There is hope that these positive preferences (of millennial and Gen Z travellers) will rub off on their offspring and catalyse responsible travel and tourism development into the future
The world has long acknowledged that the minds of children are like sponges, and they take lessons from the actions of people around them. So, when I started in 2015 to travel with my firstborn when he was just 10 months old, I made a conscious decision to choose my destinations and activities wisely. Together, and along with his little brother years later, we spent time in tranquil parts of Ubud, walked down quiet paths in the ancient post town of Tsumago, had picnics in Japanese castle parks, stayed in a hanok surrounded by a private Hallabong tangerine orchard in Jeju, and played at old-school amusement parks that generations of locals once loved.
My family’s travel programmes are guided by a desire to go deeper into destinations, build memories on experiences we cannot find at home, and to support local businesses as much as possible.
Has my travel style rubbed off on my sons? My firstborn is now nine. I took off with him in June on our first mother-and-son bonding trip to Perth. In the planning stage, I shortlisted several activities and he marked out the must-dos: see the stars over The Pinnacles Desert, explore Fremantle Prison and learn what it was like to be a convict then, and comb through the galleries of WA Museum Boola Bardip (we eventually spent two days in this attraction!).
I am proud that he prioritised learning experiences that were unique to the destination. However, I am not the only one to use travel as a teaching opportunity. In our analyis on the travel behaviours of millennial and Gen Z travellers (page 16), Discova’s chief commercial officer, Rhydian James noted that millennials, when travelling with their young families, seek opportunities to teach and learn, not just to see. Seeing how this generation, along with the Gen Z that follows, prioritises unique and meaningful experiences, off-the-beaten-path places, and sustainable travel merchants, there is hope that these positive preferences will rub off on their offspring and catalyse responsible travel and tourism development into the future.
