NEW YORK , Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest travel trend 'Biophilia Travel' has been revealed as wildlife getaways surge in popularity among US vacationers. In fact, Google searches for animal spotting experiences such as 'Whale watching' are up 40% in the past three months with a massive 94,000 searches per month.
Across the US people are prioritizing vacations that bring them back to nature and get them up close and personal with wildlife, according to new research from luxury travel specialists, Scott Dunn. The demand for wildlife vacations could be a response to a growing desire among Americans to reconnect with nature, an emerging trend known as Biophilia. In Scott Dunn's survey, 54% said this was the primary reason they wanted a wildlife vacation (54%), alongside craving a sense of adventure and excitement (51%).
The top motivators for Americans seeking a wildlife getaway are: Interestingly, one in five Americans say their desire to pursue a wildlife getaway comes from 'conservation awareness', while one in four respondents who are parents or grandparents believe seeing wild animals will make their children 'more respectful of wildlife as they get older'. While long-haul destinations are certainly seeing a surge in popularity, thousands of wildlife seekers across the US believe looking a little closer to home is the way to go. More than two thirds (68%) of Americans believe the US has the most to offer when it comes to wildlife spotting, in particular Yellowston.