FROM CULTURAL exchanges and eco activism, to virtual agents and a ‘less is more’ mentality, these are among the biggest travel trends for next year according to research conducted by Booking.com among total 21,500 respondents across 29 countries, including Thailand.

Here are eight travel predictions, giving a peek into the crystal ball of what travellers can expect in the year ahead.

Next year will see a rise in people’s desire to learn something new whilst away, as well as an increase in volunteering and skillsbased vacations across generations.

The Appren-trip

Over half of global travellers agree that travelling has taught them invaluable life skills, and 2019 will see a rise in people’s desire to learn something new whilst away, as well as an increase in volunteering and skills-based vacations across generations.

In particular, Generation Z will increasingly scrutinise the value of expensive college degrees over and against the life skills and practical learning that can be gained from travel, especially as experiences beyond the classroom and office cubicle continue to make for attractive potential employees in many companies’ eyes. When looking at the most popular kinds of trips with purpose, 68 per cent of global travellers would consider participating in cultural exchanges to learn a new skill, followed by a volunteering trip (54 per cent) and international work placements (52 per cent).

Easy does it

In 2019, “ease” will be the gold standard by which tech travel innovations will be judged. In past years, travellers have heard a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and speech recognition; in the coming year, the winning innovations will be those that can seamlessly offer these technologies as a practical solution. Think keyless room-access with your phone, personalised travel tips or a robotic concierge who can communicate with guests in their mother tongue.

Travellers are more enthusiastic about real-time luggage tracking through a mobile app (57 per cent) and having a single app for all their planning, booking and travel needs (57 per cent) than the prospect of using self-driving transportation in their destination (40 per cent). The extremely complex will power the seemingly simple for whole new levels of travel confidence and flexibility. 2019 will also see more tech developed for use pre-trip at research stage. Almost a third (31 per cent) of global travellers like the idea of a virtual travel agent in their home, using voice-activated assistants to answer travel queries, and one in five want to see technology such as augmented reality helping to familiarise them with a destination before they arrive.

Watch this space – uncharted territories

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) will start construction of its Lunar Space Station in 2019 (launching in 2022) and we’ll continue to see considerable investment in orbital spaceflight. In 2019 and beyond, we will continue to push the extreme limits of where travel will take us and as space technology advances, even the prospect of space tourism won’t seem such a giant leap anymore. Travel and other consumer goods companies will be investing in tests on earth to prepare for a future in space and meet consumer appetite for braving the new frontier. Four in ten travellers confirm they are excited about the prospect of space travel in the future and are open to considering the experience themselves.

Until space travel becomes a reality, this brave new mentality will also translate to travel slightly closer to home with a desire to explore uncharted territories here on Earth. Of most interest is under terra firma, with six in ten travellers confirming they want to stay in accommodation under the sea. 2019 will likely see new, seemingly impossible types of holiday home and hotels start to emerge.

Travellers want to ensure that they can travel in safety, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Up close and personal

Generic, comprehensive travel guides of the past will make way for increasingly short-form, hyper relevant and individualised content, which can be neatly integrated in travellers’ feeds. A third of travellers want someone or something to do the hard work and make travel recommendations for them and around 41 per cent want travel brands to use technologies such as AI to make travel suggestions based on past travel experience. In fact, over half would be excited about tech travel innovations such as a digital tour guide, bringing them a truly bespoke experience.

Conscious travel

Reflecting increased global interest in social issues such as human rights, equality and working conditions, 2019 will see a more conscious traveller become evident, with even more questions being asked around social, political and environmental issues in potential travel destinations before making a decision on where to visit. Currently almost half feel social issues in possible travel destinations are of real importance when choosing where to go and over half choose not to go to a destination if they feel it will negatively impact the people who live there.

And as travellers increasingly seek new and authentic experiences, they also want to ensure that they can travel in safety, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Platforms such as Destination Pride are harnessing the power of multiple data sources to provide travellers with a ranking of how LGBT+ friendly their chosen travel destination is, while destinations and organisations will increasingly step up their support for women travelling alone.

A majority of global travellers would be willing to spend some time on activities that offset the environmental impact of their stay. 

Plastic not-so fantastic

The issue of single-use plastic will continue to be a hot topic, but in 2019 environmental concerns will turn into greater environmental action. Millennials and Gen Z travellers will look for sustainable experiences in their destination, while accommodation providers will look to reduce their plastic usage and increase their sustainable credentials. An overwhelming majority say they would be willing to spend some time on activities that offset the environmental impact of their stay, with over a third willing to clear plastic and litter from a beach or other tourist attraction.

