How the 2010s Changed The Way We Travel

Flying Became Cheaper

photo aisle of airplane people sitting down air hostesss blue and white seats televisions

Technology started to take off in the 2010s in a way that it never had before, and this included flying on airplanes too; suddenly, many alternative airlines were launched, offering farther flights for cheaper prices. Flying became more accessible to people other than the wealthy - budget airlines offered no-frills deals that got you to your destination, without the experience people were accustomed to receiving on airplanes (which was fine, because it was never about the plane ride). Everyone was now able to fly, and this inspired people to travel further and more frequently. Exotic countries were only a cheap plane trip away, and the adventurous creatures that we are took up the offer (perhaps a little too enthusiastically...see below).

Overtourism Became A Problem

Crowd of people walking underneath trees tourist destination

via CNN

As traveling to other countries became more accessible to the masses, the masses started to travel - seemingly all at the same time, to the same places. In the beginning of the traveling boom, increased tourism boosted the profits of the local communities. But as the numbers of visitors continued to increase, they became a burden to the locals, the local environment and the other travelers.

Tourists tend to be less conscious of their impact on a place if they're only traveling through there for a day or two, but the accumulated effect of many people acting carelessly is, sadly, damaging. Now, there is garbage in all parts of the world where there shouldn't be garbage, and many favorite tourist destinations have had to shut down after being exposed to too many people.

Influencers Created A New Travel Style

woman sitting at end of jetty in front of islands rising out of water blue wearing hat and bag tourist

via Insider

The concept of the 'influencer' really came to life in the 2010s alongside social media, and a large part of the influencer's agency was their ability to make or break a destination or establishment. Travel influencers started to make money from simply posting about an unknown destination or restaurant, and then attracting hoards of fans who wanted to follow in their beautifully photographed footsteps and (hopefully) achieve the level of happiness that the photos conveyed. Establishments started to pay influencers to endorse their brand, and thus the highly curated and seemingly perfect lives of influencers, with the help of Instagram, rose to what they are today.

The Sharing Economy

via Dgit

Although Airbnb has been around since 2008, it really started to take off in the 2010s. Since Airbnb became the powerhouse it is today, the way we travel and find accommodation has changed drastically. Airbnb provided an alternative option for the travelers who wanted to get away from the touristy and often expensive hotels; with Airbnb, you can live in a local's house, at a discounted price.

It also benefits home owners who want to make some extra cash. There is a downside to Airbnb, though: with anything good comes the scammers. There have been many reports of fraud and scamming throughout the past few years as people have become more savvy at working with the Airbnb system. Airbnb is still a part of most traveler's lives today, but it tends to (or should be) be dealt with warily.

People Wanted To Be Travelers, Not Tourists

white woman in red sari posing with indian women wearing pink saris in desert

via Heather Delaney

As social media burst into the scene, sharing photos with your loved ones started to be synonymous with the click of a button, rather than arranging a time to sit down on your aunt's couch and leaf through a photo album. Suddenly, other people's traveling photos were appearing on your feed in real time.

As quickly as traveling became accessible to the masses, travel cliches formed, and soon there was a longing to live like a local, rather than staying in your comfort zone and from the safety of a tourist bus, take photos of the locals instead.

Perhaps because social media bred so much inauthenticity, people had a sudden urge to be 'authentic' when they traveled, whether than means ditching your phone and living in a slum with Indians of the lowest caste, or - in the more likely case - posing with them long enough to get a quick picture, making it appear as though you're all old pals. By all means, do what you want, but don't objectify the lives of strangers for some photo cred.

Emotional Support Animals Became A Thing

via The Sun

The mental health trend really took off in the 2010s, and along with a heightened awareness of whats good and bad for your emotional wellbeing (which is great), the emotional support animal was born. They started to make appearances around 2013, but it wasn't until 2018 that the craze reached the height of it's absurdity.

After that peacock was denied entry onto a plane and a hamster was flushed down a toilet, as well as more than a few injuries from anxious animals (do you really think your dog is cool with flying if you aren't?), we all know very well that emotional support animals are not the same as service or therapy animals (which go through years of training). In the era of Donye Wump and selfie-related deaths, flying pigs don't seem so crazy anymore.

Wellness Travel Began

women on yoga mats doing yoga at retreat in bali

via Book Retreats

Traveling somewhere with the intention of restoring your health or wellbeing isn't new: ancient Romans were known to travel to Aqua Sulis (now Bath, England) to enjoy the spas there. But before the early 2010s, the concept of 'holistic wellness' wasn't really well known. If you got sick, you'd get medicine from the doctor and cure your ailment.

But suddenly when the calendars changed over to 2010, every second person was doing a diet, healing themselves with crystals, or balancing their chakras. Yoga became a lifestyle, veganism boomed like never before, and wellness couldn't be found in America; it was to be found at a silent retreat in Bali, a yoga course in India, or in a temple in Japan.

Of course, the world caught onto the wellness trend, with many brands reorienting themselves exclusively toward wellness travel - which you must have the right equipment for (think expensive yoga mats, glass bottles with 'cleansing' crystals inside, and sustainably made leggings for all your wellness activities).

Instagram Changed The Way We Experience Places

via Business Insider

Instagram was released in 2010 - in a mere 9 years, it has cemented itself into our lives, affecting the way we interact with others, measure social agency, and travel. Instagram allowed it's users to present the version of their lives they chose to show, and inevitably, we all chose to show the best side of ourselves - even if it meant we had to fake it.

Instagram photos became so much more than just photos in the 2010s; they became proof that we are happy and successful. And what better way to show how happy and successful you are than travelling the world? Suddenly, getting those destination photos or selfies meant everything; they were the ultimate social currency.

We all began to document everything we did, every meal we had, for more and more brownie points. Look at how candidly sexy I am in my bikini on the beach! Look how authentic I am when I pose with the locals! Look how adventurous I am when I try this new food!

The 2010s became the decade of attention seeking, and the alarming number of selfie-related deaths only confirm this fact. These days, it's hard to tell if people travel for the experience, or to perfect the image they've been constructing of themselves online. Because if you didn't take a photo of it, did you really do it at all?