There is a significant shift happening within the travel industry. While summer vacations remain popular, with many choosing to venture out to beaches and soak up the sunshine, winter vacations are seeing a greater interest, with an increasing number of individuals choosing to travel during the colder months.
In addition to this off-season travel preference, there is also an evident interest in colder destinations too. Years ago, it was assured that an excursion to a chilly location, especially during the depths of winter, would be a solitary experience. However, in recent years, frosty cities and snowy landscapes have become more populated with adventurers and those looking to make the most of an alternative vacation experience.
So, what’s causing this changing interest and why are more individuals taking to travel in winter?
One of the primary reasons for this shift in vacation preference is cost. As prices rise and the cost of living becomes a greater challenge, sunshine destinations become more costly during an already difficult period for households. Resorts, activities, and flights all generally become much more expensive during the summer period due to significant demand, meaning that a premium price is expected.
Alternatively, winter has long been considered a quiet season for the travel industry, meaning that many service providers offer more affordable rates and deals to entice travelers during a short period. This more affordable travel option is appealing to many.
Price, of course, does not justify the cultural shift entirely. Even if individuals were eager to pay less for a vacation, they would still be experiencing their trip during a cold period of the year. The winter, however, is becoming a more appealing option.
Traveling during winter means that individuals are rewarded with unique perspectives of amazing landscapes. Yellowstone National Park, for example, changes from its luscious summer environment to an often snowy white vast landscape that provides awe-inspiring vistas with steam bursting through the ice to create an unbelievable site.
Activities are also changing too. There is a resurgence in rugged pursuits, with cold water swimming being at the forefront of natural adventures. Other outdoor adventures, such as hiking and paddleboarding, are being championed as great and unique ways to experience the wild, seeing mountains and lakes in a lesser-explored season.
Aside from being able to see destinations unlike many others have, traveling during winter also means being without the crowds of summer tourism. Beaches are known to be a hotspot for tourists and leave many feeling overcrowded or frustrated, especially when there are lengthy queues for ice cream.
Those heading out into the nature of Yellowstone National Park during the summer will also know the challenge of queues, with transit through the park often being brought to a standstill as vehicles stop to capture various photograph opportunities.
To be free of this bustle is very appealing and many are now preferring to travel at a time when few others do, since it allows them to experience a destination without the competitive stress of extreme tourism.
