The modern explorers

The middle class are travelling, not to talk of the millennials — clearly inspired by those picture-perfect Instagram shots, if not anything else. The traditional once-a-year vacation seems to be passe and so are the cookie-cutter packages.

As another ‘World Tourism Day’ arrives, the urban nomads are looking for unique experiences. Globe-trotting has become their staple, and indeed their necessity! The antidote to it, they claim, has not yet been found

Kitty Iyer, for instance, has been travelling the length and breadth of the country since childhood. “My dad was a banker and we used to avail the LTC facility, because of which I was able to see most parts of the country. My parents then shifted to Tanzania, which made me travel out of the country too. My travels continued even after marriage as my husband is also bitten by the travel bug. In fact, to document our travels, we started a blog last month,” she says.

She believes facilities like Airbnb have dispelled the notion that travelling is beyond one’s reach. “Proper planning is the key. There is the feeling that travelling in India is cheaper but it is wrong. It could get more expensive than Europe. Recently, we did a round trip of Europe for Rs 25,000. Africa, I feel, is emerging as a great tourist platform, not much explored. I love going there for its pristine locales,” adds Kitty.

“Whenever we are travelling, we choose not to spend too much on stay or food; hence we prefer Airbnb or hostels. Since we are vegetarians and it is difficult to find our choice of food abroad, we make our own stuff. That helps cut costs,” she adds.
 Tourism continues to be the mainstay for many economies, thanks to globetrotters criss-crossing the skies.

On the other hand, balancing a career and taking on the world is no more a tough stake for the travelling humanity. Twenty-six-year-old Vinutha Rao Talekar, a freelance anchor, is among the many who pack their bags at the drop of a hat. “I travel twice a year. Besides that, I try to squeeze in more trips throughout the year. Ideally, I would love to work for six months and travel for six,” she laughs.

“I just plan a week ahead if it is a trip in India.” The fact that she is a freelancer gives her the luxury of time, she admits.  “Recently, we covered the western coast of US in 10 days. My friend and I are planning Hampi next weekend,” she says excitedly. Holidaymakers are embracing the unknown through experiential travel (how about swimming with sharks?), gastronomical tours, wine and adventure tours.

  “As a solo traveller, I had gone to Himachal Pradesh and Bhutan. Come to think of it, in India, solo travelling is not really safe. But the elements who create problems are small. You just need to be cautious. The thing is to just let your hair down and enjoy the place and the amazing conversations with people you are meeting for the first time. And be ready to travel in any mode of transport. Destination is more important,” Vinutha adds.

Elaborating on the current travel trends, Vikram Ahuja of ‘Byond Travel’ says, “The first wave of exploration travel has happened (say Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore etc). Travellers are looking beyond that. There are a few factors that are driving them now. The first is the destination. They are seeking new places driven by the social media. For instance, Iceland is now in — after the Bollywood film ‘Dilwale’. The second factor is who they are travelling with. Earlier, it was either with family or friends. Today it has expanded to hobby and interest groups, women-only groups, motorcycle-driven trips etc. The third factor is the traveller’s plans at the destination, which is completely about soaking in the local experiences. staying with a local family, exploring activities and immersing in it. For instance, you go to Bhutan and learn archery or travel to Egypt and learn belly dancing,” explains Vikram who has just returned from Arunachal Pradesh.

“The world is a lot more similar than different. Languages are no longer a barrier, with language problems solved by technology. Wherever you go, there are people who understand you. The fear of the unknown is no longer justified. Moreover, travelling is no more the priority of the haves. Everybody can travel — everybody has something that suits their budget,” he says.

“Unfortunately, looking at the geopolitical scenario, some countries are beginning to close down the borders. But travel will help open these. It will go a long way in doing away with ignorance. So don’t stick to your own world,” he advises.

Meanwhile, the young nomads point out how travels are not just about selfies, but largely a process of discovery. A free-wifi, however, would certainly help open more doors!