The biggest travel trends for 2022 were big trips, big spends, and people were eager to book bucket-list trips to places like Bali, Rome, London, and Paris.
But two new reports show travelers are now in a completely different brainspace.
According to a trend report from Expedia and Booking.com, travelers are cutting back on flashy trips to the world’s hottest spots in favor of quieter trips to lesser-known and far less crowded destinations. Masu.
About 63% of travelers are likely to visit an off-the-beaten-path destination on their next trip, according to Expedia’s Unpacked ’25 travel trends report, which surveyed 25,000 respondents across 19 countries. answered that it was high.
Expedia flight searches from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024 are of increasing interest to:
Reims, Brescia, France, Cozumel, Italy, Santa Barbara, Mexico, Waikato, California, Girona, New Zealand, Fukuoka, Spain, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Krabi, United Arab Emirates, Canmore, Thailand, Canada
“Many destinations are becoming quite congested,” said James Marshall, Expedia’s vice president of global aviation accounts. “Many travelers want something different. They want to get away and find comparable destinations that not as many people are discovering.”
Expedia’s James Marshall, who is of Spanish descent, says Girona has changed dramatically from Barcelona’s bustling crowds. “A beautiful city, beautiful architecture, a wonderful cathedral…and the countryside around it is also wonderful.”
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United Airlines announced this month that it will expand international flights to Senegal, Greenland and Mongolia next year in a bid to capture travel interest in the next “it” destination.
Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, told reporters that savvy travelers have been to Paris, Rome and Madrid multiple times.
“They’re looking for something different,” he says.
Cheaper and more relaxing
But Greg Schultz, chief commercial officer at Expedia Group, said there are other reasons why travelers choose to take the road less traveled.
Schulz told CNBC Travel that these destinations tend to be cheap and relaxing.
“Travel prices have been rising in recent years,” he says. “Detour destinations are often more economical for travelers, allowing them to get a great experience for less money.”
Lesser-known spots also meet travelers’ growing interest in “authentic” experiences, Schulz said.
Marshall added that travel influencers are also driving interest in new locations.
“Trendsetters often do a lot of research and see the need and try to find alternatives,” he said. “Social media greatly amplifies that impact.”
“Genuine, off the beaten path”
A trends report released by Booking.com on Wednesday concluded that travelers share a desire to explore lesser-visited places.
Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Forecast opens with the statement: “Desire for off-the-beaten-path, authentic experiences will increase.”
About 67% of adult travelers said they wanted to visit less crowded destinations, according to a Booking.com survey of more than 27,700 respondents from 33 countries and territories.
Another report from the company, also released on Wednesday, lists 10 “trending destinations” that the company sees increasing interest year-over-year.
Sanya, Trieste, China, João Pessoa, Italy, Tromsø, Brazil, Willemstadtigne, Curacao, Norway, San Pedro de Atacama, France, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, Villajoyosa, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Houston, Spain, United States of America
The idea of “missing out”
Expedia has declared 2022 the year of the GOAT, which stands for “The Best of All Travels.”
But the mindset of travelers is changing, and today more people are embracing JOMO, or “joy of missing out,” the report said.
According to Marshall, 62% of travelers surveyed said a JOMO trip reduced stress and anxiety, and almost half said it helped them reconnect with loved ones.
Expedia’s Unpack ’25 report found that travelers are willing to “do less while on vacation.”
Klaus Wedfeldt | Digital Vision | Getty Images
He noted that he is interested in renting vacation homes near beaches, lakes and mountains. Additionally, vacationers want amenities that show they plan to spend plenty of time inside the home, he said, from a pool and garden to a “porch with a view.”
“I go there with my friends and family, far away from the crowds and busyness,” he said. “And I’m so happy I missed everything else.”
—CNBC’s Leslie Josephs contributed to this report.