Expect to see a number of new travel start-ups and individual enterprises committed to shaping a new future for our planet’s destinations emerge in the coming year, with intriguing technology at the core of their solutions.

The experience curator

Travel with experiences at its core was one of 2018’s major travel trends but 2019 will take it even further. “Doing” will weigh equally with “going”, if not more, when it comes to travel reflection, and for 60 per cent of travellers, experiences are now valued higher than material possessions. 2019 will see travellers packing in many different and authentic experiences, from where they eat and sleep to how they shop or watch their favourite sports game with an emphasis on creating moments that will bring us joy and comfort long after the fact.

In 2019, 42 per cent plan to visit a destination that makes them feel like a kid again. We’ll see properties looking to add more childlike and playful touches such as ball pits and bouncy castles for adults to cater for a Millennial and Gen Z audience, who are the biggest groups who travel to feel like a child again.

Maximising the micro

Over half of global travellers (53 per cent) report they plan to take more weekend trips in 2019. It’s a year that’s predicted to be all about made-to-measure, bite-sized travel with more curated travel itineraries squeezed into shorter time frames. Less is most definitely more as travellers are offered a more bespoke experience.

The micro trip will become more varied and tailored, making shorter trips more personal and rewarding. We’ll also see a continued surge in desire to stay in unique and remarkable types of accommodation, which offer the chance to make a serious travel statement, even on the shortest of getaways.

WITH ITS iconic Bosphorus Bridge connecting Asia with Europe and the Islamic call to prayer ringing out from its thousands of mosques, Istanbul feels like a city that’s found a perfect harmony. Perhaps this cosmic balance is why cats of all shapes and sizes are drawn to its streets and are happily fed and watered by its residents.

Unlike the skinny stray dogs on the streets of Bangkok, cats or kedisi as they are known locally, are friendly and enjoy posing for photos. Wander anywhere around this beautiful Turkish city and feline residents will never be out of sight. In fact, the town wouldn’t be the same without its kitties, a fact that was confirmed in the charming 2016 documentary “Kedi” that made the point “Without the cat, Istanbul would lose a part of its soul”.

The cat is welcomed everywhere in Istanbul including Topkapi Palace.

The cats are not adopted formally but are nonetheless pets of a kind. Look at the sides of high-rise office buildings or in front of the houses in the residential areas and you’ll spot many small containers full of food. These loving animals soften the hearts and bring smiles to the faces of every passer by. Most of them will stop and let you pat them. They will look at you in the eyes, curl up their tails and rub against your legs as they hint they would like some food.

It is also common to see cats lounging in the sunlight, grooming themselves, scampering into shops, playing in the garden, and strolling in the museum as if they are watchers protecting the ancient treasures. It is not unusual to see cats jumping up into the laps of restaurant patrons in the city’s teahouses. Every movement of the furry felines catches the eye.

“In Turkey we love cats because they make our lives more lively,” explains Ozlem Batal, owner of Turkey Travel Group, For example, when you go out in the morning to walk or to jog, or go to work, there is no one else around but the cat and it starts to walk with you. So we feel very comfortable. In my residential area, there are about five resident cats that come out to greet me and I feel like they are welcoming me home even though I don’t keep them in the house. They expect some food and just a little bit of love. It’s very natural, and most of Istanbul’s felines are not afraid of humans. Why should they be? Everyone loves them. Cats have become an inseparable part of neighbourhood life in this city,” she smiles.

Breakfast at Crowne Plaza Istanbul  Florya

“They are clever, and never go hungry. On cold winter nights they are also on street, it is their lifestyle. The lucky ones might stay in the little feline houses that some cat-loving Istanbulites get for them.”

There are no official records as to the number of cats that reside on Istanbul’s streets. Stray cats and dogs are protected by law and certainly have the right to live in the neighbourhood.

“There are always some pet haters who will kick them but if anyone sees that they can call the police. They can’t be harmed,” Batal continues.

The Turkish Angora is the world’s most unique breed, boasting a long, elegant and white silky coat and a sinuous body. The eyes can be different colours, with many having one blue eye and the other amber or green. Ears are pointed, large, and wide-set. The plumed tail is carried upright. The feline is considered one of the ancient, natural breeds of cats and is believed to have originated in central Turkey in the Ankara region.

