Trend in the News: A More Intellectual Wellness Travel
Week of May 11, 2022
Expedition cruises put a new spin on luxury at sea (Forget infinity pools and couples’ massages, the newest luxury ships are all about scientific discovery)–The Washington Post
The new luxury ships aren’t about decadent pampering, they’re about scientific discovery. Rather than stopping at the usual crowded European and Caribbean ports, they’re taking guests—along with scientists, historians and naturalists—to places rarely visited by tourists, and attracting travelers who would have rejected cruising in the past. The expedition segment is now the fastest-growing segment of the cruise industry, with 45 new ships expected to be built between 2018-2023. Just one example of the new citizen-science-ships-at-sea: Seabourn’s first purpose-built expedition ship sails this July, and will take guests to the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, South America, Antarctica and the Amazon—accompanied by a 26-person expedition team of scientists, historians, naturalists and wildlife experts—for immersive education and activism.
Travel’s trends for 2022: One is families seeking the edu-vacation–The New York Times
This article is more broadly about 2022 travel trends, and one key trend identified is the rise of edu-travel for kids. After two years of classroom closures, children have fallen behind in learning, and parents are eager for travel experiences that immerse them in a real-world education. Family Coppola Hideaways has launched the Coppola Curriculum at its Belize and Guatemala properties, where kids take courses in wilderness science and local art, while Black Tomato’s family-focused education track, Field Trip, includes physics lessons at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland and a social studies-focused hike through Bhutan’s Gangtey Valley to meet a revered monk.
Forget space tourism, these citizen science trips make an impact right on earth– Newsweek
Two pandemic awakenings: more people want to take concrete action to protect our planet and also to learn new skills. The boom in citizen science trips lets everyday travelers work hands-on alongside scientists on specific, research-intensive projects—from surveying elusive snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan to reintroducing the pangolin in South Africa.
Responsible and resilient: Intrepid Travel shows doing good is also good for business–Forbes
Intrepid Travel is a pioneering purpose-led adventure travel brand and the world’s largest B Corp certified travel company. This is an interview with its CEO, James Thornton, on how doing good and giving people a new purpose and scientific and cultural education is good for business. Intrepid Travel has emerged from a tough pandemic renewing that mission: creating over 200 new global trips with a focus on wildlife and environmental conservation, preservation of indigenous and minority cultural traditions, gender equality and empowerment, as well as skills training and education.
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