Their predictions, gathered from survey data, user behaviour and forward bookings, function as an annual showcase for new ideas in the industry, from identifying future hotspots to considering how and why we will explore the world in the upcoming year.

"People are drawn to trends because they offer a sense of structure and understanding in an increasingly complex and fast-paced world," explains Jenny Southern, CEO of Globetrender, the world's leading travel trend forecasting agency. "When it comes to travel, trends provide clarity and a roadmap for how to engage with the world around us.

For cultural futurist Jasmine Bina, CEO of Concept Bureau and an experienced analyst of consumer behaviour, they are a signifier of our deepest longings. "Travel trends are a window into what people really desire when the rules of everyday life are suspended," she says. "Right now, what they really want is to feel transformed."

While the travel industry has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, economic uncertainty, the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the change of presidency in the US is making 2025 feel anything but predictable.

"You could say that perhaps we are looking for new anchors," says Bina. "Travel trends like stargazing, holiday romance, nostalgia tourism, sleep tourism, digital detoxes and so on show us that people are searching to be reconnected to something bigger than themselves."

Southern agrees. "Trends create a shared narrative – a sense of collective discovery – where we are all participants in a global dialogue about what matters," she says. "Whether it's the allure of off-the-beaten-path destinations or the desire to 'travel with purpose', trends provide us with an anchor, making it easier to understand where we fit within the broader landscape of global travel."

Here are some of the top trends forecasted for 2025, as predicted by some of the world's leading travel brands and tour operators.

Full Story: BBC