Revenge Travel

Read the article. Bizarre term. In these days of carefully crafted marketing terms, that seems to carry a negative connotation, even for a term designed to be used within the industry. It doesn’t even seem particularly descriptive. Revenge against COVID-19? Surely people have nobler reasons to travel than revenge against anything.

Looks like the travel industry has been so offline and bored that they’ve had time to come up with new, lame marketing slogans. I guess this is the answer to first world travel angst - vacuous slogans. Revenge indoor dining and revenge destination weddings are probably next. Anything to spur people to talk or argue about travel and its future is a win for the industry.

Interesting....particularly the label. The article is only focusing on one company with a very set demographic as far as age and location. Yes, it also meets a significant demographic of this forum, I expect; but most likely isn't a global response.
We've discussed the financial impacts of the pandemic, and I expect all those who lost jobs, or took cuts may be sticking closer to home for a longer period of time.
I can understand the large increase in solo women bookings with OAT because they may offer some insurance incentive or at least the protection of an organization looking out for you. Though again, as a global indication? It would be interesting to have a show of hands from the solo women travelers here. Certainly not me. I am on a FB page of solo women travelers over 60 and just this morning there is a thread about feeling 'robbed of a year of my life' and the pressures of making up for the travel year(s) lost. So, I can see an increase of travel by the older demographic and those feeling the need to make up for plans missed; but they can do that because of more time available to do so.
For the demographic that can afford it, 'purposeful' travel may be a more conscious intention - and OAT does have this as a strong component of their trips - but it is a 2 edged sword. Having teachers look you in the eye and ask you what you are going to give them is very uncomfortable. It makes for greediness and an imbalance between the few schools they support and all the rest. OAT support may go to the students; and they have storage rooms of supplies that is donated, but often the teachers are still working with no pay (Tanzania is notorious for pathetic support of their teaching system). On the flip side, perhaps more will travel with services based more locally in the country of travel rather than using agencies that have corporations in developed countries. I have friends that make 'purposeful' purchases locally in order to keep our small businesses afloat....but they all have a current stable wage/income.
I am not comfortable with the negative and strongly resentful labels of 'revenge' and 'vengence' travel and would like to see a more global poll on the demographics making plans - and where - for 2022.

The tile is misleading. Yes, people have been cooped up and want to travel with a vengeance, not revenge.

"Revenge" is used to gain publicity. It's marketing, although I question how effective it is.

Out of curiosity I googled it and stopped after page 24 of results. It appears it may have been coined in India which in turn took it from the term Revenge Spending which was a phrase used in China in the 1980's when spending exploded after some restrictions were lifted. Personally I hope the term doesn't catch on. There must be a term more uplifting.

Hmmm ... “resumed,” “renewed,” “reestablished,” maybe “rewarding,” or even “reactive,” OK, but how bizarre “revenge” sounds regarding travel, even for hard-hit companies. Is a tourist now going be called an operative?

What a terrible marketing ploy!

How about just “reinvigorated?”

There was a posting on this Forum over the past few months, with a lot of contributions regarding OAT and their reluctance to issue refunds to customers whose trips had been cancelled due to the pandemic. Everybody got tripped up due to the virus, including the company, but they weren’t as forthcoming with suitable outcomes as other travel companies. Maybe “repentance” or “restitution”travel, on OAT’s part, is now being offered.

What a terrible marketing ploy!

Hey, it got all of us to look!

As an aside, I hope all those booking with OAT will have taken a look at customer complaints regarding refunds for pandemic-cancelled tours! Maybe with all the new bookings they can start to process the refunds!

You're funny, Agnes!

I will travel with OAT when the world opens up. Their tours are excellent and many ways similar to RS. Won’t give them or any other travel related services any money till travel opens up cleanly. That means Covid is under control. I am not afraid of Covid but don’t want to take tests, have sudden country closings or restrictions popping up on museums, restaurants, transportation, etc. Much of the joy of traveling is interacting with the people. Currently this is way too limiting. Back to the original subject-revenge travel is just marketing. Don’t pay any attention to it as the term doesn’t have any real meaning. Few would take a trip for revenge, but they might travel with a vengeance once it opens to make up for lost time.

For the demographic that can afford it, 'purposeful' travel may be a
more conscious intention - and OAT does have this as a strong
component of their trips - but it is a 2 edged sword. Having teachers
look you in the eye and ask you what you are going to give them is
very uncomfortable. It makes for greediness and an imbalance between
the few schools they support and all the rest. OAT support may go to
the students; and they have storage rooms of supplies that is donated,
but often the teachers are still working with no pay (Tanzania is
notorious for pathetic support of their teaching system). MariaF

I just thought it was important to repost this.

OAT does things like dig wells supplying water and building culturally appropriate structures for schools. The supplies you are referring to are given by the people on the trip. They do not pay teachers. Many of the trips are to second and third world countries and they try to show us the full range of life conditions. This is not for all people. Stay in Western Europe if this is you.

The word "revenge" should be limited to college football teams avenging previous losses. LOL

I wouldn't want to get in the way of someone travelling with a vengeance.

Thinking about this some more, and select words can have great significance, are they labeling the concept that people are going to joyfully travel again, relieved to be able to do it once more, or that people are just spiteful at having last year’s travel abruptly prohibited?

If the latter, watch out for guerrillla tourists. They may wreak havoc at sites, cut in line, assault museum guards and innocent people. Forget about “ugly Americans” abroad, beware of people out for revenge. Incentive to continue to stay home?

The blurb is an OAT ad doing a very poor job of imitating a 'news' piece.