Are we there yet?

Blame rising fuel costs or social consciousness, but a new movement is emerging that is taking the ‘ouch’ out of long distance travel, namely the distance.  With the hip new labels of ‘Staycation’ or the ‘100 Mile Vacation’, consumers are changing their thinking when it comes to holiday travel.  

Tapping into an emerging trend of ‘green’ consumption, the 100 Mile Vacation builds on the popularity of the localvore movement.  Dubbed the ‘100 Mile Diet’, the local food movement is a social movement that advocates only consuming foods grown or produced within your local region to reduce the fuel consumption associated with food transport.

With the 100 Mile Vacation, consumers are following a similar logic of sustainable consumption. Instead of traveling across the country or choosing global destinations, Staycationers are taking “Think global, act local’ to a new level and vacationing within a 100 mile radius of their home.  

No more extended airport waits, complicated security procedures or soaring airfares.  No need to listen to the constant barrage of “Are we there yet?” from bored family members.

Besides the logistical benefits, staycationing offers a much-needed boost to local tourism industries that are seeing a marked reduction in travel as consumers succumb to the pressures of higher fuel costs.  Tour operators are seeing many would-be travelers stay in their home countries, making the local visitors much-welcomed guests.

Indeed, when it comes to modern travel, it seems local is truly the new global when it comes to family getaways.