1. Adventure travel

What: We have a hard time imagining a year when adventure travel will not be on trend, but it is moving in a different direction in 2019. This year, it will not necessarily be about throwing yourself off cliffs with little more than a piece of rope to save you, but getting way off the beaten track. We are talking about losing the track entirely and burrowing into the massively underrated gems of the world.

Where: Faroe Islands of Denmark

Who: Ox, Horse and Rat

Why: The Ox will love the peace of being somewhere quiet’ while the energetic Horse and the smart Rat will enjoy being among the first to Instagram their way around areas less travelled.

2. Appren-trips

What: We are continually acquiring and developing new skills, and that will not even stop for holidays. This year, we are expecting travellers to try and get more “purpose” from their travels by learning practical skills and taking part in cultural exchanges.

Where: Art classes in Italy, Mandarin lessons in Shanghai.

Who: Rat and Snake

Why: The knowledge-hungry Rat and the hard-working Snake will love having the opportunity to learn new skills. After all, the best way to attract a new beau is to make yourself seem “worldly’”.

3. Dark tourism

What: Popularised by Netflix’s Dark Tourist series, growing numbers of people are visiting landmarks with dark pasts. The interest in tragic locations might make you seem like a serial killer, but it helps people immerse themselves in history and appreciate the magnitude of our past.

Where: Locations such as Cambodia’s “killing fields” and Chernobyl’s nuclear plant.

Who: Sheep and Ox

Why: The Sheep, with their keen sense of justice, and the Ox, who can find beauty in all things, will appreciate the history of these dark places – that is if the tour guides’ attempts to catch them off guard do not scare them away.

4. Food tourism

What: Food tourism, which is precisely what it sounds like – trying to eat your way through an entire culture – was massive in 2018. It looks like it will be even more significant in 2019, as it will be the year of the hungry piggy.

Where: Hokkaido in Japan and the hawker markets of Singapore

Who: Monkey and Pig

Why: Everyone can appreciate a delicious food tour, but the Monkey who loves to indulge and the foodie Pig will be all about the next great meal.

5. Microtourism

What: Micro or “bite-sized” travel is on the rise with stressed out millennials expected to take lots more weekend trips in 2019 to get away from mum, dad, and the day-to-day. Microtourism has become a feasible option thanks to improvements in flight routes and more camping-but-not-actually-camping types of accommodation, like Bubble Tents.

Where: Anywhere within a four-hour drive/flight

Who: Snake, Rooster and Rabbit

Why: Hard-working Roosters might prefer only making those short weekend trips so as to hold onto their annual leave, while the romantic Snake will want to whisk their partners away for impromptu holidays. The spontaneous Rabbit will want to hit the road without consulting their boss.

6. Slow travel

What: We’ve all been too busy, and a lot of us are suffering from severe burnout. This year will be all about going remote and unplugging from tech. It’s time to go off the grid, act out The Revenant (hopefully, minus the bear) and see the world without that Instagram filter.

Where: A South African safari, remote Canada.

Who: Tiger, Dragon and Pig

Why: Tigers and Dragons are intense by nature and could certainly use the time to chill out (although they would probably want to find the bear), while the Pig – who already appreciates the slow, luxurious life – will love having another reason to take a nap without judgment.

7. Solo trips

What: Going solo has been popular for years, as it marks a time of exploration, self-improvement and self-care, but this year travellers are now going solo so that they can be alone. Ah, the joys of not having to adhere to someone else’s schedule.

Where: Thailand for safety, scuba-diving and yoga, Stockholm for Scandi Cool and easy accessibility

Who: Rabbit and Horse

Why: The independent Horse will relish the chance to go out on their own and make their way, while the sometimes too cautious (but also somehow highly spontaneous) Rabbit should make this their year to grow.

8. Wellness retreats

What: Similar to slow travel except, instead of having to forage the bush for berries, you get to be pampered at a luxury resort, enjoying plenty of self-care, and a sense of rejuvenation.

Where: The Maldives, India (the home of yoga)

Who: Tiger, Dragon and Monkey

Why: We’re picking on Tiger and Dragon’s intensity, but these two could really use some self-love this year, while Monkeys will enjoy having a healthy outlet for all of their pent-up energy.

9. Zero waste; sustainable travel

What: This is one trend we hope never goes away and this year sustainable travel is going way beyond just being green. We’re seeing growth in fully sustainable boutique hotels and resorts, and a rise in the number of travellers looking to engage in programmes that help counteract the environmental impact of their trips.

Where: The beaches of Bali, Sri Lanka.

Who: Rooster, Dog and Sheep

Why: These three animals are particularly compassionate (Sheep), generous (Dog) and hard-working (Rooster), and will love the sense of fulfilment that comes from picking up other people’s trash.

Which travel trends will you love this year?

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