Why “Calmcations” Are Emerging as the Future of Sustainable Travel

Oct 20

It turns out the world is tired. Not just sleepy-tired but exhausted tired. We’re talking about the kind where no amount of coffee or spa vouchers can fix it. So it’s no surprise that “calmcations” are on the rise.

A calmcation is similar to a traditional vacation, but slower. Instead of running around tourist attractions with a camera in your hand, the focus of a calmcation is more on the beauty of slowing down, or, God forbid, doing almost nothing at all.

The Tired Traveller Revolution

Every few years, travel gets rebranded. First we had digital detoxes, then from this, slow travel emerged as the ideal solution for taking a break from the daily stresses of life.

This doesn’t mean people have stopped wanting to explore. On the contrary, people are just more eager to slow down to explore each destination in a more relaxed way. Long-haul flights aren’t as enticing anymore and travelers have realised that the main tourist attractions often disappoint, so they might as well ditch making the rounds to popular sites and find the beauty in rare, hidden gems that offer opportunities to take things one step at a time.

The New Definition of Luxury

Calmcations are also redefining luxury in the strangest way. Comfort is now being measured by how little stimulation there is. The less you have to think and plan, the better the vacation. It’s refreshing to just go somewhere and not worry about checking every box on your bucket list.

Besides, there’s luxury in calmness. That’s why we are seeing people using calmcations as a test drive for a slower life. Before relocating, families nowadays tend to spend a few weeks in a new town just to see if it fits their lifestyle. One day, you’re exploring the suburbs, the next, you’re exploring cosy Mildura houses for sale, all because you allowed yourself to enjoy the luxury of slowing down and trying something different.

Sustainability Upgrade

The best part is that calmcations often are sustainable too. The whole idea of slowing down naturally creates less waste, produces lower carbon emissions and helps spending reach host communities. With fewer flights and less rushing, travellers stop sprinting from one destination to the next allowing the planet to breathe.

It’s no surprise that small towns benefit from this more than tourist-saturated ones. Tourists are able to fully appreciate local farmers and family-run guesthouses, all thanks to this travel trend. This is primarily due to people’s desire to reconnect with nature and the communities they come in contact with.

Wellness Without the Buzzword

The concept of wellness is now widely considered to be commercialised. While wellness retreats can indeed be a great way to unwind, they focus heavily on “fixing” you. But sometimes the best fix is just resting. Calmcations let you be.

It’s the absence of the performance that often facilitates deep healing. You’re not expected to meditate, do self-care rituals or try to copy effortless poses you saw on social media. And funnily enough, the less effort people put into being “well,” the more they seem to achieve calm.

Digital Silence and Actual Sound

It’s challenging to unplug and forget about social media when it is used so much in our everyday lives. Calmcations, however, encourage us to disconnect quietly. Many eco-resorts and countryside stays have started encouraging soft disconnection. That usually means leaving devices behind, or at least turning them off after sunset.

It’s often not mandatory, but recommended to achieve full relaxation. Without screens, other sounds start to matter again. You get to enjoy the wind, crickets, church bells, or the hum of insects: the small noises that we often forget about, and now we finally have a reason, or an opportunity, to reconnect.

Economies of Enough

Calmcations fuel local economies differently.

That said, communities benefit more from travellers who stay longer and move slower. The irony is, by travelling less, people often end up creating a biggest positive impact. With this trend, we see fewer visitors, but more presence, leading to a smaller, steadier economic impact.

Instead of buying souvenirs made in a factory, calmcations encourage travellers to spend on longer stays and purchase local food, and handmade goods.

Conclusion

Calmcations may sound like a trend, however they might actually be the end all cure for trends. As the travel industry keeps chasing new buzzwords, calmcations are so simple they can’t really be branded. They exist wherever and whenever people decide to stop rushing, even if they don’t travel far.

Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy that works together with hotels, resorts and tourism operators to support their sustainable tourism efforts. Want to know more? Get in touch.