Travel Talk (Phenomena Tourism)
Phenomena Tourism Craze
By PRAMITA BOSE
A clear azure sky, turquoise oceanic waves along the
coastline, silken rivers, stocky mountains, fiery volcanic eruption spewing out
red hot lava, fountaining geysers (hot springs), cascading frothy waterfalls,
grassy green carpets, powdery snow, frosted lakes and ponds, baby pink cherry
blossoms, glazy golden sun, muted creamish moon, dark brown forests, penguin
parade, ballet of swans and cranes, highest tides of the world, black sand
beaches, scintillating wildfires emitting orange-yellow sparks, a meteor shower
(shooting stars and comets: Halley's Comet), lunar and solar eclipses, grassy knolls, rolling
hills — all form the canvases of your wanderlust painted by the hand of God and
nestled by Mother Nature.
The gallery above should produce a collector’ item to be posted online — dappled with a mixed bag of images, colours, scents and stories imported from the diverse tourist destinations you set your sights and foot on.
Back to Nature
“Sustainability is a new dimension to woo travel
freaks”, perceives Alankar Chandra,
founder and CEO of Wild Voyager (experiential travel
company) and Ilora Retreats.
“Attractive locations with natural phenomena, namely Iceland and Costa
Rica, prioritise eco-friendly practices that draw jet-setters. Plus, advanced
technologies with seamless digital revolution made these experiences easy to access
with a single click, thus enabling travellers to be more confident about
chasing an exotic place that looked a distant dream only yesterday,” he sums
up.
Incidentally, phenomena tourism offers exceptional value for money to the sightseers because it delivers an enchanting experience of a lifetime, which cannot be replicated through standard travel rosters. “While such trips may sometimes involve premium pricing rates due to seasonality, limited access or guide-escorted experiences, the emotional, educational and experiential returns on investment, are nonetheless significantly higher,” argues hospitality veteran Elton Rodrigues, who’s the director of HostMyTrips, a boutique travel brand, catering highly curated luxury travel engagements.
Social Hubs
One wonders if travelling can make a great social
impact by creating a close-knit travel community on social media as borders and
geographical boundaries blur
when people-to-people contact takes place, cultural exchanges happen and
emotional differences get erased.
“Yes absolutely,
especially in the strife-torn times that we are living in. It’s important to
have a common group or an audience with whom you can constantly share your
concerns and views about issues that different places are grappling with wherever
you’re travelling to,” insists travel influencer Abhinav Chandel.
“When it comes to propagating ideas
about learning a new culture or preserving renewable resources or even while
discussing eco-consciousness and waste management regarding a place, a
likeminded cohort or a club of gathering then becomes highly necessary to
convey the message to. Eventually, this can sow the seeds of an endeavour and
finally trigger a collective action by marshalling a strong community force,”
he elaborates ahead.
Phenomena tourism undoubtedly fosters a strong sense of unity and cultural empathy as travellers bond over similar inclinations. Social media websites further amplify this connection. People exchange stories, snapshots and knowledge beyond the barbed fences, creating global micro-coteries around a specific phenomenon or an adventure. “This liaison further breaks down our emotional and cultural barriers, thereby bridging the gaps in communication and inducing responsible storytelling. Travel therefore becomes a medium of soft diplomacy and collective consciousness,” enlightens Rodrigues.
Holy Dip
Spiritual,
holistic wellness, historical and eco-tourism are also some of the key features
of the travel industry.
These are truly turning out to be
the major deciding factors for soul-searching sojourns with spiritual tourism
picking up massively in the last 3-4 years. People are willingly embarking on
sacred journeys to achieve nirvana or
salvation and moral ablution.
“They are looking for more holistic experiences on their trips that could act as a detox. Discovering a pilgrimage site (shrines, temples, mosques, churches or other holy havens), experiencing peace at holy places and retracing their cultural roots and origin are bringing them much relief, soothing their tired nerves and quenching their thirsty souls,” notes Chandel.
