The concept of “micro-tourism” or “micro-vacation”, which comes from the tourism industry, may not be new, but micro-tourism seems to have become a trend in recent years.
Micro-tourism is characterised by short-distance travel – two-to-three hours of driving-and two- to-three days’ stay at some place, usually on weekends or during short holidays. In contrast to a proper vacation, which usually involves elaborate planning, much longer travel time, higher expenses, and extends over a week or more, micro-vacation needs little planning and time, and is less expensive.
Also, a micro-tourism travel group is relatively small, usually a family seeking quality time and comfort together, and the choice of location more flexible.
Micro-tourism began catching on seven or eight years ago, and has become increasingly popular since the Covid-19 outbreak. With the pandemic prevention and control measures becoming a norm and since the chances of infection are higher during long-distance travel, more and more people, especially those living in large and medium-sized cities, go on short vacations, usually on weekends, for relaxation.
Local tours, short-distance leisure tours, family trips, sisterhood tours, self-driving tours, recreational vehicle (RV) tours and camping picnics have been fuelling the tourism industry’s recovery. As the pandemic prevention and control policy is likely to be in place for some time given the uncertainties over the novel coronavirus, especially the emergence of more infectious variants like Omicron, an increasing number of people are going on short vacations to ease tensions of daily life.
Adapting to these new trends, destinations around cities, country parks, forest parks, cultural parks, campsites and resorts are offering new, specialised facilities and services for RV camping, “script murder”, barbecue and picnics. Homestays, winery tours, parental hotels, handicraft workshops, cultural and creative product markets, and…