A lot can happen in a year—but 2017 was particularly eventful when it came to how we travel the world. The threats that loomed largest in 2016, Zika and the migrant crisis, faded into the rear-view mirror as talk of a United States travel ban and Brexit suddenly dominated global headlines. And that was just the beginning. Here are six significant ways the world changed for globetrotters in the last 12 months.
Mother Nature Rewrote The Travel Map
Three hurricanes of extraordinary strength crashed into Texas, Florida, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico this year; the effects of Harvey, Irma, and Maria continue in nearly every place that they were felt. Parts of the Caribbean have been written off the tourist map until at least late 2018, including St. Barth (the island’s villas are back online, but hotels will need the year to rebuild) and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are showing slightly quicker signs of recovery.
Almost simultaneously with the storms, wildfires swept the West Coast in two bursts, one across California’s wine country and another in the greater Los Angeles area. The natural disasters have set travelers on hunts for new places to cure their winter doldrums.
Trending warm-weather alternatives include New Zealand, Bermuda, and Mexico’s Los Cabos. But remember that trips to recovering areas provide much-needed tourism dollars that are crucial to restoration efforts.
Airlines Stooped To New Lows—And Hit New Highs
Travelers in the back of the plane were subject to several new kinds of torture in 2017. Passengers got physically assaulted or dragged off planes in a series of nightmarish incidents that catapulted “airline spokesperson” to one of the most-unenviable jobs of the year.
It wasn’t just the inhumane in-flight brawls that raised eyebrows: In July, United Airines Inc. announced plans to resell fliers’ seats to other people for more money. Then in September, Jet Blue Airways Corp. decided to shrink its seats after years of prioritizing a customer-first philosophy. And last month, British Airways announced a new policy whereby those who pay the least for their tickets also get to board last.
All this, while Qatar Airways Co. and Emirates Airline defied luxury aviation standards with their upgraded premium cabin configurations that look less like leather seats and more like someone’s living room. What it adds up to: a wider-than-ever class disparity in the skies that’s only going to become more pronounced.
Cruising Grew Up (And Got Younger)
If you still think of oceangoing ships as a gathering place for the retired set, you’ve been living under a rock (far from the beach). This year, cruise companies made a concerted effort to attract younger travelers, with expedition-class ships sailing to uncharted Arctic territories and facilitating high-octane thrills around the world.
For some companies, that meant offering bike tours of classic European destinations; for others, it meant open-water kayaking off the coast of Alaska. It’s not just about adventure either: Cruise ships became more innovative in their dining and entertainment concepts, swapping tired revue shows for original (sometimes interactive) productions. The trend will continue in 2018, with a push for cutting-edge technological advancements coming to most major lines.
Unplugging Took On New Importance
With the volume of breaking news reaching what felt like an all-time high, travelers looked to get far, far away from it all in 2017. The destinations on travel agents’ lips earned stood out for their seclusion—Antarctica, the Maldives—and unplugged experiences in the great outdoors (Nepal, South Africa).