What’s A Skillcation And What Are The Benefits?

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.

“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.

“Skillcations truly are the stuff of memories,” Martin said. “There are…