Millennials are passionate explorers and adventure seekers when it comes to travelling! When they ditch the daily grind ready for their yearly break, they want to embark on an unforgettable summer adventure to fulfill their wanderlusts and bucket lists.
This guide is your passport as an ITA if you specialize in this niche for curating unique experiences that will fuel their wanderlust and quench their thirst for exploration and adventure.
Ditch the Tourist Traps: Plan Authentic Travel Experiences
Today’s millennials seek adventure, fun travel activities and off the beaten track experiences that go beyond the average tourist itineraries.
They seek cultural immersion, off-the-beaten-path adventures, and a connection with the local communities. Most are also passionate about the environment and deeply eco conscious.
Plan for them to skip the crowded tour guide landmarks, same old sightseeing, and the overpriced tourist traps, and delve into the heart of a destination. DMC partners can help you with this planning.
Offer them exciting alternatives like volunteering at an animal sanctuary in Costa Rica, or to learn to cook traditional paella in Valencia, or perhaps taking a street art tour in Berlin, Germany.
Adventure Awaits: Offer Them Challenges
Millennials are the generation that thrives on new challenges and new experiences. Use your partnerships with DMCs, and Tour Operators to plan options for them to push their limits and blaze new trails in travel to satisfy their wanderlusts.
For Examples: You could plan for them to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, backpack through Southeast Asia, or offer coaching lessons to learn to surf the waves in Bali, or scuba diving activities.
There's an adventure waiting for every Gen Z thrill-seeker, from white-water rafting in Costa Rica to spelunking in the cenotes of Mexico. As an ITA in this niche you know just where to source these travel gem experiences for them. It’s also a great niche to specialize in.
Festivals and Foodie Delights: Immerse in the Local Cultural Scenes
Millennials are all about connecting with the local culture and being on the go as much as possible even while they are on holiday.
Research upcoming festivals where they can immerse themselves in the vibrant energy of local life. They will love dancing the night away at a music festival in Budapest, experiencing the colourful chaos of Holi in India, or joining a local food tour in Rome.
When it comes to food, millennials are also adventurous eaters, so avoid the chain restaurants, and recommend they explore local street food stalls or unearth hidden gems recommended by your tour partners. (*Make certain to tell them to beware of street vendors cooking in less than hygienic conditions for their own safety)
Offer them to take a cooking class in Thailand or savour fresh seafood at a beachside shack in Greece, or lounge at a beach bar for cocktails and snacks in Ibiza in Spain.
They Travel Smart: Affordability and Sustainability
Budget travel is a must for many millennials and ma y do have limitations so research what they want to spend before you begin planning. Consider cheaper alternative accommodation options like hostels, B&Bs, homestays, or even when available at certain destinations, house-sitting gigs.
Many hostels also offer social events and activities, perfect for meeting fellow travellers so dig these out for them. Offer options to travel during the shoulder seasons to avoid peak crowds and score better deals on flights and accommodations.
Sustainability is also a priority for this eco-conscious generation. (*See a previous article on eco conscious travel planning in this forum)
Choose eco-friendly travel options like, bicycles, trains, trams, or buses whenever possible. Research tour guides and DMCs companies that give back to local communities and minimize their environmental impact in your travel planning.
Capture and Sharing Their Journey: Documenting the Adventure
Millennials are digital storytellers, with many having blogs and social media pages where they can capture their holiday adventure with stunning photos and videos.
Ask them for recommendations, and link backs to your business to others if they were delighted what you planned for them in their holiday experiences
Tips to Recommend to Millennial Travellers:
- They Should Pack Light, Explore More: They want to focus on experiences, not accumulating souvenirs or needless items along the way. Recommend they pack versatile clothing suitable for destination conditions that can be easily mixed and matched.
- Embrace Spontaneity: Millennials always have room for the unexpected and you can plan little gems they they never expected. Some of the best travel memories for all of us are made on detours and unplanned adventures.
- Recommend They Connect with Fellow Travelers: Hostels, tours, and social media groups are great ways to meet like-minded adventurers and let them know if there are other millennial groups that they can meet on similar travel experiences you have planned.
- Go Beyond Their Comfort Zone: When planning travel for this group always give them challenges where they can embrace new experiences.
They will always be passionate about embracing the adventure, immersing themselves in new cultures, and documenting travel stories that will enrich their lives.
