‘Traveller’ or ‘tourist’? These days you can be both at the same time

Are you an independent traveller, or do you prefer to travel in an escorted group?

Those who prefer to travel solo or with a chosen partner usually reject the idea of barrelling around a country with groups of strangers on rigid itineraries.

They like to take it slow, dive deep into a culture, hang out with locals and follow their instincts. They don’t want to do that with 40 other people and a tour guide in tow.

On the other hand, some travellers are happy to allow others to make the arrangements for them. They feel more secure in a group with experienced leaders and a good ground game that smooths out unexpected events such as transport delays, natural disasters and even political upheavals.

On tour – “there is something really nice about a shared experience”.Credit: iStock

These days, you don’t have to be in one camp or the other. Independent travellers might choose to travel in a group to more complicated or risky destinations, while those who like the safety of escorted tours find opportunities for private experiences during, before and after the main event.

The world is so complicated now that it’s natural for travellers to feel some uncertainty, which might explain the resurgence in group touring, certainly since COVID-19 taught travellers what it was like to be stuck far from home or have plans massively go awry. Recent geopolitical events have created another level of anxiety.

Among reasons for the increased popularity of escorted tours is that “touring is not what it was”, says Dennis Bunnik of family-owned Bunnik Tours, an Australian company that has specialised in small group tours since 2004.

“For a long time, the Australian touring market was dictated out of North America because that is the largest market,” Bunnik says. But touring has developed beyond that, especially for the Australian traveller, he says.

“Australians travel further and longer than anyone else, so we don’t have to be rushed,” he says. “We want to know what’s around the corner. We’re naturally curious and natural explorers. We don’t want to take a bubble of Australia with us.”

Unsurprisingly, there is a tour for every type of traveller, including those of independent mind, he says. And there is an increasing number of companies offering opportunities for niche travel, such as women’s-only tours, among them Intrepid, Insight Vacations and Travelling Divas.

Cenote dips in Mexico ... G Adventures runs small-group Solo-ish adventures to destinations around the world.

Established tour companies such as Inspiring Vacations promote group sizes ranging from classic journeys with larger cohorts to itineraries for independent travellers and those wanting something bespoke.

G Adventures has introduced Solo-ish Adventures, designed for solo travellers, which gives the solo traveller structure as well as the opportunity to follow their own path.

Bunnik says his company’s group sizes have decreased over the years, ranging from 12 to 20 guests. With built-in free time, not everything is included, “so you have the chance to wander down the lane way and discover the little taverna that only locals know about”. Nor are tours over-programmed, so “you still have those independent experiences you tend not to have on a large group tour”.

Another factor driving the resurgence in touring is that “more than ever, what people are seeking is connection”, Bunnik says. “They want to visit a place, but they want to connect with it through meeting the people. What we’ve seen with small group travel is it allows for that much more immersive experience.”

Small groups can gather in kitchens for home-cooked meals or visit small producers such as bakers and cheese makers, where large groups would be uncomfortable. Plus, they leave a lighter footprint on destinations.

“The advantage of not having every meal of every day included is that you’re able to then spread the economic benefit into the local community far better than if everything you do is part of the system,” Bunnik says.

I wonder if the sense of connection extends beyond this, though. There can be something wonderful about bonding with like-minded travellers. Of course, it could go horribly wrong, but on most intimate, escorted tours I’ve done, I’ve found everyone settles into a rhythm with each other – and the obnoxious one or two soon get the message to tone it down.

“The majority of single travellers are female,” Bunnik says. “You find that these incredible friendships form, and they end up travelling together on subsequent tours. There is something really nice about a shared experience.”