Five key trends set to reshape the global travel landscape in the coming year have been outlined by Amadeus.
Nostalgia is fuelling a rise in ‘new heydays’ where interest in old experiences return and travellers seek simpler, happier trips fuelled by “rosy retrospection” where they remember and miss things such as ‘90s films and CDs.
The revival of the classic caravan and camping holiday is projected as millennials enter middle age.
New levels of air travel personalisation is forecast to see smart technology blended with customised in-flight experiences.
Hotels will increasingly become destinations in their own right, involved guests in local culture, history, and natural beauty of their surroundings.
Years of Covid-era restricted travel will finally come to an end for Asia, fuelled by China’s expanded visa-free travel, alongside Thailand’s new digital nomad visas and broader visa-free programme for 93 countries.
Pop culture is also driving interest, with the upcoming season of The White Lotus set in Thailand, Squid Game season two expected to boost travel to South Korea, and renewed curiosity about Japan’s history inspired by the TV series Shogun.
Iata predicts that Asia Pacific will record the fastest rise in passenger numbers and contribute to more than half of the net increase in global passenger numbers by 2043.
Amadeus data reflects this momentum as outbound travel from Chengdu in China, surged 66% to 35.2 million passengers from 2016 to 2023, while Guangzhou grew 20%.
Delhi also saw a 31% rise with over 30 million outbound passengers in 2023.
Finally, people suffering from digital fatigue will see travellers “closing their apps and opening their passports” to make new friends.
Solo leisure travel soared by 15.6% in 2023 compared to the previous year, with a further 9.2% rise so far in 2024, according to Amadeus booking data.
Amadeus drew upon its proprietary and other leading industry data to produce it 2025 predictions in collaboration with travel trends forecasting agency Globetrender.
Amadeus global corporate marketing and communications vice president Daniel Batchelor said: “After a year where change has become the backdrop to daily life, travellers are seeking a deeper connection to people and places more than ever.
“We’ll see a blend of old favourites and new immersive experiences, with one-of-a-kind stays putting destinations on the map.
“Asia is set for a tourism revival, while we are also seeing a rise in spontaneous solo travel, as people seek more off-screen, authentic experiences.”
Jenny Southan, founder and chief executive of Globetrender, added: “It is important to predict the changing ways people are exploring the world, and the forces of influence that are determining their decisions.
“For consumers themselves, who are under pressure to keep finding joy in a volatile world, it is no surprise to see people looking to the ‘good old days’ when life was simpler, and turning to traditional means of making human connections, in spite of the ascent of artificial intelligence and other sci-fi technology.”