the hospitality sector. Brands like Outside and Roam are offering multiple co-living spaces to digital nomads across the globe, giving them the opportunity to create networks and share experiences. 

At Twissen we observe that the segment of digital nomads is gaining more and more ground within the market and has potential to bring about some relevant changes in the hospitality industry even after the pandemic. The possibility for many people to smart-work from any destination can be exploited by players of the sector also to tackle seasonality.

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L'articolo Digital Nomads and Hospitality Trends proviene da Twissen.

A report by Grand View Research stated that, as for glamping, Europe dominated the global market with a share of 35% in 2021, with France as one of the key countries promoting this trend.
Kampgrounds of America conducted a study which showed that camping and its variations, especially RVing and glamping, are having a great appeal in the USA with a growth of 36% since 2020. Moreover, in its latest report, The Dyrt stated that it was three times harder to book a campground in 2021 than pre-pandemic period.
Even China is experiencing a boost in camping and glamping trend. A report by iiMedia Research showed an increase from 1.16 billion USD in 2014 to 4.47 billion in 2021 and it is expected to grow by 18.6% in 2022. According to Dragon Trail, other Asian destinations such as Thailand and Dubai are investing in this trend, especially in the glamping market which is expected to grow globally at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2022 to 2030. 

The camping and glamping sector has boosted thanks also to the rise of workation trend; the number of travellers who bring their laptops to campsites has nearly tripled since 2018, making Wi-Fi a critical element in their decision-making process. The other main requested services by campers surveyed in The Dyrt’s report are campfires allowed, drinking water, toilets, pets allowed, and showers. Of course, glamping requires many more luxe amenities and comforts than traditional camping such as private bathrooms, linen service, kitchen, air conditioning, TV, and pools. 

At Twissen we observed that, during the pandemic, the camping and glamping sector has experienced a clear growth and its popularity, starting before the COVID-19 emergency, suggests that the sector will continue to grow afterward. Camping is, therefore, a sector worth investing in, especially taking comfort needs and technology into account. 

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L'articolo Camping and Glamping trend beyond the pandemic proviene da Twissen.

Covid-19 has had serious repercussions on both economic and social spheres. Some of the major indicators of the pandemic crisis are: the collapse of GDP, rising unemployment, especially among young people, and a decline in general welfare.
The programmes aimed at solving these problems are the ERDF and the ESF, which, in this case, become instruments for the allocation of resources under REACT-EU.
Furthermore, REACT-EU follows the logic of Cohesion Policy, where funding is distributed in proportion to the damage suffered and the relative fragility of the sector/area of interest.   

The tourism sector is therefore a priority recipient of funds. Interventions may concern the subsidising of working capital and productive investments in SMEs, with the aim of boosting economic resources directed towards green and digital transition or the training of workers. 
Moreover, 25% of the resources allocated by REACT-EU should be used to achieve the climate targets set at European level.  

At Twissen we observe that REACT-EU is characterised by high levels of pre-financing and the possibility of receiving 100% European support. The programme’s implementation measures provide for greater flexibility in order to benefit the most affected Member States and companies.    

For more information on projects funded in the 2014-2020 budgetary period, see VISITUS: Helping blind and visually impaired tourists enjoy the Croatia-Serbia border region-Projects – Regional Policy – European Commission (europa.eu)  

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L'articolo 50 Billion for recovery from REACT-EU: tourism is in the front row proviene da Twissen.

1. Health & hygiene are the new normal

The pandemic has completely changed the way the world considers health & hygiene. As we have already reported, travellers are putting health and safety first. 

2. Sustainability is our collective responsibility

To face climate change and revive the sector with a long-term strategy, sustainability and inclusion must be the prerequisites for the future development of Travel & Tourism, as reported also by the UNWTO in the document “Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism”. 

3. Large-scale digitalisation is possible 

The acceleration towards digital transformation due to the pandemic has highlighted the opportunity to adopt technology on a large scale in the tourism industry in order to make travel and tourist’s experience safer and seamless, also through new hybrid-based business models.

At Twissen we have observed how, with the pandemic, these elements – collaboration and co-ordination, human-centric approach, health & hygiene, sustainability and digitalisation – have become the prerequisites for stakeholders and tourism professionals to restart the sector and develop a more resilient approach to any eventual crisis.

Download the full WTTC report here.

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L'articolo 3 things we learnt from the pandemic – WTTC Lessons Learnt proviene da Twissen.

During the COVID-19 emergency, the travel one has been one of the first sectors to be impacted by the restrictions on travels and by the general uncertainty.

We saw how several states launched initiatives aiming to encourage tourists to visit their destinations but, with the advancing pandemic and with stricter politics, these initiatives became strategies to recover the sector after the emergency.

At a European level, the European Tourism Manifesto Alliance, an organisation in which several tourism key players and institutions cooperate, released a statement asking companies and institutions to collaborate in order to implement as soon as possible measures that could stem the impact of the pandemic on the European tourism sector.

The statement follows a press release by the European Commission that, on 13th March, indicated a list of guidelines and measures to follow in order to control the crisis and to revive the economy, inviting everyone to cooperate.
In particular, the Alleance addresses to the European Commission and to the governments of the member states, indicating the most urgent measures that should be implemented in the travel sector. It is then highlighted the importance of state aid for the tourism and travel sector from national governments, with the opportunity to easily access to short- and medium-term loans and fiscal relief such as the deferment of fiscal and social contributions, especially for SMEs.
Regarding the human resources, the Manifesto focuses on the protection of employees, avoiding unemployment and loss of income, also through the launch of the European Unemployment Reinsurance Scheme.
More in detail, the Manifesto proposes initiatives such as immediate passing of temporary airport slots waiver, regarding the airlines.
Finally, the Alliance wishes for a stronger cooperation among the national authorities to send a unified message in terms of travel advice to the affected regions and requirements on travellers returning from those areas.

When the emergency ends, in order to guarantee a fast and effective recovery, it is recommended a simplification of visa rules for long-haul markets, reducing or waiving travellers’ taxes and a full support to destinations, by increasing their budgets for promotion, marketing and product development purposes as soon as they are ready to welcome visitors again.

At Twissen we observed that, at a European level, the proposed initiatives aim to collaboration and cooperation. Facilitations to companies and players of the travel sector, both during and after the emergency, could guarantee a strong and unified recovery in every affected area.

Martina Baldo

She graduated in Intercultural Development of Tourism Systems and she has a passion for foreign languages and cultures. Since 2016 she works as administration and tourism project manager at Twissen.

L'articolo Tourism Manifesto: strategies and initiatives to recover the tourism industry proviene da Twissen.