The favorite destinations for the summer of 2024 are ridiculously similar: Orlando, Florida, London and Cancún, Mexico, according to the latest Allianz Partners survey. All those far-flung post-pandemic travel destinations are now history. People want something safe and familiar.
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“Typically, when people return to the same place several times, they want to predictability,” says Thomas Plante, professor of psychology at Santa Clara University, quoted by The Seattle Times.
“They know exactly what they are getting and how it works for them. This is different from those who want the unexpected, going somewhere new every time they take a vacation“, says the expert.
previous experiences also contribute to the tendency to always choose the same location. “When a traveler finds a place they like, there are major risks when they choose to go somewhere else,” says Jeff Galak, who teaches marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. Thus, when we find a location that meets all the requirements we have, it's hard not to compare successful vacations in this location with other vacations.
Travelers have their reasons for always returning to the same place. These can be the familiarity of the area, where each tourist has created a comfort zone, and the guarantee that the money they spend is not going on something unknown.
Another reason for travelers to always choose the same location is the fact that they are guaranteed to meet people they know there, and they don't feel alone. This feeling is most likely acquired after the pandemic, when people were isolated, and then went on vacations to exotic locations, where they felt alone.
Also, choosing the same location for the holiday can give a feeling of comfort, because we are familiar with the area, tourist attractions and restaurants, and in this way, the holiday we choose does not end up being a risky one.
However, in a highly polarizing election year, getting out of your comfort zone can make a real difference. Research suggests that travel can change your point of view, although there's no evidence that it will make you more liberal or conservative—only that it will change the way you see the world.
