The Travel Trends That Are Defining 2025

HKS, global leaders in architecture and hospitality strategy, offer compelling insights about the top travel trends we expect to see shaping 2025.

The travel industry continues to evolve in response to environmental, technological, and social shifts, and HKS has identified several key trends that are redefining the way we travel. From the concept of "Human Rewilding" and immersive "Skillcations" to the rise of "Regenerative Tourism," these trends reflect travelers’ growing desire for deeper, more meaningful, and positive-impact experiences. We've also explored how AI is transforming hospitality, the resurgence of Asia in global tourism, and the allure of slow travel with "The Benefits of Boredom.”

Top Travel Trends We Can Expect to See in 2025

Travel and tourism have witnessed a seismic shift in the past few years, with trends leaning more towards sustainable and conscious discovery. This surge in awareness about the environmental and socio-cultural impact of tourism has led to the rise of myriad innovative travel trends. While it would be impossible to spotlight all of them, we’ve distilled some of the most intriguing ones for us, from redefining the concept of sustainability to unraveling our ancestry through our genes.

1. Human Rewilding: Human Rewilding embraces our innate connection to nature, addressing the evolutionary mismatch of modern life spent at desks. As issues like myopia in children rise due to indoor lifestyles, this trend advocates for social and nature therapy prescriptions. Emphasizing "love people, use things," it aligns with anti-consumerism and the idea that humans thrive in social groups up to Dunbar's number of 150. By reconnecting with nature and each other, travelers seek deeper, more meaningful experiences.

2. Skillcations: Skillcations are vacations centered around learning, reflecting a revolution in soft and vocational skills development. Travelers immerse themselves in experiences like "knitting your way around Iceland," combining leisure with hands-on learning. This trend satisfies a desire for personal growth and cultural engagement, making trips more enriching than traditional sightseeing.

3. Benefits of Boredom: The Benefits of Boredom trend highlights the appeal of slow (luxury) travel and "information fasting." By embracing silent retreats and minimizing overstimulation, travelers combat psycho-social stress, especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals (another trending item within itself). Experiences like leisurely train journeys (both luxury and diy) and prioritizing sleep reclaim natural rhythms disrupted since Edison's light bulb. Embracing simplicity and neuroaesthetics (our research team has a lot to say on this), travelers find restoration in intentional “boredom.” As we know, intentional boredom is often the most conducive for creative inspiration and is vital to brain health (again, our research team)

4. Escaping Digital Delusion (in Southeast Asia): This trend reflects growing skepticism toward traditional online search results, as travelers feel disillusioned by paid and curated responses. Instead, they turn to TikTok and social media for more seemingly ‘authentic’ travel advice, valuing real experiences over influencer promotions (those with fewer follows/likes often are deemed more ‘authentic’).

4. The Goldilocks Countries: The Goldilocks Countries are destinations that are "just right"— welcoming to tourists, backed by government tourism funding, yet not oversaturated. Travelers seek these places that offer genuine cultural experiences without the crowds. This balance makes them ideal for those wanting to explore new destinations that are eager for visitors but still retain their unique charm.

6. Regenerative Tourism: Unlike sustainable tourism, regenerative tourism focuses on travel that actively seeks to benefit destinations environmentally and socially. Moving beyond sustainable practices, it uses "carrot tourism" to incentivize positive impacts. It encourages tourism that revitalizes communities and ecosystems, creating mutually beneficial experiences for travelers and locals alike. The challenge lies in the paradox whereby the effect of regenerative tourism is limited by its inherent need to “stay small”.

7. The Inevitability of AI: Travelers are expecting AI to automate the predictable, allowing hospitality staff to humanize the exceptional. While travelers still crave human interactions, they are becoming less patient with errors and wasted time. The trend increases demand for exceptional service and skilled staff, highlighting the balance between AI efficiency and the irreplaceable human touch in providing outstanding travel experiences.

8. The Great Asian Rebound: The Great Asian Rebound underscores Asia's resurgence in global tourism following the pandemic led by demographics such as the Seniors in China (specifically the women). China is predicted to become the top contributor to global tourism GDP in the next ten years, signaling a significant market shift. Additionally, India's rise from eighth to fourth place on the same list, combined with its growing middle class, highlights the region's growing influence, reshaping the global tourism landscape with increased outbound and inbound travel and economic impact.

9. Shared Reality in Hospitality: Shared Reality in Hospitality introduces full-immersion spaces that redefine travel experiences. Venues like COSM and The Sphere offer immersive environments, transporting guests to alternate realities without leaving the location. These innovations blend entertainment with hospitality, attracting travelers seeking novel experiences and boosting tourism in destinations embracing such cutting-edge attractions. This technology is likely to be embraced within hotel walls, especially in urban settings in hotels with underutilized, windowless spaces.

10. The Rise of the Low Season: The Rise of the Low Season sees travelers finding value in off-peak times due to climate change making weather unpredictable. With traditional shoulder seasons less reliable, travelers embrace the low season for better deals and fewer crowds. This shift benefits tourists seeking cost-effective options and helps destinations balance visitor numbers year-round, adapting to the new climate reality.