In 2025, travel trends are set to embrace sustainability more than ever, with eco-friendly accommodations and carbon offset programs gaining popularity. Euronews, a pan-European television news network, headquartered in Lyon, France published its Travel Trend Report 2025 Edition “Exploring Differently, Travelling Better”.

The Report states, despite the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures, travel remains a top priority for many consumers. Along with the strong recovery post pandemic, the World is focusing on re-shaping the way of travel towards something better for people and the planet. With shifting consumer trends and desires, the global travel industry could move towards a model prioritising the environment, community, and technological integration, capitalising on evolving visitor values.

Travelling in 2025 will be the year of more purposeful travel trends. Tourists are no longer passive consumers but active participants, shaping the places they visit through initiatives like conservation projects, community programmes, or cultural exchanges.

“Travel products with a strong, sustainable component such as nature, rural, gastronomy and wellness have emerged as popular travel choices.”, emphasised Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-General.

To better handle climate change and mass tourism protests alter the travel landscape, destinations should consider how to meet increasing consumer demand for purposeful, sustainable and more considered travel.

As the industry evolves, destinations will need to adapt and find new ways to foster more sustainable and regenerative tourism models.

“The younger population will also not consider travelling to a destination if it is “damaging the climate or doesn’t have a regenerative, responsible component.”, said Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission.

7 travel trends in 2025

According to the Report, 2025 will be the year of 7 travel trends, including:

Photo: Luk Ban La

• Offbeat alternatives: Discovering hidden wonders. Travellers tend to avoid tourist-heavy destinations in favour of lesser-known, more budget-friendly options offering similar experiences. A recent State of Travel 2024 survey by Thrillist found that 68% of Gen Z respondents prioritise finding destinations where they can “discover something new” rather than visiting famous landmarks that have already been extensively shared online.

• Set adventures: Walking through iconic scenes. With blockbuster destinations driving tourism growth. Set Jetting inspires tourism heading to iconic film locations. According to a 2024 Expedia survey, 53% of travellers have researched or booked a trip to a destination after seeing it on screen.

• Digital itineraries: Exploring travel’s high-tech future. As rapidly developing technology disrupts the travel industry, AI is shaping how travellers plan, book, and experience journeys. From AIpowered assistants to personalised itineraries, 2025 marks a significant leap into a high-tech travel future.

 

Photo: duongduykhangnb

• Coolcations: Chilling out in cooler climates. Traditional hotpots heat up, travellers are switching it up for more temperature “coolcations”. “Coolcations” - holidays to colder climates during traditionally warmer months - emerged as a significant movement in 2024 and is expected to continue in 2025. This pushes travellers to search for holidays in higher elevations and at higher latitudes, swapping sun-soaked beaches for mountainous regions and lake resorts.

• Purposeful journeys: Leaving more than memories. As global awareness of environmental and social issues grows, travellers seek more than scenic destinations - they want to actively contribute to the regeneration of the sites they visit

 

Photo: hoianphotoguide

• Scenic escapes: Rediscovering slow travel by rail. As travellers seek eco-friendly alternatives to flying, train travel is enjoying a revival. This shift signals trains aren’t just a means of transportation; they offer scenic routes, panoramic windows, sleeper cars, and dining experiences that transform the journey into an integral part of the adventure.

• Cosmic getaways: Gazing at the stars. Astro-tourism is rising, offering travellers a cosmic connection. travelling to destinations with minimal light pollution to observe celestial events

The future of travel looks bright and promising!