AI-Powered Travel Planning Takes the Guesswork Out
Travel planning has never been more sophisticated. AI is revolutionizing travel planning, and you can expect more of that in 2025. From building personalized itineraries to finding eco-conscious destinations, tools like ChatGPT and Skyscanner empower travelers to make smarter, more sustainable choices. The days of spending hours researching destinations and comparing prices are becoming a distant memory.
Many travellers increasingly leverage AI for recommendations, and Trip.com’s own tools, such as Trip.Genie, Trip.Best, and Trip.Trends, are designed to streamline itinerary planning with real-time, behaviour-based suggestions. These tools don’t just save time; they’re creating genuinely personalized experiences that match individual preferences and travel styles.
Additionally, 78% of travellers now expect seamless online booking experiences, with digital keys and room personalisation through apps becoming the norm. The integration is becoming so seamless that travelers barely notice they’re interacting with artificial intelligence.
A 2025 Smart Guide forecast predicts 70% of bookings will use AI by 2030. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s fundamentally changing how we discover and experience destinations.
Astrotourism Ignites Wonder Under Dark Skies
The night sky has become the newest frontier for wanderers. A significant portion of travelers say they plan to travel for stargazing, making it trend number one in the 2025 Booking.com travel predictions. This surge represents something deeper than mere curiosity about celestial events.
According to Booking.com’s 2025 travel predictions, around 60% of Americans are considering visiting darker sky destinations in 2025 to take part in activities like once-in-a-lifetime cosmic events and constellation tracking. The appeal extends beyond the visual spectacle to offer genuine escape from urban chaos.
Meanwhile, the designation of numerous new International Dark Sky Parks last year supports this trend, creating ideal environments for stargazing. These protected areas provide something increasingly rare: complete darkness that allows stars to truly shine.
Stargazers are also flocking to Road Scholar, which is seeing an enrollment increase of 68% year over year for astronomy programs in 2025. The combination of education and awe is proving irresistible to travelers seeking meaningful experiences.
Not only a for the visibility of stars (300 in cities versus 3.000 on the countryside), but also as a severe threat to plants, animals and even people’s health. This awareness is driving people to seek authentic darkness as both entertainment and wellness.
Sustainable Travel Shifts from Trend to Standard
A substantial majority of travelers said that traveling more sustainably is important to them. This isn’t just lip service; it’s translating into concrete booking decisions and destination choices.
Sustainable tourism is projected to experience substantial growth in the coming years. The financial numbers reveal just how mainstream this movement has become.
Over half of travelers (60%) are open to paying more to businesses prioritizing environmental stewardship. Money talks, and travelers are putting their wallets behind their values.
Choosing sustainable accommodation costs an average of $151 less per night, and was an average of 39% cheaper than non-sustainable options. Surprisingly, being environmentally conscious often saves money rather than costing extra.
This strategy emphasizes repairing and revitalizing ecosystems and local communities rather than just reducing adverse environmental effects. Travelers want to leave places better than they found them.
Destination Dupes Combat Overtourism
Smart travelers are discovering hidden gems by avoiding overcrowded hotspots. Visiting alternatives to population destinations: Travelers are looking for lesser-known destinations to avoid overcrowded tourist hot spots. This movement represents both practical problem-solving and deeper cultural awareness.
A destination dupe is effectively a destination that is so similar to another, usually more popular destination, that you can go to the less popular one instead. This is great for reducing overcrowding while still giving tourists the adventure and thrills they’re looking for on their holiday. The concept offers win-win solutions for both travelers and local communities.
These spots include: Reims, France (detour from Paris), Brescia,Italy, and Cozumel, Mexico, according to flight searches on Expedia. By taking the road less traveled, travelers aim for quieter, more relaxing locations, but also less expensive and more authentic trips. The financial benefits often match the experiential ones.
Nearly half (44%) avoid tagging lesser-known destinations on social media to prevent over-tourism, while 67% use technology to find less crowded areas. Social media awareness is growing among responsible travelers.
Multi-Generational Vacations Build Family Bonds
Family travel is evolving beyond nuclear units. 58% of Millennials and Gen Z parents surveyed plan to bring their extended family on vacation in 2025, as opposed to 31% of their Gen X and Baby Boomer counterparts. These trips represent significant investment in family relationships.
And not just for the free babysitting – 89% of these Millennial and Gen Z-aged parents cited “quality time” as the reason for bringing along extended family, which is more than those who said to “help with childcare” (24%). The motivation runs deeper than convenience.
According to Hilton’s trends report, 37% of global travellers now travel with their parents, seeking unique experiences that cater to diverse age groups. Accommodating different ages and interests requires careful planning and thoughtful destination selection.
Nearly half (46%) of respondents – including 49% of boomers – prefer investing in family vacations over leaving an inheritance. These trips offer meaningful bonding experiences, with 80% of boomers willing to cover costs for their children’s and grandchildren’s travel. Experiences are becoming more valuable than material inheritances.
Wellness Tourism Expands Beyond Spa Days
Modern wellness travel transcends traditional relaxation. Wellness tourism isn’t anything new, but is surging as people look for respite from the hectic pace of modern life by unplugging in a relaxing location or treat themselves to spa and health treatments. The definition of wellness is becoming more holistic.
Wellness travel takes on a new dimension in 2025, with 60% of travelers expressing interest in longevity retreats. These advanced wellness getaways replace short-term relaxation with therapies aimed at extending lifespan and promoting long-term health. The focus has shifted from temporary relief to lasting transformation.
Rampant insomnia is likely behind the growing “sleep tourism” travel trend of booking trips to places or hotels designed to help them get a good night’s sleep. Sleep quality has become a legitimate travel priority.
Fitness retreats with yoga, hiking, cycling and other outdoor activities also attract health-minded travelers. According to Hilton, one in five travelers are planning outdoor adventures in 2025. Active wellness is gaining ground alongside contemplative approaches.
Experience-Driven Events Shape Travel Plans
Travelers are building entire trips around specific experiences. 60% of global respondents plan to book a trip around entertainment events or plan on taking at least one trip for a sporting event in 2025, reinforcing that traveling for experiences continues to be a driving force. Events have become primary motivators rather than secondary considerations.
After the global success of Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” in 2024, music tourism shows no signs of slowing down in 2025, driven by the long-awaited Oasis reunion and the rich offer of music festivals in Europe. Music events are proving particularly powerful in driving travel decisions.
According to Skyscanner, nearly a third of all American jetsetters plan to travel either domestically or internationally to see a sporting event in 2025. In 2025, options include Bahrain’s Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Tour de France across Europe, the women’s Rugby World Cup in England, and the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Sports tourism is experiencing remarkable growth.
Another type of event influencing this travel trend is natural phenomena. According to Expedia’s recent survey, large numbers of travelers journeyed to witness recent eclipses – and in 2025, they’re continuing to seek out the best views of nature’s most spectacular displays. The Northern Lights remain the top natural phenomenon people plan to travel for (61%), followed by geological wonders such as volcanoes and geysers (30%). These natural spectacles are now commanding as much attention as major human-created events.
