Travel has changed, so have priorities. What people desire from their…
2025
Travel has changed, so have priorities. What people desire from their vacations is no longer confined to guided tours. There is a yearning to go beyond having a good time and delve deeper to feel the pulse of the place. People now seek deeper, more meaningful experiences that connect them with a destination’s culture, history and people. This shift, known as experiential travel, has become widely popular.
Experiential travel is not just about visiting places; it is about feeling them. Many travellers find joy in kind strangers, quiet moments and the wisdom in old faces. These experiences help create a sense of belonging and deeper connections to the world.
Since the pandemic, people have started prioritising themselves, realizing how short life can be. A report reveals that 86% of millennials now prefer immersive travel experiences over traditional tourism. Instead of simply checking places off a list, they want to live their journey—joining local festivals, exploring hidden culinary gems, and embracing cultural traditions authentically.
Experiential travel fosters a lasting appreciation for places and their people. Travellers immerse themselves in local traditions, engage in community activities and learn from those they meet. Whether it is exploring nature, understanding regional customs or connecting with locals, these moments create lasting memories.
Experiential travel is not just about fun; it is a way to learn, grow and truly become a part of a place, even if only for a short time.
Choose the synonym of the word 'foster' from the given options.
- A.
Promote
- B.
Ignore
- C.
Discourage
- D.
Oppose
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
A synonym must match both the meaning and the register of a word as it is used in its own context, not just a generic dictionary sense. Here, 'foster' is used as a verb meaning to actively encourage, nurture, or help something grow or develop over time — it is stronger than merely permitting or allowing something to happen.
In the passage, the sentence reads: 'Experiential travel fosters a lasting appreciation for places and their people.' This means that experiential travel actively encourages and helps build a lasting appreciation. Among the given options, only 'Promote' carries this same sense of actively encouraging or supporting the growth of something.
'Ignore' describes paying no attention to something at all — this is inaction, not the active encouragement that 'foster' expresses.
'Discourage' describes disheartening someone or reducing their willingness to continue — this runs in the opposite direction of actively encouraging growth.
'Oppose' describes actively resisting or working against something — this too runs counter to the supportive sense that 'foster' conveys.
Substituting 'promote' into the sentence — 'Experiential travel promotes a lasting appreciation for places and their people' — preserves the original meaning of the passage, confirming it as the correct synonym for 'foster'.