Unlike dogs, which are regarded as dirty in the Islamic faith, cats are considered ritually clean animals. In the Hadith, there are numerous examples of the Prophet’s fondness for cats. Cats were considered guardians in other respects too for the Islamic world.

But, of course, there is plenty to see in Istanbul in addition to the cats.

The marvellous architecture of Hagia Sophia 

Topkapi Palace, part of the great Ottoman Empire, which was built in the fourteenth century, is today one of the most popular sites to visit. Opened to the public as a museum in 1924, it has many sections, as each sultan added a different section or hall to the palace, depending on his taste or on the needs of the time. It is a veritable maze of buildings centred on a series of beautiful courtyards protected by different gates. Its architecture is predominantly Middle Eastern in character.

There are exhibition halls for different chambers, collections of arms and armour and a majestic Imperial Council Hall. A visit to the palace kitchens is a must as here the cooks would prepare food for the 10,000 people living in the palace. Other spaces house collections of plates, bowls, medicine methods, perfumes and candles.

And then there are the cats.

Photography is not permitted in some of the exhibition halls including the Treasury, the area housing the Sultans’ costumes, and the Holly Relics. But again thanks to the friendly felines and their penchant for guarding ancient treasures, the official allowed us to take picture of the cats.

The Grand Bazaar is also a popular spot with the cats, who seem to particularly love the carpet shops,

nestling in the warm rugs for a nap.

The oldest and most beautiful tower in Istanbul, Galata Tower, offers a 360-degree view of the religious city. Standing 66.90 meters above the ground and 140 metres when measured from sea level, it boasts a restaurant on top serving delicious Turkish delight.

But the most popular travel destinations in Istanbul are the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, both of which are undergoing restoration. Visitors are still allowed to enter some parts of the buildings to truly appreciate the miraculous architecture.

>> The writer wishes to thank Turkish Airlines for sponsoring the trip.

IF YOU GO

>> Turkish Airlines offers direct flights from Bangkok to Istanbul. For travel to other parts of Europe, Middle East or Africa, the airline has introduced a special “Stopover” campaign under which passengers spending more than 20 hours in transit are provided with complimentary accommodation. Economy class passengers receive one night free in a four-star hotel while business class travellers get two nights in a five-star hotel.

>> Find out more call (02) 231 0300 or at

https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/flights/stopover

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge – the world’s longest and highest glass-bottomed bride – is as thrilling as it is terrifying.

With its captivating landscapes and amazing nature, Zhangjiajie in the northwest of China’s Hunan is supposed to be at its very best in October when the weather is pleasant and the scenery autumnal. This year, unfortunately, the weather failed to live up to its promise and during our recent four-day trip, the famed Heaven’s Door on Tianmen Mountain and the Southern Sky Column used for the floating “Hallelujah Mountains” of Pandora in James Cameron’s “Avatar” remained stubbornly hidden in the mist.

The itinerary was organised by Thai Smile Airways to mark the new timetable of its full-service flights connecting Bangkok with Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province. Right now, the airline offers direct flights twice a day with the sort of highlights – baggage allowance, seat selection, inflight meals and Royal Orchid Plus miles – you don’t normally expect from a budget airline.

“Our flight schedules are designed to enable travellers to plan for festive seasons or long holidays. We are seeing a dramatic rise in Chinese travellers and want to also meet the needs of Thai travellers looking for new, exciting destinations. China is always on the list of preferred destinations for Thais,” says Charita Leelayuth, acting chief executive of Thai Smile Airways.

We travelled before the seasonal change in the airline’s schedule, flying out of Suvarnabhumi Airport in the evening and only travelling as far as Changde, roughly halfway between Changsha and Zhangjiajie.

The following morning we boarded a bus for the two-hour drive to Zhangjiajie, home to the famed Wulingyuan Scenic Area encompassing thousands of jagged quartzite sandstone columns, caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, two natural bridges, and many endangered plant and animal species.

This was my second trip to the area and I was looking forward to revisiting the breathtaking scenery. This time, though, was very different from the glorious weather of July, with rain lashing down and a definite chill in the air.

China was known as the Land of the Divine in ancient times, and Chinese people believe Tianmen Mountain, which literally means “Heaven’s Door Mountain”, is really the door to heaven. Its name refers to the colossal doorway through the rock, which requires climbing up 999 steps. Last time, with a blue sky adding to the splendour, I had no hesitation about walking and taking in the panoramic views. The time, already wet, I took the world’s longest cableway. The ambience on summit was eerie, the mist completely blocking our view of the surrounding landscape and we were disappointed that we couldn’t even see heaven’s gate. Another point of interest here is the 100-metre-long “Coiling Dragon” Cliff glass skywalk, which was so crowded with tourists that we gave it a miss.

