Hidden Gems For Travelers: How Lesser Known Cities Build Lasting Memories

New findings from a study by Klook, a leading travel experience platform in the Asia Pacific, show that emotional attachments to travel destinations grow stronger the more people travel to unknown cities. The study focused on reviews written by 374,000 verified travelers. The study found that unknown cities provide more emotional, immersive, and experiential reviews than crowded tourist cities.

We understand that world-famous cities provide a familiar way for people to travel and explore a new destination; however, lesser-known cities provide the chance for a more powerful emotional connection and experience. Visitors in lesser-known cities are able to travel in a more flexible and genuine manner rather than on a schedule, allowing them to engage and connect with the people and ambiance of the city.

Feelings in Less Visible Cities

An important finding of the study is the emotional significance and narrative fiction present in reviews of emotionally significant and narrative fiction in reviews of lesser-known cities. The reviews provided by the travelers describe more than a mere sequence of activities and step-by-step itineraries. The reviews describe the people with whom the travelers connected, the reviews describe the people with whom the travelers connected, the self-reflective elements of the journey, and the memories it sparked. Among the attractions, events, and services offered, the reviewers describe the feelings, the experiences, and the impressions that will remain with the travelers long after their return home.

In reviews of the more famous cities, the travelers describe convenience and familiarity. They mention access, famous attractions, and activities that do not take much time. While these experiences matter to the travelers, it is much more emotionally intense in the reviews of the lesser-known cities.

Examples of Traveler Reviews of Less-Known Cities

The study included several examples from different lesser-known cities where travelers provided reviews that incorporated emotional and personal dimensions. They demonstrated the value and variety of experiences travelers had, from adventure to emotional.

Hobart, Australia: One reviewer described their memorable inaugural flight experience in Hobart, where they got to fly a Cessna. They described how the experience ignited a passion for flying and how the adventure was both educational and enjoyable. The review highlighted the sense of accomplishment and thrill the reviewer had during the activity.

Nara, Japan: One of the travelers described taking a walking tour in Nara. He was able to learn about the local culture and was fond of the beautiful brewery she visited. She appreciated the craft beer guide and how she was able to taste the beer.

Bohol, Philippines: One review of the Napaling Reef Stand-Up Paddleboards experience in Bohol described the fun and thrilling adventure the reviewer had on the water and how it made him excited to continue to new experiences. He described how the trip was thrilling and how the walk-up instructor made sure everyone was safe and made the experience enjoyable. The reviewer said the experience inspired her to want to learn how to free dive on her next trip.

Chiang Mai, Thailand: One particularly emotional review was written by a traveler who visited one of the elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. This traveler wrote that his/her/their/ the reviewer’s visit to the sanctuary was particularly emotional and moving after seeing the elephants in a positive and nurturing environment. The review documented the emotional impact on the traveler, especially when the reviewer was able to see the elephants in their natural environment. This traveler experienced tears of joy because of the elephant sanctuary, and this was moving and special to him/her/them.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam: Another review from Phu Quoc was about a pleasant island getaway. One traveler stated that, in addition to great water sports and fantastic service, the island’s calmness was very relaxing. After a personal service, the traveler enjoyed the island’s great water sports and wonderful service and he/she/they demonstrated his/her/their enjoyment and expressed that the service made the entire trip pleasant and memorable.

The Impact of Customer Reviews on Klook’s Improvements

Customer reviews act as a tool for feedback while also influencing improvements on travel apps like Klook. Klook uses these reviews to improve its services. For example, reviews showed Klook customers were bothered by long wait times. Klook worked with merchants to add a “skip-the-line” option to tickets so that customers could get to activities faster. This option is now available on many of the experiences on the app.

The study also found that travelers often considered flexible booking to be a key factor in their decision. Klook made changes to address this by allowing flexible time-slot bookings, which adds value to adaptability, and convenience for customers and merchants.

Using AI to Improve the Review Process

Klook has applied AI to gather feedback to enhance the review process. Tools like Automatic Speech Recognition and AI Text Enhancement allow travelers to leave reviews more easily. These tools assist in gathering feedback that can be used to enhance the quality of the offered experiences. Consequently, more travelers participating in the review process provide more quality and valuable feedback to the company.

Conclusion: Strengthening the Emotional Bond with the Travel Experience

Klook’s study shows the emotional bonds that travelers make with new and undiscovered towns and cities. These locations tend to offer a more authentic and transformative experience than more popular tourist destinations. The reflections of travelers offer valuable insights to improve the overall travel experience and ecosystem for those who wish to explore in the future.

As more people travel looking for meaningful experiences, lesser-known destinations become more important. These cities provide insight into local ways of life and give the traveler a chance to look within and reflect. Travel is really about creating lasting memories and emotional bonds, and these cities do just that.