*By: Deepi Harish*
When it comes to predicting travel trends for this year, it’s essential to understand how people are rethinking their vacations. With a growing desire for more tailored experiences, travelers are seeking trips that offer greater flexibility and personalization. Whether it’s a spontaneous weekend escape or an itinerary designed around unique interests, the focus is on creating more meaningful travel. As we enter 2025, these changing preferences are driving travel trends in exciting ways.
10 Travel Trends To Watch For In 2025
1. Sleep Travel
Instead of chasing adrenaline-fueled adventures, this year it’s all about vacations designed to recharge the body and mind through sleep. Imagine staying in hotels with the world’s most luxurious bedding, magic pillows, calming lights, soothing teas and bedtime rituals to help you unwind. For those looking to take it a step further, sleep retreats offer guided therapy, sound baths and personalized consultations. For tech-savvy travelers, there are sleep-focused resorts equipped with AI-assisted mattresses and wearable sleep trackers to optimize rest.
Places where this trend is taking off: In the US, cities like New York, Los Angeles and Miami are setting the standard with luxe sleep-focused hotels. Australia is also a rising hotspot, with upscale wellness retreats and workshops. In Japan, traditional hot springs are a favourite for deep physical and mental relaxation.
2. Screen Travel
Screen travel has two sides. On one hand, it allows exploring places without physically going there, you take a virtual trip to a country, city or landmark through a screen—VR (Virtual Reality), TV, computer or your phone. On the flip side, screen travel, or “set-jetting,” refers to the growing trend of travelers visiting destinations they’ve discovered through film and TV. It’s not just about watching your favourite movie or show, it’s about stepping into the scenes seen on screen. Locations featured in films and series are becoming bucket-list destinations for fans. In fact, Expedia named set-jetting one of its top travel trends.
Places where this trend is taking off: Hawaii’s tourism industry is actively embracing film tourism by offering “set-jetting” tours, as the island is a backdrop for a variety of genres. Scotland’s medieval castles, Celtic legends and Viking heritage inspire many video games. South Korea is at the forefront of VR, AR (Augmented Reality), the metaverse and smart city innovation.
3. Culinary Travel
The rise in bingeable food series, culinary blogs and stories in magazines have sparked a global surge in appreciation for diverse cuisines. Food has always been a central part of culture, but now it’s a key motivator for exploring new destinations. Plus, culinary travel is highly visual, making it perfect for social media and the trend is only intensifying. Travelers want to visit local markets, dine at family-owned eateries and talk to chefs and food producers to understand regional dishes. We’ll continue to see a rise in global food festivals that attract visitors to specific regions to celebrate distinct food cultures.
Places where this trend is taking off: Portugal, France and Spain’s lesser-known regions are gaining attention for their local specialties, authenticity and sustainable food practices.
4. AI-Hyper Personal Travel
Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a larger role in curating tailored experiences based on individual preferences, needs, wants, budget and travel history, thanks to machine learning and analytics. AI can serve as your personal travel assistant, from managing bookings to personalized customer service, and can even help with language translation.
Places where this trend is taking off: The US is leading the charge. California-based companies like Airbnb, Uber and Google are using AI to provide personalized recommendations and custom itineraries. Australia’s airports and hotels leverage thermal scanning technology to detect body temperature and symptoms to assess whether it’s safe to enter public spaces. Switzerland uses precision AI to optimize travel routes based on guest preferences for comfort, time and scenery.
5. Train Travel
There’s something undeniably romantic about trains. Maybe it’s the timeless allure of adventure, something straight out of a classic love story, or the fact that it’s all about the journey, not just the destination. It’s slow travel at its finest, where the stunning vistas outside the window become the main part of the experience. Train travel lets you explore places missed by planes or buses, without stretching your budget.
Places where this trend is taking off: India is making waves with luxury train journeys that carry a touch of old-world charm. Switzerland boasts some of Europe’s most scenic train routes, winding through dramatic landscapes and quaint villages. South America is becoming a hotspot for scenic rail travel, offering diverse landscapes that range from vast mountains to lush rainforests.
6. Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel
Overtourism is tied to the world’s most famous landmarks, and let’s be real, we’re all looking to escape those crowds and preserve these sites. Travelers are seeking out places with unique, local experiences and stunning, quieter landscapes. They’re discovering corners of the world that don’t make it onto everyone’s radar. This not only helps spread the benefits of tourism but also supports local communities. Plus, there’s something so exciting about being one of the first to discover a place before it’s overrun by millions.
Places where this trend is taking off: Croatia’s less-known islands and wineries are stealing the spotlight. Slovenia’s untouched nature and charming villages are drawing in curious travelers, while Mozambique offers a pristine paradise of untouched wildlife and secluded beaches.
7. Slow Travel
Rather than rushing through destinations to check off a list, slow travel emphasizes thoughtful, meaningful experiences to explore a place more deeply. Although slow travel overlaps with sustainable and off-the-beaten-path travel, the key difference is the focus on pace and immersion. It’s about taking in a local experience, whether it’s a cooking class or wandering the neighbourhoods on foot and discovering an underrated hotspot that wouldn’t be found in a guidebook.
Places where this trend is taking off: The Swiss Alps, for its scenic, laid-back getaways. New Zealand, for its stunning fjords, rainforests, rolling hills and rugged coastlines. As well as Italy, for its countryside that offers picturesque vineyards and rustic family-run trattorias passed down through generations.
8. Underwater Travel
The ocean is still very mysterious with about 80% being undiscovered. For this reason, it remains so fascinating. The opportunity to encounter marine life up close is a huge draw, which is why we’re seeing a surge in underwater hotels, submarine tours, submersible excursions and aquatic safaris. Above all, these experiences also raise awareness about marine environments.
Places where this trend is taking off: Maldives, Bora Bora and Mauritius are paving the way for underwater tourism, attracting visitors for their colourful coral reefs, vibrant marine life and crystal-clear waters. These tropical paradises are homes to some of the world’s most unspoiled underwater ecosystems.
9. Wellness Travel
Wellness travel is more than just traditional yoga and massages; it’s about nourishing the mind, body and soul. As we become more attuned to mental health, wellness tourism has shifted from not just physical fitness but also one’s emotional well-being. These getaways feature immersive mindfulness practices in peaceful environments designed to help guests reset from the inside out. It’s the ultimate escape for those seeking self-care.
Places where this trend is taking off: Bali continues to be a top destination, offering spiritual retreats, holistic therapies and yoga. Costa Rica strikes the right balance between relaxation and adventure, with wellness resorts nestled in nature and thriving rainforests nearby. India is the birthplace of Ayurveda and yoga, it’s somewhat of a spiritual haven, with ashrams that deliver transformative experiences for the mind and body.
10. Sustainable Travel
Each year, there’s a greater shift towards more eco-conscious travel driven by increased environmental awareness, the visible effects of climate change and travelers’ desire to make a positive difference when exploring the world. This is where eco-lodges (also called eco-resorts and eco-hotels) shine. Places powered by solar, wind or water energy to cut down on fossil fuels, alongside zero-waste policies that tackle food, recycling and water conservation. Many of these stays feature buildings made from recycled wood, stone or bamboo. The ultimate goal is to create a deeper connection with nature while supporting responsible tourism.
Places where this trend is taking off: Iceland, 85% of the country’s energy comes from renewable sources. Costa Rica and Belize both prioritize waste reduction and wildlife protection.
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