How Travellers Are Embracing a New Way to Travel! Have you ever come back from a trip with a phone full of photos, but a heart that feels like it missed something?
By GB Srithar, Head – Tourism Services, VFS Global
I have felt that way too. And over time, I have come to realise that the most fulfilling journeys are not the ones where I rushed from one attraction to the next, but the ones where I gave myself the time and space to truly absorb a place. Where I did not just visit and click but one where I immersed and connected.
Gleaming from various tourism reports on trends and emerging travel habits and speaking with my erstwhile peers in the travel and tourism fraternity, I observe leisure travel shifting gears. In today’s fast-paced and time-strapped traveller space, a movement is gaining momentum.
Travellers are choosing to “go slow” by spending more time in fewer places and “take in the flow” by embracing the local way of life – tasting the cuisine, participating in traditions and flowing with the pulse of the destination. It’s not just about seeing a place anymore. Travellers are seeking local-led interactions that make them feel like part of the community rather than just visitors. This shift from rushed tourism to meaningful, immersive experiences is the essence of what I call the “Go Slow, Take in the Flow” way of travel and I believe it is set to grow.
And the numbers echo this shift. Skift Research’s 2025 Travel Outlook points to a 24% increase in planned trips compared to last year. But what’s even more telling is how ‘long holidays’ are now taking centre stage. More travellers are opting for extended leisure vacations that let them slow down, explore deeper and return not just with memories captured in photos but with stories that stay with them. 2025, they say, could well be “The Year of Long Getaways” and I could not agree more.
Let me paint a couple of pictures. Imagine arriving in a quiet, serene destination. There is no checklist to chase. You walk through tree-lined paths, breathe in the fresh air and find joy in the small details. That is exactly how I felt in Bintan – an Indonesian island 60 minutes by a ferry-ride from Singapore, I joined a Mangrove Discovery Tour. It was a gentle, boat swaying journey through the thick mangroves along a beautiful Sebung River for a 60-minute eco-adventure. I was able to witness agile macaques and silver leaf monkeys and enjoyed the chirps of birds amidst the lush forest.
I had also walked along a beautiful beach, enjoying a marvellous sun set, with distant waves setting a calming rhythm. It was here that I felt the island’s quiet soul, not just in the exquisite natural environment but also in the simplicity of the experience.
Another moment that I happily sipped through happened in Prague, Czechia. On a cold afternoon, I had visited a magical castle and its sprawling lawns. Already taken in by the enchanting fairyland experience, I stumbled upon a hot chocolate café tucked away on a street, leading from the castle. The warmth inside, the scents of fifty kinds of hots, home-made cakes and macarons and the gentle hum of conversations felt like a pause button on the world. I was there with my fellow travel trade friends for more than an hour, tasting and enjoying chocolate drinks of various flavours. That experience in the café was a memorable highlight of that trip for me. It reminded me that sometimes, the most meaningful memories come not from what we plan, but from the unexpected moments we allow ourselves to feel.
It was these unplanned and genuine experiences that I call “stolen moments” – those fleeting experiences that stay with you long after you’ve left. And that is another topic of discussion for another day.
Travellers today are not just searching for new places; they’re looking for new perspectives. Even before the pandemic, there was a shift from crammed itineraries to slower, richer experiences. The post pandemic travel only deepened this desire. Over the years, I have realised that it connections, celebrations and conversations with locals that define a truly fulfilling journey.
To me, “Go Slow, Take in the Flow” is a simple reminder to pause, breathe and truly connect with the world around us. As we embrace this shift in how we travel, is it not time we gave ourselves permission to slow down and let the journey unfold, without rushing to the next destination?
After all, the best parts of a journey are rarely the ones you plan, but the ones you let yourself loosen up, take in the moment and savour.
