Page 48 - The Indian EYE 091826

TRAVEL & TOURISM SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 | The Indian Eye 48

Gen Z Takes a Trip launches
Nepal

Down the ‘Lore’ Lane revive autumn
campaign to

orget crowded tourist hotspots tourism
and picture-perfect itineraries.
FA growing number of Gen Z epal has launched the ‘Nepal
travellers are turning to small towns, Calling’ campaign to reassure
unusual local histories and quirky leg- Ninternational tourists that the
ends for their next getaway, a trend country remains open and accessible
Airbnb has dubbed “lore tripping.” after devastating flash floods disrupt-
The emerging travel trend focus-
es less on ticking famous attractions ed travel and triggered concerns over
the upcoming autumn tourism sea-
off a list and more on discovering the son. The campaign, led by Tourism
stories, folklore and distinctive iden- Minister Khadak Raj Poudel, seeks
tities attached to lesser-known des- to counter cancellations and restore
tinations. According to new Airbnb traveller confidence ahead of the cru-
research, 90% of Gen Z respondents cial September-November period.
said small towns and under-the-ra- The campaign highlights that
dar destinations appeal to them for several major tourist destinations,
autumn travel in 2026. hotels, tourism services and trek-
The findings are based on an
online survey of 2,000 US adults king routes remain operational de-
spite the disaster. Nepal Tourism
conducted by Focaldata in July 2026, Board officials have also indicated
including 183 Gen Z respondents. creasingly drawn to places that offer The trend signals a broader that promotional measures, includ-
Airbnb’s search data also points to something distinctive to explore and change in how younger travellers ing possible discounts on airfares
rising interest in smaller destinations, a story worth taking home. approach holidays. For Gen Z, the and hotel rates, could be consid-
with nearly half of the trending desti- Some lesser-known US desti- appeal may no longer lie simply in ered to encourage visitors and sup-
nations searched by Gen Z travellers nations are already seeing a rise in where they travel, but in what they port tourism businesses affected by
for autumn 2026 being small towns. interest. Searches among Gen Z can uncover there, from local legends the crisis.
Affordability, authentic local travellers for Twentynine Palms, Cal- and forgotten histories to distinctive
The push comes after severe
culture and unusual attractions are ifornia, have increased by more than communities and unexpected experi- flash floods linked to a glacier-re-
among the factors driving this shift. 50% compared with the same peri- ences. lated disaster struck parts of Nepal,
Instead of choosing destinations od last year, while searches for Hot As “lore tripping” gathers mo- causing extensive loss of life and
primarily for their popularity on so- Springs, Arkansas, rose 30% and mentum, the road less travelled damage to infrastructure. The disas-
cial media, young travellers are in- Helen, Georgia, climbed 15%. could become the destination itself.
ter affected roads, hydropower proj-
ects and communities, while rescue
Russian Train Tour by an and search operations continue in
several areas. The scale of the de-
struction has raised concerns about
Indian Goes Viral the safety perceptions of foreign vis-
itors, even in regions that were not
directly affected.
Tourism is particularly important
n Indian traveller’s video The tour begins with the lower Among the features that gener- during Nepal’s autumn season, tradi-
showcasing the interiors and ated the most interest was the avail- tionally one of the busiest periods for
Afacilities of a double-decker deck before moving upstairs to ability of a kettle and microwave in- trekking and international travel. In-
train in Russia has gone viral online, the second level. The traveller side the train. dustry representatives fear that wide-
drawing nearly 7 million views and The vending machine also drew spread cancellations could deepen
prompting a lively comparison with points out a long corridor run- attention, with the traveller explain- the economic impact of the disaster,
train travel in India. ning through the upper deck ing that passengers could select food particularly for hotels, trekking op-
The traveller, who shared the and drinks and pay onboard staff for erators, guides, transport providers
tour on social media, took viewers and shows the separate com- their choices. and local businesses dependent on
through both levels of the Russian partments provided for passen- The video soon sparked reac- visitors.
train, highlighting its passenger com- tions from viewers, many of whom The government’s latest cam-
partments, seating arrangements and gers. She also gives viewers a expressed surprise at the facilities, paign therefore aims to draw a dis-
onboard facilities. The video quickly glimpse of her own seat, offer- while many said they would like to tinction between affected zones and
caught attention for amenities that travel to Russia themselves. Some the wider tourism network, encour-
included water, a kettle, a microwave ing a closer look at the setup users pointed to the Vande Bharat aging travellers to make informed
and a vending machine offering food inside the coach. Sleeper as an example of India’s train decisions while supporting Nepal’s
and drinks. travel experience. recovery.

www.TheIndianEYE.com