2024 Travel Trends: Destination Camo

The TikTok trend extends to travel as well.

The latest travel trend exploding on social media is called destination cheating, and it involves avoiding major tourist destinations and cities in search of equally interesting and affordable alternatives. . Preferably a travel twin.

Travel tech company Expedia first mentioned camo destinations in its 2024 trends. “In Expedia’s Travel Trends Report, Camo is a destination that’s every bit as fun as any we’ve tried, while being a little more unexpected and sometimes more affordable.” The Truth Travelers Love locations,” writes Melanie Fish, chief trend tracker for Expedia Brands. Examples of destination ducks include Taipei instead of Seoul, Perth instead of Sydney, and Pattaya instead of Bangkok.

International travel platform Travel Local is seeing an increase in requests from customers looking for quieter alternatives to popular tourist attractions. “For example, 10 years ago, most of our requests for Greece may have centered around Santorini and Mykonos.Customers now prefer lesser-known destinations such as Kefalonia and Folegandros. “We’re looking at alternatives that don’t have the same functionality,” says co-founder Hugh Owen.

“merit [of destination duping] It includes a large number of attractions, allowing people to experience similar attractions with fewer crowds and at a lower cost, while also contributing to sustainability by reducing tourism pressure from overcrowded areas.” said Daniel D’Souza, President and Country Director of Holidays at Travel.

Both SOTC Travel and Thomas Cook have found that Indians are choosing domestic destinations that are similar to major international tourist destinations. Gulmarg and Kajal in the Swiss Alps, Andaman’s beaches that rival Phuket, Andhra Pradesh’s Gandikota Hills, known as India’s Grand Canyon, and Munnar’s tea plantations, which resemble India’s Grand Canyon. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

“In some ways it’s similar to what I’ve been doing for the past few years,” says Falguni Desai, program coordinator at the Goethe-Institut Mumbai. A self-confessed “mountain person,” he used to frequent Dharamshala and Nainital, but now prefers Mirik, a small town in West Bengal. “It has everything I love about going to the hills: forests, people living in a unique culture, familiar food and culture, and a peaceful hill atmosphere.”

Elisa Robles Fraga, director of the Spanish Tourism Board, said: “Ducks are a cultural and natural heritage site that is incredibly overlooked due to limited promotion and overshadowing by other destinations. They often own heritage items.” She attributes the growing appeal of Valencia and Malaga to Indian tourists, thanks to improved international connectivity, location on the Mediterranean Sea, and famous gastronomy, positioning them as easy substitutes for Barcelona. he added.

Owen believes overtourism is the main reason for this behavioral change, but it also has its benefits. “Places that are over-touristed have a chance of recovery, and newly discovered destinations can gain some attention and, ideally, some love,” he says.

Ducking a destination may be a good idea if the original location is suffering from overtourism, but it brings to the fore another concern: Is the new location ready to become a “replacement”? ? Does such a comparison detract from the individual character of the place? “What happens if you pick a lesser-known destination and then it becomes famous for its location and you follow the same path? So how many layers of deception can there be?” The Shooting Promotes Slow Travel asks Star travel blogger Shivya Nath. “We’re not addressing the root cause of the problem, which is why we need to find duplicates of a destination.” On the positive side, “we’re seeing people look at their choices as travelers and how they travel.” “It may help us become more aware of this,” she added.

To become a better traveler, Sivia recommends asking yourself what motivates you to travel and choosing your locations accordingly, rather than following trends or what appears on your Instagram reels.

Where are you going next?

Here are some possible destinations to consider when planning your next trip.

Sindhudurg in Goa

Escape Goa’s crowded beaches and tourist-lined roads for a cashew- and mango-rich region with pristine coastlines, pristine white sand and palm-fringed beaches. Sindhudurg offers a microcosm of Goa without the crowds. There are forts to explore, including a sea fort. A combination of coconut curry, fresh seafood, tamarind, kokum and mango. A resort facing a beautiful beach like Coco Shambala. Unique art and culture in the form of puppetry and Chitrakati art. And of course, there are plenty of water-based activities.

From Utah to Arizona

Utah has many similarities with neighboring Arizona, especially its picturesque desert landscape and national parks. Utah is blessed with five national parks, scenic driving trails, cowboy-like small towns, and friendly people. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider hiking the Narrows or exploring one of the many trails in Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon. Offroad at Grand Staircase Escalante Monument. Kayaking the Colorado River. And canyoning at Escalante. Each activity shows visitors stunning scenery, red rock and sandstone mountains, and even lava caves.

Valencia vs Barcelona

“Valencia’s Mediterranean Jewel” [appointed the European Green Capital 2024] Gradually, more and more tourists are starting to flock to Barcelona for the gastronomy and multicultural atmosphere that Barcelona had to offer,” says Fraga. When it comes to gastronomy, like Barcelona, ​​Valencia has a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as fine dining restaurants.