Travel Is Roaring Back in 2023

A panel discusses "Major Trends in Travel" at the World Travel Expo (Photo: Gerry Barker)

By Gerry Barker
North Palm Beach Life

As we all know, since the pandemic eased, travel has come roaring back. Whether by plane, train, automobile or ship, vacation-starved tourists seem anxious to trade unspent money for selfies in exotic places.

But where do we go from here? That question was tackled by a keynote panel at the recent World Travel Expo (WTE), held at the Miami Airport Convention Center, who explored "Major Trends in Travel."

Moderated by Olga Ramudo, the president of Express Travel, panelists included Jane Wooldridge (Miami Herald), Mark Meader (senior vice-president, American Society of Travel Advisors), Juan Ignacio Steta (Skal International), Luciano Macagno (managing director - Latin America, Delta) and Carla Gilbaud (vice-president-membership experience at Cruise Lines International Association).

Topline trends the panel identified included:

-- Travelers want experiences, and are willing to pay for them.

-- Cruise lines are offering longer sailings

-- With so many new regulations that vary by country, the need to use travel advisors is stronger than ever.

-- Travelers, not wanting to wait until they retire, are dusting off their bucket lists

-- "Green" travel, sustainability and eco-tourism are important considerations

Bookings are strong, said Ms. Ramudo, noting demand for popular destinations, like Europe, are "backed up." Also on the in-demand list are Alaska, Florida and the Caribbean. 

Meader underscored the value of using a travel advisor, citing the "complex requirements" that vary country-by-country. Related to that, Ms. Wooldridge said while computers and the Internet let us do a lot of the travel planning ourselves, "doing everything digital is wearing us out."

Can I get an "amen" to that.