Fans of extreme sports love this area. One of the most memorable events organised here was the 2013 Red Bull Drifting Race between Italian racer Federico Sceriffo and Hong Kong’s James Tang along Heaven Road with its 30 hairpin curves and 13 sharp turns.

Others have included the World Wingsuit League (WWL)’s Wingsuit Flying Championship, the Red Bull Tianmen Mountain Ladder Downhill Cycling Competition along the steep path leading to Tianmen Cave and shows by Hungarian aerobatic pilot Peter Besenyei, the French Spiderman Alain Robert and American professional skydiver Jeb Corliss who jumped out of a helicopter at 6,000 feet and glided through a 100ft wide archway in Tianmen Mountain. Russian wingsuit fliers Gleb Vorevodin and Ratmir Nagimianov have also put on amazing spectacles by jumping from the top of the mountain.

None of those feats would be been possible in this weather though and it comes as little consolation to hear from our Thai guide that the rainfall is unusual for the time of year.

That night, we sit in the outdoor amphitheatre as rain continued to fall to watch the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show, a love story between a woodsman and a fox fairy.

The highlight of the trip, at least for me, came on day three with a visit to the longest and highest glass bridge in the world – 430 kilometres long and 300 metres above the floor of the canyon. As thrilling as it is terrifying, walking on the bridge has gained widespread popularity since its opening in 2016 with many viral videos showing tourists peering through the glass floor below.

The Chinese guide tells us that the six-metre-wide bridge, which connects the two sides of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and has a steel frame supported by four pillars on the edges of two cliffs, can support 800 people at a time. With a triple layer of more than 120 glass panels, each consisting of two-inch-thick tempered glass, it has proved its strength and safety with a car driving with passengers across the bridge and people smashing the glass panel with sledgehammers. Visitors are provided with protective shoe covers before they walk across.

It was the only place where we enjoyed a good experience during our stay as all the other sights were blanketed in thick fog, even the Southern Sky Column at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park that we visited that afternoon. The 3,544-foot column is one of 3,000 in the forest park that became the inspiration for the magical “floating peaks” in “Avatar” and was later renamed “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”.

Five hours later we were back in Changsa and ended our trip with a shopping expedition to the walking street on Huangxing Road where, as luck would have it, it was neither foggy nor wet.

IF YOU GO

– From Sunday through March 29, Thai Smile operates WE616 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2.30pm and 6.45pm. WE617 leaves Changsa at 7.50pm and 10.45pm.

Lonely Planet is the world’s largest travel guide book publisher, and their guidebooks are usually aimed at backpackers and other low-cost travelers seeking to explore the world.

https://players.brightcove.net/5104226627001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5849170385001

Lonely Planet’s affordable adventures ranking introduces Bangladesh as the world’s eighth most populated country, as a home to diverse and exciting cities, as Asia’s longest beach (and an emerging surf scene) at Cox’s Bazar and the mangroves and wild tigers of Sundarbans National Park.

Bangladesh has always been an inexpensive destination for travelers, and Unesco World Heritage sites are waiting to be discovered, it said.

The report also described Bagerhat as a historic city is an open-air museum, and other Unesco sites include where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers meet, as well as the atmospheric Buddhist ruins at Paharpur.

The report concluded by mentioning that visitors are a rarity almost everywhere else, giving Bangladesh an “out there” feeling that is harder to find in many neighbouring countries.

Egypt’s Southern Nile Valley topped the rankings, followed by the ambitious post-industrial city of Lodz in Poland and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of the USA.

The Maldives and Argentina ranked 4th and 5th consecutively.

Ahsan Manzil in Old Dhaka. Photo grabbed from YouTube video/ Lonely Planet

Albania, Slovenia, and Ecuador complete the Lonelyplanet.com affordable adventure index’s list.

However, none of Bangladesh’s neighbours – India, Myanmar, and Pakistan – were mentioned in the report.

‘Sixty Dome’ mosque of Bagerhat. Photo grabbed from YouTube video/ Lonely Planet

Bangladesh government has taken different initiatives to attract international tourists as well as to raise awareness among the locals on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development.