The Dramatic Ways Travel Has Changed In The Last 10 Years

Using Google Analytics, a new study reveals which trends are on the rise and which have fallen out of favor with travelers. From an uptick in searches for vegan restaurant to the near-death of the travel agent, these are the industry shifts you should know about.

Since its launch in 2005, Google Analytics has offered users the opportunity to chart the relevance of keywords on the world’s most popular search engine. The travel tip blog Travel Aisle utilized this tool to survey the popularity (and unpopularity) of travel trends starting on 1 January 2010 and ending in the last months of 2019 to see how trends have changed over the past decade.

The year 2010 might not seem that long ago, but the world has changed exponentially since then. Companies that have disrupted the way we think of traveling, such as Airbnb and Uber, were in inchoate states, while Instagram – whose influence cannot be understated – and Lyft would not exist for another 10 months and two years, respectively.

To give some insight into how drastically the travel industry has shifted, consider this: at the start of the decade, most people still relied on books and pamphlets to plan their trips. Predictably, travel agents have fallen in relevance while the study’s results reveal that post-2016, as Instagram approached 800m users, travel influencers began to climb in popularity.

“While travelers may be making more adventurous travel choices, safety is a key concern for them,” McLoughlin said. “The rise in search volume for this phrase is also an indication that the terrible tragedies that have occurred around the world in the last decade – such as the Tunisia beach attack – have raised a new level of safety concerns for travelers.”

Another trend the study uncovered is a new level of consciousness when visiting places where travelers are not native.

“Increases in search volume for phrases including overtourism and vegan travel show that people are much more aware and passionate about eco issues than they were 10 years ago, and want a travel experience which fits with these values,” McLoughlin noted.

He suggests travelers seek out sustainable tourism options that align with issues that matter to them. The report mentions Venice and Barcelona as examples of cities that are suffering from overtourism. As part of our commitment to the environment, Culture Trip has created several guides to help mitigate the impact of your trip.

Looking ahead, McLoughlin predicts the environment will continue to play an integral role in trip planning.

“The appetite for eco-friendly travel is only going to continue,” McLoughlin said, “and the travel industry will have to continue to adapt more and more to provide travel opportunities which meet this need, and specialist travel packages such as tours and hotels for vegan travelers.”

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.