Even if you haven't thought about where to travel this year yet, major travel companies have already made their predictions based on research, user behavior and future bookings.
Here are the top seven trends that BBC News says will shape the travel industry in 2025:
1. Night tourism
This is a fascinating journey into a world that opens at night. You can visit museums that are open during this time, enjoy bioluminescent beaches and see the northern lights. The highest solar activity in decades is expected in 2025, creating unique opportunities for observing auroras. Ideal places for this are Lapland, the Lofoten Islands and the Spitsbergen archipelago in Norway, as well as Iceland.
2. Quiet holiday
In 2025, the idea of a relaxing holiday will still be popular. Noise pollution, especially from road traffic, is the second leading cause of ill health in Western Europe, according to a World Health Organization report. Havila Voyages offers “quiet getaways” along the Norwegian coast, where noise levels are comparable to those in cities such as New York, Paris and London.
Unplugged offers cabins away from civilization where you can forget about technology and enjoy the wild nature of the UK and Europe. Majamaja Retreat in the Helsinki archipelago offers secluded designer lodges where you can reconnect with nature. All of this demonstrates that holidays can involve giving up technology and getting back to nature.
3. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence will become an integral part of travel planning. Travel company Byway, which offers travel services without the use of planes, has created its own artificial intelligence system to simplify the coordination of train, bus and other modes of transport. This solves major problems associated with travel between European countries.
Other companies like Trip Advisor are using generative AI to create itineraries, and more airports are turning to the technology to sort luggage more efficiently. Hyatt hotels have introduced an AI-powered bed that can track heart rate, movement and blood pressure, providing greater comfort and better sleep.
4. The return of romance
With the rise of digitalization, the incidence of digital burnout has also increased, especially when it comes to relationships. According to a Forbes Health survey conducted last year, 79% of Gen Z feel burned out by online dating. IRL dating is one of the trends identified in the annual report from Globetrender and Amadeus. Solo travelers looking for social adventures that could lead to new friendships or romance will find plenty of options offered by companies like HG Adventures and Flash Pack, among many others.
5. “The Road Less Traveled” Goes Mainstream
Following serious problems with overtourism recorded in 2024, there is growing popularity of little-known destinations. Trailfinders names Uzbekistan as one of the best places to visit, and luxury travel company Scott Dunn is focusing on the islands of East Africa, opening new hotels in Zanzibar and Madagascar, and offering luxury yacht itineraries on the remote Aldabra Islands.
Airbnb's top 20 hottest destinations for 2025, based on current searches and wishlists on the site, include places like Milton Keynes and East Sussex in the UK or Green Bay, Wisconsin in the US. Of course, this also includes Rome, Tokyo and Milan – cities affected by overtourism in 2024, indicating that the problem will not be solved anytime soon.
6. Cool climate
Some are fleeing heat in the Mediterraneanwhile others stand up paddle boarding in Helsinki. For those who are used to vacationing in southern Europe, the question has shifted from “where is it hot?” to “where it doesn’t work.” Because As temperatures in traditional Mediterranean summer destinations continue to break records, climate change is increasingly affecting our travel destinations. Scott Dunn has seen a 26% rise in bookings in Finland and Norway in 2024 and predicts even more tourists this year in Northern Europe, where summer temperatures hover around 25C.
7. Nostalgia tourism
Taylor Swift rocked the tourism industry with her latest tour, and something similar is expected to happen to '90s music icons Oasis and Eminem this year. While music tourism is becoming increasingly popular, the tours of the two aforementioned artists also come with something else: a growing trend nostalgic tourism. As millennials approach middle age, they are drawn to places that were important to their childhood and adolescence, according to Globetrender.
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