In addition, eco-tourism is prospering by and large with people not just stopping at exploring and exploiting an unfamiliar site but also voluntarily giving back to the local community by offering service to mankind.
“They are either participating in clean-up drives as volunteers or interacting with the local inhabitants, grasping their indigenous skills and crafts or supporting some local initiatives,” avers Chandel.
Cementing Ties
Good news is that travelling is a perfect unifier.
It strengthens relations within families and help making new friends.
“Traveling
does allow people to unwind and bond better with their close pals and loved
ones, especially when you are navigating a string of shared experiences. When
people opt for slow travel, they go beyond deriving any vicarious pleasure.
They watch and live through every moment on their own. Family trips are unlike your run-of-the-mill journeys where you get to enjoy to the
fullest. The outing tightens the familial
attachment as it brings everyone together and closer. You get to bump into
people of all shapes and sizes and let your hair down to indulge in some pure complete
fun like doing
meadow picnics,” comments Chandel.
Slow Travel
Chandel further spares a thought on the increasing trend of mindful
vacations that encourage a sensory experience by embracing raw nature and its
beauty, for instance, forest bathing.
“These expeditions are rejuvenating
as they involve nature hikes, star gazing or any kind of experience that helps
people reconnect with the natural resources instead of just following a hectic
itinerary-based trip. They enable a traveller to rewire his/her brain and
replenish the energy reservoir,” he philosophises.
Sacred Connect
Elton Rodrigues agrees that
“interest in spiritual, holistic wellness, historical and eco-tourism has been
rekindled and is at an all-time high, particularly among the millennials and
global travellers who are hunting for purpose-driven vacations”. India’s
identity as a spiritual and wellness haveb positions it uniquely in this space. The motherland has a spiritual heart and the children of her soil have a yen for purity of soul.
A considerable demand hike in the following
segments is noticed:
·
Spiritual
tourism: Char Dham Yatra, Buddhist
circuits, sacred river journeys
·
Wellness
tourism: Ayurveda, yoga retreats,
forest healing
·
Historical
tourism: Living history walks,
heritage trails
·
Eco-tourism: Wildlife corridors, community-led conservation
tourism
These forms of travel align seamlessly with
phenomena tourism as they emphasise mindfulness, sustainability and a deeper
human link with the nature and heritage.
Nature's Extravaganza
A bunch of packages designed to comprise natural phenomena or earthly spectacles from the stables of tour-operating organisations is in the offing:
Under Wild Voyager, curated trips to Northern Lights and the Great
Migration in East Africa are on offer as well as inbound tours to India
coinciding with the Pushkar Fair (livestock
fair and cultural festival in Rajasthan) and the Hornbill Festival in
Nagaland. For example, private tours to Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland are
undertaken as part of a 10-day customised package for the Northern Lights
experience during the October-March period. The package includes add-on
experiences, such as reindeer sledging, a visit to Santa Claus’ village (in Rovaniemi, Finland) and a visit to the Ice Hotel,
which is entirely carved out of ice, among others. During the Great Migration,
which usually takes place between the months of June and September in East
Africa, private safaris and stays at world-class hotels at the best locations
are included.
“Our approach to phenomena tourism is largely
concept-driven and personalised, thus allowing us to design itineraries around
specific natural, geological, celestial or cultural events based on travellers’
interests. Rather than fixed departures, HostMyTrip curates experiences that
align with the uniqueness of each phenomenon,” informs Rodrigues.
Travel is conceptualised around natural phenomena, consisting
of seasonal events like bioluminescence sightings along select coastal belts (Mosquito Bay in Puerto Rico, India including Andaman, Goa, Karnataka beaches and some
forests and Jervis Bay in Australia), alpine
flower bloom explorations like those in the Valley of Flowers National park (in Chamoli, Uttarakhand) and monsoon-based
landscape experiences across the Western Ghats.
“All such itineraries are developed with a strong
emphasis on responsible travel, community involvement and building meaningful
storytelling. Additionally, these can be tailored to suit the tastes and
preferences of individual travelers or small groups with thematic interests,”
shares Rodrigues.
