There are many central goals and themes that can drive people’s travel planning ― think “sleepcations” built around rest, “sports tourism” centered on big athletic events, “green travel” for sustainability-minded explorers and “gig tripping” for concert experiences.
But would you ever try a “skillcation?” This type of travel takes a different approach that’s all about personal growth and using your time away to develop expertise you might carry into your life back home.
Here’s what you should know about skillcations, from the benefits and downsides to the best way to pursue this type of travel.
What is a ‘skillcation’?
“Skillcations are vacations centered around learning, reflecting a revolution in soft and vocational skills development,” Ben Martin, an economics practice director and principal at the architecture and hospitality strategy firm HKS, told HuffPost in an email. “Travelers immerse themselves in experiences like ‘knitting your way around Iceland,’ combining leisure with hands-on learning. This trend satisfies a desire for personal growth and cultural engagement, making trips more enriching than traditional sightseeing.”
Although “skillcation” is not a new term, it has yet to reach widespread use. Still, industry experts seem to be taking note as more people engage in this type of travel. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, for instance, has highlighted “skillcation packages” in the area that offer travelers an opportunity to enrich their leisure travel with skill development like cooking, swimming, pottery, painting and acting.
“It also aligns with the concept of ‘edutainment,’ which is a term that’s been around for a while, focusing on combining education with entertainment ― and is a great way for people to have a positive learning experience,” Martin added.
He shared some examples of skillcations travelers might explore for future trips, including cheese-making in Switzerland, meditation and mindfulness courses in India, flamenco dancing in Spain, glacier research expeditions in Iceland, eco-tourism guide training in Costa Rica, dry stone walling in Wales and ice sculpting in Harbin, China.
Why are people drawn to this type of travel?
“Skillcations truly are the stuff of memories,” Martin said. “There are likely to be of greater interest to the more established outbound markets, where sightseeing and relaxation have already been historic travel themes and now guests are looking for something more ― a deeper level of engagement and self-development.”
Expanding your skillset while exploring a new place can help travelers tap into their intellectual curiosity and creativity in ways that carry into everyday life as well.
“Returning from a vacation with a new skill will most likely be hugely rewarding for the individual and may pave the way for future adventures,” Martin explained.
Inexperienced boaters might take a vacation in which they learn to operate a boat ― thus developing a skill that will allow them to take a vessel out on their own in the future.
“Skillcations also have the potential to align well with the principles of regenerative tourism, where the visitor experience has the potential to make a positive impact and everyone’s a winner,” Martin added. “In learning the skill — for example, ‘dry stone walling’ — you might actually be enhancing the destination.”
Additionally, you have the chance to meet and interact with new people and might even develop close friendships as you push yourselves and each other to keep working at these new skills.
What should you know before you try a skillcation?
Keep in mind that not every vacation needs to be a skillcation. We all have different goals when we travel, and these sort of activities are not always best for relaxation.
“Some of these may involve a degree of hard work and commitment that travelers are not used to showing on holiday,” Martin explained. “In addition, they might require the guest to step outside their comfort zone and admit that there is something that they know nothing about and have zero skills relative to what’s being asked of them.”
If you’re someone who is committed to developing new skills and working hard toward particular goals in your day-to-day life, you might prefer a break from these kinds of endeavors on your vacation.
There are also ways to incorporate elements of skill-building into your travels without taking a full-on skillcation. Consider signing up for one cooking class, fly fishing outing, flower arranging workshop, archery lesson or other development-related activity during your trip.
If you wish you had more time to explore new skills and hobbies in your everyday reality, however, you might enjoy dedicating your time away to pursuing these goals. Just take a mindful approach to this opportunity for personal growth.
Research culturally relevant skills and activities in your destination if you’ve already chosen one, or use skill-building as a guiding factor in deciding which destination you want to visit.
“Find the ‘skillcation’ that aligns with your level of experience and your interests,” Martin advised. “So do your homework, and then step out of your comfort zone ― put yourself out there ― and embrace the challenge in order to create memories and build skills that might open up all sorts of new horizons for you.”
