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  • Aliza Gulab: People are traveling now more than ever before.

  • With a computer in hand, consumers have control

  • over what we want to see, where we want to go,

  • and how we choose to get there.

  • Thanks to the drop in the cost of air travel ...

  • Oh, wait.

  • You didn't know?

  • Take a look at this chart.

  • Airline travel is close to the cheapest it's ever been.

  • The average ticket price has decreased since 1980.

  • And the massive rise of social media

  • means wanderlust-worthy travel inspo

  • is right at our fingertips.

  • As we continue to flock to the skies and explore the world,

  • we're changing the way we do it.

  • Here are just a few ways travel has changed this decade.

  • 800 people signed up to host when the website

  • Airbedandbreakfast.com first launched,

  • and there were 80 guest arrivals.

  • Fast-forward 11 years and over 6 million listings later,

  • Airbnb has made it possible for the everyday traveler

  • to spend a night in a tree house, tiny house,

  • or luxury mansion, all with a personal touch.

  • The company has expanded rapidly,

  • with its listings growing 100% every year

  • and a foray into local-led tours and experiences

  • as well as lodging.

  • Look, Airbnb is great for travelers like myself,

  • who prefer unique and convenient stays

  • for affordable prices, but the independent nature of Airbnb

  • means it's not without risks.

  • Airbnb has had trouble with fake hosts, fake listings,

  • and in certain cities like Barcelona,

  • the abundance of short-term vacation rentals

  • is driving up rents and cutting into

  • the affordable housing stock.

  • Since Instagram's launch in 2010,

  • the rise of travel bloggers and photographers

  • with mass followings on the platform has transformed

  • the way the average person experiences travel.

  • If you follow a travel influencer

  • who constantly posts pictures of their perfect vacations,

  • chances are you're scrolling through their page

  • looking for inspiration and thinking,

  • "How can I be there, right now?"

  • Influencers can fund their lavish-looking lifestyles

  • by working with brands and hotels around the world,

  • exchanging exposure for a place to stay,

  • although the industry has its drawbacks.

  • It's great that off-the-beaten destinations

  • are getting some attention from social media,

  • but when crowds flock to one destination, it can get ruined.

  • There's even a growing movement against geotagging

  • on the platform to avoid "spoiling" low-traffic locations.

  • Other downsides of travel influencers

  • can include misleading representations of places,

  • like these famous gates in Bali,

  • which tourists flock to for a perfect Instagram picture.

  • Seems like they could be the entrance to a grand temple.

  • But did you know these "famous" gates

  • are actually just the entrance to a golf resort?

  • Yeah.

  • And please don't put yourself in any dangerous situations

  • to visit a place just for a selfie.

  • The FOMO we gain from scrolling through Instagram feeds

  • isn't always worth it.

  • Travel influencers can be a great source of inspiration,

  • but for the average traveler,

  • they can't replace research and education.

  • With such a massive increase in overall travel

  • over the past decade, jet travel and development

  • have caused some environmental issues.

  • It's important, then, that some people are putting

  • more of an emphasis on visiting countries responsibly.

  • Sustainable tourism basically means a traveler

  • respects the environment, cultural heritage,

  • and people of the destination they are visiting.

  • Ecotourism is one element of sustainable travel

  • that brings in a lot of revenue.

  • A lot of Kenya's tourism revenue

  • comes from the wildlife tourism.

  • In return, this money can be used to care

  • for the natural environment and surroundings

  • and for efforts such as saving endangered species

  • like black rhinos.

  • But wildlife tourism can also be bad

  • for endangered animals like cheetahs.

  • Research shows that cheetahs find it harder to produce cubs

  • in areas that receive a lot of tourists,

  • even if they're in protected areas.

  • And while some reserves, like Maasai Mara,

  • make a popular tourist destination,

  • travel accommodations are being prioritized

  • over natural habitats, which ensures a good experience

  • for humans but takes away a home for animals.

  • On the other hand, now, with more awareness

  • on environmental issues like climate change,

  • some travelers and companies are pushing

  • for more sustainable methods of transportation

  • and opting for slower travel

  • to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

  • Air travel is accountable for about 2.5300:05:19,010 --> 00:05:21,570 of global carbon dioxide emissions,

  • and using the railroad is one way to travel long distances

  • without releasing as many emissions.

  • Slower travel like this allows people

  • to spend more time in places

  • and really be able to enjoy their experiences.

  • You may have noticed more people are traveling

  • during the winter months.

  • This means two things.

  • During winter, instead of flocking from the cold weather

  • to warmer destinations, travelers are more interested

  • in experiencing other countries during the cold months

  • and even seeing how the holidays

  • are celebrated in other cultures.

  • Finland, a top winter destination,

  • continues to see growth in tourism each year.

  • Another reason to travel during the winter

  • is because it's considered "off-season,"

  • which means travelers can avoid

  • high prices and large crowds.

  • In 2017, a Qantas Airlines survey

  • found that about 80% of Americans

  • would consider traveling during the winter.

  • It's just more relaxing with less crowds.

  • And, hey, by saving on airfare, you'll have extra cash

  • to indulge in more food and activities during your vacation.

  • You ever wish you had the freedom to travel

  • all the time and still make money?

  • This is a reality for millions of digital nomads,

  • who work remotely and make their own schedule

  • in order to live and travel more freely.

  • MBO Partners found in 2018 that 4.8 million US citizens

  • identify themselves as digital nomads.

  • Digital nomads aren't always full-time travelers.

  • Some simply prefer to live in a lower-cost area

  • than the place where they work.

  • But companies like Remote Year,

  • which coordinates mid-term stays

  • in a variety of cities around the world

  • for remote professionals, are making the dream of traveling

  • and living around the world a reality.

  • So, with all of the ways the travel industry

  • has changed and expanded,

  • what's on your travel bucket list for the next decade?

  • Let us know in the comments below.

Aliza Gulab: People are traveling now more than ever before.

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