The importance of travel is clearer than ever. After the pandemic wrought havoc on the global tourism industry, it is now unmistakable how many opportunities tourism brings to people all over the world. This year, tourism is coming back in a big way – but not the same way. As travel rebounds in 2022, Trafalgar is changing too. Guided touring has a critical role to play in tourism and we’re already adapting to traveller’s evolving needs. To celebrate World Tourism Day, we look at how we’re keeping up with the changing needs of our guests and why guided touring has never been more important post-pandemic.
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Rethinking tourism
This summer, we’ve seen tens of thousands of people jumping at the chance to travel again. As soon as the borders opened, airports were full and travel bookings went through the roof. It all shows how important it is to people to travel… But that’s not all.
As travel rebounds in 2022, we are seeing the revival of countless local communities and economies that depend on tourism and were devastated by the pandemic. From our very own local hosts, like our Be My Guest host Giada, to countries such as Greece, travel is the lifeblood of so many people and communities.
When you go local, your travels can help support and preserve cultures, heritage sites, and wildlife. Your visit can also help stimulate economies which all lead to jobs and investment into local infrastructure, hospitals, schools, roads, national parks, and more.
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This year’s World Tourism Day theme is ‘Rethinking tourism’ and it’s all about travel recovery and “highlighting the shift towards tourism being recognised as a crucial pillar of development.” Tourism isn’t just about having a fun holiday – it’s also about connecting with and supporting local people and communities. It’s about leaving a positive impact on the people and places we visit.
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The changing needs of travellers
As the recognition and purpose of tourism are shifting, so are the needs of travellers. For many people, travelling in a post-Covid world is an anxiety-inducing experience. Travellers now need greater flexibility, ease, and support when they travel. They want a worry-free experience and want their wellbeing to be a top priority. They also want to make local connections and have richer, bucket-list experiences to make up for lost time. That’s where we come in.
As industry leaders in tourism innovation, we’ve quickly evolved to meet the changing needs of our guests, every step of the way. We want to help keep your travel dreams alive. We want to give you the confidence to get back out there and make travel joyful and meaningful again. Here’s how we’re doing it.
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Why guided touring has never been more important
Guided tours have always been a popular way to travel. But when we look at the biggest travel trends in 2022, it’s become clear that guided touring is the best way to travel. Travellers today need to know their wellbeing is taken care of, and that they have flexibility over their bookings and finances. They want their long overdue holiday to be a stress-free experience and they want to have a blast doing it!
At Trafalgar, we’ve found that guided touring is the ultimate answer to all these concerns, and we’ve worked hard to ensure you’ll have your dream, worry-free travel experience when you take your next trip with us.
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Here’s what you can expect from guided touring with Trafalgar in 2022 and beyond:
Risk-free and flexible booking
We live in uncertain times, but that doesn’t mean you should have doubts about your travel plans. We’ve made sure our booking conditions are completely worry-free. If your plans change for any reason, you’ll have the flexibility to change the date or destination of your tour up to 30 days prior to departure. You can also lock in your dream tour with a fully refundable $200 deposit. As a 101-year-old family-owned and run business, and the most awarded brand in the travel industry, you can book with total confidence and peace of mind knowing that your money is safe with us.
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Personal wellbeing
We promise stress-free travel – and we mean it. The last thing you want to worry about when travelling in a post-Covid world is your wellbeing, so we’ve introduced our rigorous 3-step Wellbeing Protocols and Wellbeing Directors on our trips. You can also count on 24/7 support before, during and after your tour, with the personalised Trafalgar service you already know and love.
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Different ways to travel
You want flexibility and we’ve got it. From private group tours to women-only tours, we’ve introduced a bunch of new ways to travel to reflect the changing needs of our guests. Perhaps you want to travel with family or take a romantic holiday with your partner. Maybe you’re a history buff, a foodie, a nature lover, an art fan, or a safari enthusiast. Whether you love to get active in the great outdoors, take it easy on a cruise, or even travel solo, we’ve got you covered. You can even customise our tours to suit your travel style and interests! Have a chat with our friendly team and find out how you can book your dream travel experience.
