Experiential travel
Experiential travel, also known as immersion travel, is a form of tourism in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by actively and meaningfully engaging with its history, people, culture, food and environment.[1] It can often be transformative.[2] Therewith the concept is based on very similar mechanisms as for example experiential education, experiential knowledge, experiential interior design, and experiential marketing.
About[edit]
Experiential travel can emphasize different areas of local life – culinary, culture, history, shopping, nature or social life[3] – and can therewith be the basis for a holistic travel experience. The goal is to more deeply understand a travel destination's culture, people and history by connecting with it more than just by visiting it.[4] Therefore, the traveler usually gets in touch with locals who give guidance how to experience a place.[5] This can be a friend, an accommodation host or another person.
Experiential travel tends to focus on travel that is inspirational, personalized and/ or creates a path to self-discovery.[6] Examples include driving a tank and shooting military weaponry at a test range, flying an airplane under instruction, and mining for gold or diamonds. Other mock experiences include reenactments of historical events, fighting a fire at a training facility, and running through a maze.
History[edit]
The term "experiential travel" is already mentioned in books and publications from 1985[7] – however, it has become a more popular market trend in recent years.[8] In 2017, 65% of United States travelers preferred 'experiencing something new' over 'feeling rested and recharged'.[9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ New York Times "New Frontier for Tourists: Your Home"
- ^ "Why "Transformative Travel" Will Be the Travel Trend of 2017". Vogue. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
- ^ Washington Post "Coming and Going: New hotel booking site, travel trends and more news"
- ^ "Experiential Travel: Manipulative Marketing or Transformative Trend? - TRAVEL COLLECTING". TRAVEL COLLECTING. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
- ^ Weekly Travel "African safaris: As experiential as it gets"
- ^ Peak Management Company (2014). "The Rise of Experiential Travel" (PDF). Skift Special Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
- ^ Google Books "Insights in strategic retail management"
- ^ How Experiential Travel Can Change Your Life
- ^ "U.S. Experiential Traveler Trends 2018: Annual Survey on Traveler Behavior, Motivations & Preferences". Skift Research. Retrieved 2018-08-13.