Jam-Packed Calendar
A few forthcoming natural and cultural events are
lined up as part of 2026 vacations, both inland and global. So, block your dates for the outings:
2026 offers travellers an opportunity to plan trips that
align with memorable events, blending food, history, music and local culture. For
example, a trip to Kolkata (India) can be planned for October, when Durga Puja
is celebrated with much fanfare, mingling religion, art and local culture. This
year marks the 30th anniversary of Chile's
original Wine
Route, a circuit that showcases the region's world-class
food, wine and local culture. Apart from vineyards, Chile offers experiences,
such as stargazing at the Cerro Chaman Observatory and visits to villages,
namely Santa Cruz and Lalol, which are home to vibrant markets.
Furthermore, one can plan a trip to
Costa Rica, which has become the first tropical country to reverse
deforestation and is home to 2.5% of the world’s known terrestrial species
within a single peninsula.
Similarly, the Komodo Islands in
Indonesia, one of the best wildlife hotspots, consisting of a national park,
pink-sand beaches, coral gardens and a wild population of Komodo dragons, are a
must-visit. In 2026, Indonesia will mark the park's 45th anniversary with new
conservation programmes and visitor-management measures to protect both dragons
and delicate reefs.
Looking ahead to 2026, travel planning is increasingly
being shaped around a mix of signature cultural gatherings and immersive
natural experiences.
On the cultural and arts calendar, early 2026 is expected
to see a strong interest in events, such as the Jaipur Literature Festival,
which continues to draw global audiences to India’s literary and intellectual
landscape, and the Goa Carnival, known for its vibrant blend of heritage, music
and street celebrations.
The widely sought-after Rann Utsav in Kutch, running
through February, remains a key draw for travellers in quest of a combination
of natural spectacle and regional culture. Winter and early-year travel is
expected to focus on snow-based experiences in Uttarakhand, including popular
Himalayan treks that showcase alpine landscapes at their dramatic best. Overall,
these well-documented events and experiences will spur travellers to plan well
in advance as demand continues to rise for time-specific, culturally-rich and
environmentally-immersive journeys in 2026.
Percentage of travel surge noticed in post-Covid
era, both domestically and internationally:
In the post-corona period, India has witnessed a
strong rebound in travel so far. Industry trends indicate around 30-40% swell
in domestic tourism from the pre-pandemic levels, with niche segments like
nature-based, spiritual and phenomena tourism growing even faster.
Travellers now prefer open spaces, meaningful
experiences and more conscious and slower travel, which has hitherto worked in
favour of phenomenon-driven itineraries.
The global tourism industry has made a significant comeback post-COVID to date. As per the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism (a specialised agency of the United Nations for global tourism, formerly called UNWTO), approximately 1.4 billion tourists travelled internationally in 2024, indicating a 99% recovery from the pre-pandemic figures. According to statistics provided by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global travel sector is poised to contribute more than US$11.7 trillion to the global economy, led by bullish consumer sentiment, expanding travel options and changing tourist preferences.
“Ilora Retreats, our luxury
property in Masai Mara, Kenya, opened after the pandemic subsided. Since then,
we have been catering to 6000 plus guests annually, mainly from India, the US
and the UK,” apprises Chandra.
Spike in GDP
The tourism industry contributes a chunky pie of the
revenue chart to national GDP. It visibly lends an economic lift and renders a
pool of employment opportunities.
Tourism contributes approximately 5-7% to India’s GDP
and acts as a powerful economic multiplier. Beyond direct revenues, it supports
allied sectors, such as transport, handicrafts, hospitality, guiding services
and local agriculture.
Phenomena tourism, in particular, benefits rural and remote regions, for instance:
·
Homestays
flourishing in Ladakh during celestial events
·
Local guides,
artisans and performers are reaping a huge income during cultural festivals
·
Youth employment
as nature interpreters, photographers and eco-guides
Thus,
it decentralises tourism revenues and promotes inclusive growth.
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