4 ways to travel in 2022

1. Reconnection with nature

From the outset, proximity to nature provides a host of benefits. Take the emergence of forest bathing as an example. Even on urban getaways, travellers are seeking out these peaceful havens—just check out Edworthy Park in Calgary, the Botanical Gardens in Toronto and Montreal, or the gardens at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. And according to Carolyne Parent, a journalist specializing in tourism and the author of the book Un Monde à voir – 100 aventures à vivre au temps nouveau du voyage (KO Éditions), interest is only growing. “Travellers will continue to crave a reconnection with nature for the peace and harmony it provides. But they’ll also want to reconnect with other people; to meet them and forge bonds. In a city, they can enjoy both. Maybe they’ll end up at the park, the botanical gardens, or next to a body of water!"

2. Active travel

Given the interest in nature and self-care, active travel is attracting a growing following. "Increasingly, the physical and psychological benefits of active travel are being recognized and sought after," says Gary Lawrence, editor-in-chief of Espaces magazine and author of the books Fragments d’ici and Fragments d’ailleurs 1 and 2 (Somme Toute editions). Ideal, since Canada is known for its wide-open spaces that beckon us to come out and play! In Newfoundland, the East Coast Trail is a must, whether in winter or summer. In Ottawa, winter skating on the Rideau Canal is a classic. Over in Gatineau Park, the options for active outings are practically endless — and the same goes for Charlevoix. The parc national des Grands-Jardins forms one of the core zones of the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve, a status granted to the region by UNESCO.

3. Regenerative tourism

For certain, there are those travellers who just can’t sit still and want to hit the road as soon as possible. But many of them have also taken advantage of this forced pause to reflect on how they travel. “Over and above sustainable tourism, regenerative tourism — whereby we contribute to the improvement of the places we visit, rather than offsetting our carbon footprint to negate our impact — is a key trend among travellers,” states Marie-Julie Gagnon, travel journalist and author of the book Que reste-t-il de nos voyages? (Éditions de l’Homme). Tour operators such as Terres d'Aventure Canada and Voyageurs du Monde have offered carbon-neutral trips for several years already. In addition, they contribute to reforestation projects around the world through the organization Insolite Bâtisseur Philippe Romero. What’s more, Germain Hotels’ newest properties feature geothermal heating and cooling, heat recovery and energy-efficient lighting.

4. Extended getaways

In the spirit of travelling less, but better, Carolyne Parent suggests the concept of "bleisure"—business and leisure—where travel for business and pleasure come together. “Extended getaways are great in concept, but in practice they have their limits for the majority of us. But "bleisure” is changing that. If you’re on a business trip and can work remotely, you may want to extend your stay. Conversely, if you’re on vacation, you could decide to stay on a little longer and work from there."