Traveling During the Off-Season.. Has It Become a Thing of the Past with the Rise in Global Tourist Numbers?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates In the past, people looking for a profitable deal could travel during the off-peak season. For example, Italy was affordable in the fall, while Hong Kong was cheaper in the extremely hot summer months.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many known travel principles. Now, the question is: Is it still possible to travel during tourist off-seasons?

Olivier Ponti, director of the travel data and analytics company "ForwardKeys", based in Spain, explains: "On one hand, global travel has become busier." He said: "There are still some peak seasons, and peak seasons are still very crowded, but off-peak seasons have also become busier."

Recently, "ForwardKeys" analyzed some numbers from three of the world's most popular beach destinations: Thailand, Hawaii, and the Maldives. Ponti explained: "In Thailand, the low season usually extends from April to September, with April and May being extremely hot."

He said: "During this low season, the percentage of tourists each month made up more than 7% of the annual total. In other words, 'there is no longer a low season in a place like this,' as he put it.

The impact of climate change can be said that weather is the biggest factor affecting what we describe as travel in the "peak season." Good Brown, the owner of "Low Season Traveller" travel company, says: "Many people tend to assume that the low season is defined as the time of year when the weather is at its worst."

However, climate change has begun to redefine the meaning of "worst" weather. Heatwaves in Southern European countries, such as Italy, Spain, and Greece, caused a crisis last summer, with the upward trend continuing.

Many foreign tourists have disappeared or died amid the extreme temperatures in Greece so far this season. More than 62,000 people died due to the heat in Europe in 2022.

Miki Sadovski, head of communications at "Intrepid Travel" tour organization, reported that they had to cancel or reschedule some of their popular trips due to climate change. Beyond temperature, climate change may be an important factor when booking holidays, but it is not the only one.

Ponte, from "ForwardKeys," who is a father of two children, points out that many travelers are forced to plan their trips at the same time due to school schedules. Some families choose to homeschool their children as a way to visit other parts of the world without being tied to a specific schedule.

However, the situation for each family is different, and for those whose children have already left home, or who have not had children at all, there are more opportunities for flexibility when booking trips. Ann Woodward, an American who has not had children and has been living in Mexico for three years, is keen to know the school schedules in her area so she can plan her trips.

Woodward explained: "I generally try not to move, not to be on a plane, not to be on a bus, and not to go to tourist attractions during those times." However, there are benefits to traveling during peak seasons, especially when it comes to infrastructure.

For example, some flights and train routes only operate frequently during peak season, or are only run in that season. Travelers heading to less crowded areas may find that shops and restaurants operate on limited hours, or close their doors entirely when groups of visitors leave.

But those who do not have flexible schedules should not feel that long lines and crowded cities are what the future holds for them. Brown of Low Season Traveler arranges travel itineraries for adventurous travelers looking for a destination that their friends have not already visited, or for those looking for a less stressful experience in a classic old destination.

Brown said: "If your main goal in traveling is perfect weather, then yes, you will pay a high price for that. The other thing you will pay for is the fact that the place will be crowded, there will be lines everywhere, and you will have difficulty getting reservations, and so on."

But he added: "For me, the challenge lies in finding enjoyment in those low seasons."