What will travel look like over the next century? Lonely Planet makes its predictions

Those who’ve pondered about the shape of travel in years to come will finally have fodder for their imaginations after Lonely Planet revealed its predictions for the next 100 years in travel.

The world’s largest travel guide book publisher has set out a vision for travel over the next century as part of the 100th anniversary of commercial air travel, with its forecasts made in conjunction with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Among other insights is the idea that travellers will get a virtual taste of their chosen destinations courtesy of Google StreetView.

Holidaymakers are also set to shun offline booking options in favour of going paperless and using their smartphones to plan and track every detail of their trip.

With the world becoming ever more eco-conscious green travel is also set to leap in popularity over the next 100 years.

And in an effort to create a truly authentic travel experience travellers will also be turning to face-to-face recommendations to gather local knowledge about their holiday destinations.

Other travel concepts that are set to take off over the next century include the following:

* Travellers will make the most of global events thanks to cheaper and speedier flight options
* Anything from arts galleries to spas will make airports destinations in their own right
* Escapes that offer a chance to truly get away from it all – however remote – will be highly prized

Iata director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said: "One hundred years after the first passenger flew on a scheduled flight; the predictions from Lonely Planet clearly show that millions more people are set to enjoy the opportunity to travel and particularly travel by air, as the world becomes a smaller and more accessible place than ever before.

“It is amazing to see how far we have come over the past 100 years and even more so to think of what we can expect from the next century. Air travel connects us to the world and reminds us of the importance of being there, whether it is the places or the people we love."

If you are heading off to explore the world for an extended period, it’s important to organise backpacker travel insurance in advance.

Date Created: 26/09/2014