The latest trends

December 2024 update

New travel trend report

As the world continues to evolve, so do the ways we travel. In 2025, new trends will reshape the travel industry, from personalised in-flight entertainment and nostalgic vacations to the rise of unique hotels and Asia’s travel renewal.  Discover Amadeus Insights report, which covers:

New Heydays - Nostalgia drives travel trends, revisiting past vacations and iconic eras. Discover how the 90s and Roaring Twenties inspire today's journeys.

Connections IRL - As digital dating burnout rises, travel will become a new avenue for real-world connections, from holiday romances to lasting friendships.

Silent Travel - Forbes Trend Spotting

Flight-free specialist, Byway Travel, highlights ‘quietcations’ as a form of travel that is on the rise. “It’s time to turn down the volume,” says Cat Jones, CEO and founder of Byway. “In 2024, we saw the rise of ‘sleep tourism’, with travelers prioritising restful holidays over packed itineraries. We also saw an increase in trips away from touristy hotspots (68% of nights we booked in 2024 were in non-hotspots). 2025 will be for time off that actually helps you slow down, reset and recharge from the busyness of life.”

She continues: “So, skip the chaos of airports: take the quiet carriage somewhere away from the crowds. Going by train means more leg-room and fewer luggage restrictions—so you can quiet your mind with a book to lose yourself in, or a journal to scrawl your thoughts into. And the destination? Quiet spots where you can lose the earplugs and get lost in the sounds of nature instead, like stargazing in a Dark Sky Reserve in Snowdonia, wild swimming in Highland waters or forest bathing in ancient woodland.”

Travel Trends Report 2025: Solo Travel

Many more of us are jetting off on adventures alone. It could be a consequence of the pandemic, when many people became used to their own company through enforced isolation. Or perhaps it is a growing awareness of ‘self’ as a result of more conversations happening around mental health. Whatever the reason, many travel experts agree that solo travel is on the rise.

Detour travel

In the wake of many people crowding the world’s most popular destinations, overtourism has progressed from a buzzword to a rallying cry for change in how and where we choose to explore.

This shift gave rise to 2024’s “destination dupe” trend — where people traveled to different, less-crowded cities with the same appeal and attractions as busy tourist destinations. That concept is now evolving into 2025’s emerging travel movement: detour destinations. The term was coined in a recent travel trends report from Expedia, where data suggests that 63% of travelers plan to include these lesser-known locales in their itineraries next year.

People remain hungry for travel: 2025

Sky Scanner research tells us : 80% of travellers globally are planning to take more or the same number of trips in 2025 as they did in 2024. Just under half (43%) want to travel more, with only 7% likely to take fewer trips. 


But 'Cost of accommodation' remains one of the top barriers to taking a UK domestic trip

Alongside other factors

Rising cost of living: 32%

UK weather 30%

Earlier this year

How a viral ad campaign is teaching us to 'life-see', not sightsee

It's hardly a traditional start to a tourism advertisement: "I wouldn't come here to be honest," says an unimpressed resident of Oslo.

The narrator, a 31-year-old man named Halfdan, then introduces viewers to Norway's capital, and complains about its lack of pretension, its easily accessible art like Edvard Munch's The Scream ("Not exactly the Mona Lisa," he notes) and its accessibility. All the while, he strolls through a tranquil cityscape with no queues, crowds or selfie-snappers in sight.

"You can just walk from one side of town to the other in, like, 30 minutes," Halfdan grouses. "Is it even a city?"

Norwegian outdoor tourism campaign shelved over environmental fears

A Norwegian tourism campaign aimed at promoting the country as a destination for outdoor activities has been suspended after warnings that opening up the country’s “right to roam” laws to mass tourism could lead to environmental destruction.

Allemannsretten – which gives Norwegians the legal right to camp, swim, ski and walk freely in nature, regardless of who the landowner is – provides the basis of friluftslivet (outdoor life), seen as foundational to the mountainous country’s culture.

Interest in the Nordic region has risen this summer as tourists have sought cooler destinations amid high temperatures in southern Europe. Photograph: Johner RF/Getty Images

UK adults plan to cut their overnight trip spending on accommodation, eating out and activities

Snapshot: Five trends in travel defining 2024

Intensifying heat waves shift travel patterns: Climate change is affecting how people plan their holidays, with rising temperatures likely reducing demand for travel to hotter destinations in the long term. 

Blurring business and leisure travel: The growing importance of hybrid work arrangements in talent acquisition and emphasis on work-life balance among employees have created the conditions for blended business and leisure travel to thrive.

The rising tide of overtourism: Popular travel destinations are receiving more visitors than they can handle, negatively impacting the environment, infrastructure, local communities and overall visitor experience.

Luxe for less: Consumers are finding ways to cut travel expenses to cope with the heightened cost of living, but they will still indulge in small luxuries for their holidays.

The growing demand for sustainable travel: Demand for sustainable travel is rising, but consumers feel there are obstacles to incorporating more sustainable practices into their trips.

New AI itinerary planning

Meet Layla, your ultimate AI travel sidekick. Ask her anything you need to know about your planning your vacation, from dreamy destinations to idyllic stays, flights and road trips. askLAYLA will change the way you plan your trips. Forget juggling a million tabs and apps, this is the only AI trip planner you will need.

