The importance of meaningful tourism

23-07-22

One of the lasting effects of having lived through the global pandemic has been that people are considering more carefully how they spend their time, both at work and at leisure. It is not surprising, then, that the trend for meaningful travel is gaining even more traction. Caribbean News Digital looks at what meaningful travel is and why it should be booked.

What is meaningful travel? Meaningful travel is about more than just wanderlust. It is about satisfying a yearning for enrichment, for unforgettable journeys.... Those moments that take our breath away, or that bring us the joy of experiencing new things, sharing moments with loved ones and making new friends. These are the kinds of adventures that people reflect on days, weeks and even decades after the journeys are over.

"Meaningful travel offers a personal connection deeply rooted in the experience the traveller is seeking. [That includes] connecting with something on a trip that resonates with a personal passion," says Ralph Iantosca, CTA, LS, DS, expedition and safari specialist, owner of Iantosca Travel LLC, and named among Condé Nast's Top Travel Specialists 2020-2022.

For example, Iantosca described a multigenerational trip to New York that he organised for a client. The grandmother wanted to keep her granddaughter interested in the travel experience. The granddaughter was studying drama and singing in high school, so the grandmother loved the idea she proposed to organise a private singing lesson with a Broadway singing teacher for her granddaughter. As it turns out, the granddaughter is moving to New York this summer to study with a drama coach and a voice coach, and she has a talent agent to help her. Needless to say, this trip was a success in every way.

Any destination that touches a traveller's emotions can serve as the backdrop for a landmark trip. Here are some ideas that travel consultants can share with their clients to help inspire them to get back out and travel on an immersive and meaningful trip:

• Standing with the family in awe on the edge of one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, after a historic train ride through America's breathtaking landscape.

• Celebrate an important anniversary on the deck of a small yacht-style cruise ship as the Greek islands melt into the Aegean Sea.

• Savour a Bordeaux poured straight from the barrel after a bike ride through the French countryside with friends old and new.

• Celebrate a birthday exploring the incredible diversity of Galapagos wildlife aboard a small excursion boat led by a naturalist