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Remarkable travel experiences
After losing at least two years to the pandemic, we’re ready to seize the day. We know how unpredictable life can be, so we want to travel while we can and experience all of life’s extraordinary wonders. At Trafalgar, we take pride in knowing that every one of our tours is exceptional.
Not only will you get to have those amazing bucket list treasures, but we’ll also take you deeper to connect with locals and get exclusive access to unique experiences. From our Make Travel Matter Experiences to our Be My Guest Experiences in local homes, we take you beyond the tourist traps so you can truly connect with the local culture. Our guests always say it’s one of their favourite parts of a Trafalgar tour – and it’s something you just can’t experience on you’re own!
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Our Travel Directors and Local Specialists are chomping at the bit to give you a remarkable experience and our excited guests are already hitting the road again as travel rebounds in 2022.
But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what some of our guests have to say on the Trafalgar Facebook page about travelling with Trafalgar again:
Our guests on the Trafalgar trips they’ve done this year
Just completing my 7th tour and it won’t be the last. Have travelled on Best of Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italian Lakes (Garda), European tour. Now doing Best of Greece with Santorini extension. Loving it!!! The service is exceptional, knowledgeable local tour specialists, awesome drivers and great tour directors. I would always recommend Trafalgar. Have also travelled twice with your sister company Insight, to Italy & France.
Gloria Lawrence
I’ve been on 3 tours and leaving on my 4th in September to Southern Italy and Sicily. I can hardly wait!! I absolutely loved my tours of Ireland and France. It was especially exciting to visit Monaco the week of the Formula 1 race.
Jeannette St Denis
We just returned from London Explorer, that’s twice for me with Trafalgar now. We’ll be back!
Julie Ballantyne Brown
We just got back from seeing the Grand Canyon, we had a great trip. 👋👋👋👋
Lynn Janssen
Took your Best of Spain tour in early May 2022. We found your coach to be very comfortable and always extremely clean. A huge thank you to our driver, Mario. He’s the best!
Cindy Villa Lander
8 tours through the USA so far: adventures through the wild northwest, Western discoverer, Scenic Parks explorer, Route 66, Tales of the old South, Tastes and sounds of the south, Heart of the South, Majestic Alaska. Coming year I will be traveling on my own but then I’m up for 2 other tours in the USA: Civil Rights Trail & Hawaii. So many amazing memories Trafalgar gave me. And a list of places I want to go for the next 10 years 😅
Isabelle Horemans
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Our guests on the Trafalgar trips they’ve got booked
Going on my fourth Trafalgar tour in September (Greece). Looking forward to another wonderful worry free adventure.
Judith Anne Duval
We completed our 6th (Trafalgar tour) in August…one scheduled for December and will soon schedule for spring too!
Laurie Dossett
5 days, just 5 more days and I’ll be traveling to Rome to start this tour (Best of Italy) on Sunday!
Sabrina Wheeler
Leaving in three weeks for my 6th solo Trafalgar tour (Italy, Spain/Portugal, France, Peru, Greece with next being Switzerland, Austria with Oberammergau) Always have a wonderful time meeting the best fellow travelers!
Joanne Regan
Already booked with you for the Christmas markets , Austria, Germany, Switzerland. Cannot wait to get back on the road.
Heather Clark
Very excited about our 2nd Trafalgar tour coming up early Sept. First one was Ireland in 2019 and this year: Britain.
Ginette Latendresse-Purser
Can’t wait to join this tour (Best of Scotland). See you October 😊
Julie Sail
Reading about all these incredible travel experiences and plans has got us excited! Are you inspired to take your next trip with Trafalgar as travel rebounds in 2022? Where will you go next? Let us know in the comments below!