Unlock the love island experience

Megan Bolton teamed up with VIBE By Jet2holidays for an ad that offers viewers a behind-the-scenes tour of the Love Island Villa. Megan invites her audience to join her on this tour while highlighting VIBE’s ongoing partnership with Love Island and their giveaway of 6 incredible getaways. 

Source: https://captiv8.io/blog/2024/06/20/10-influencer-travel-campaigns-to-fuel-your-summer-plans/

@cheapholidayexpert +Travel Supermarket

In a unique collaboration, @cheapholidayexpert teamed up with Travel Supermarket for an exciting TikTok video. She uses a method of rolling ping pong balls to determine her summer travel plans. She narrows down her choices to the 5 cheapest all-inclusive destinations for the summer season.

Source: https://captiv8.io/blog/2024/06/20/10-influencer-travel-campaigns-to-fuel-your-summer-plans/

Digital marketing trends

Source: Google and TPA team


VisitBritain -  French campaign

As global attention turns to France for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, VisitBritain is seizing the opportunity to promote Britain as a visitor destination, rolling out its latest campaign across France to drive growth.

The latest phase of its GREAT Britain marketing campaign in France, called ‘Audacious Kingdom’, invites visitors to come and ‘See Things Differently’ on the most audacious holiday ever, showcasing Britain as a welcoming, diverse and dynamic destination waiting to surprise visitors. 

Eurostar - Let the games begin

"Train operator Eurostar has rolled out an Olympics-themed campaign created by Adam & Eve/DDB. Running until the end of the Paralympic Games in Paris on 8 September, the work shows athletes and the public beginning their journey to the Games with Eurostar.  

Spanning TV, digital, out-of-home and radio, the campaign features a 20-second film starring the comedian and TV presenter Tom Allen. It shows a train platform transformed into a running track, with Allen commentating and playing a conductor.

Air New Zealand - Extraordinary adventures await

Air New Zealand is inviting Kiwis on a journey to see the world through a new lens, launching the next evolution of its brand through a new campaign, 'Your extraordinary adventure awaits'.

"The new brand direction embodies the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and the limitless possibilities that travel brings. It is a celebration of the unique Kiwi mindset that embraces the idea that, no matter where you start, you can go on an incredible adventure."

UK residents are more likely to pick a trip in the UK - compared to the last 12 months

TOP 5 reasons for UK preference

1. UK holidays are easier to plan (53%) 

2. UK holidays are cheaper (51%)

3. Shorter / quicker travel (48%)

4. To avoid long queues at airports/cancelled flights (36%) 

5. I want to take holidays in places I am familiar with (29%)

Rise of the multi-gen holiday

Rise of the multi-gen  “The lockdown restrictions meant that many families spent more time together over the past couple of years compared to before the pandemic. Many are eager to continue this trend, with interest in family holidays increasing pointing to the rising trend of multi-generational holidays.”

A Supermarket campaign for Travel Supermarket

The campaign aims to put the holiday comparison site top of mind for holidaymakers. Each execution spells out just how abundantly clear it is that the business is a one-stop-shop for comparing and finding the best deals on holidays, car hire, travel insurance and more.

Steve Seddon, CMO at TravelSupermarket added; “Coinciding with one of the biggest holiday booking periods for our customers, the brand-new campaign highlights just how much of a ‘go-to’ brand TravelSupermarket already is in the British consciousness. I love the advert as whilst it demonstrates the breadth of products TravelSupermarket offers, it is delivered by Barry from Eastenders and a ‘talking’ dog!”

New reasons to get outdoors

Take a walk on the wild side! Recent VisitEngland Domestic Sentiment Tracker insights show us that UK holidaymakers are ‘more likely’ to seek out outdoor areas and leisure or sports activities in 2024.

The King Charles III England Coast Path, the world’s longest continual coastal walking route, will fully open by the end of the year – an incredible 2,700-mile (4,498km) trail through the nation’s most glorious beaches, clifftops and seaside towns.

Source: https://www.visitengland.com/englands-2024-travel-scene-whats-trending

Grannies go free. Easyjet

The UK’s fastest growing tour operator easyJet Holidays has launched free holiday places for grans and grandpas, a unique twist on the traditional ‘Kids Go Free’, after new research reveals 51% of families have never holidayed with their grandparents abroad. The first-of-its-kind ‘Grans Go Free’ offer will allow seniors to travel free of charge on family bookings to several European destinations, allowing families to spend more quality time together for less. 

Source: https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/media-centre/press-releases/grans-go-free

Alternative views. P&O

P&O Ferries' poster campaign tries to win out over faster and more convenient modes of transport by shifting the conversation to comfort.

 The ads focused on relatable frustrations that plane and train passengers face. Pointing to the inferior views in the Channel Tunnel, alongside an image of views to the open sea, one poster read ‘The tunnel has a great view if you’re into concrete’.

Source: https://www.contagious.com/news-and-views/campaign-of-the-week-p-o-pillories-planes-and-trains-to-get-people-to-try-ferries


Intended trips drop below previous 12 months

When looking at data from VisitBritain in March, those that say they intend to take a trip in next 12 months fell dramatically, compared to previous month and previous year.