From witnessing wonders of nature to fostering a more tranquil mindset, here’s how specialists anticipate we will allocate our leisure time in the upcoming year.
Gently, gently
Soft travel refers to “simplified” journeys with an “introspective focus” that emphasizes “ease and simplicity,” noted Forbes. This includes experiences of “fundamental joy” similar to “spending quality time with loved ones” along with “strolling in picturesque environments; sleeping outdoors; gathering from nature,” stated luxury travel provider Original Travel. There are “no tricks, no trends, simply travel in its most genuine and ideal form”.
For the Long Term
Vacationers will be eager to broaden their scope this year, indicated the Abta Travel Trends report, noting that Asia is “predicted to witness the greatest year-over-year increase in visitors”. Thailand is anticipated to be the most discussed travel hotspot in 2025, partially owing to “set-jetting”—the third season of the TV series “The White Lotus” filmed in Koh Samui—and the expansion of visa-free entry.
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The second season of “Squid Game” is predicted to heighten interest in South Korea, while “Shogun” has sparked historical tours in Japan.
The Future of Air Travel
Customized flying is utterly different from the practice of “rawdogging”—traveling without any form of entertainment, food, or beverages, which “will seem torturous” to many individuals. Thanks to AI, high-speed in-flight WiFi, and virtual reality, travelers can anticipate a “remarkably personalized, connected, and engaging journey,” remarked Amadeus Travel Trends.
Numerous passengers are currently watching or listening to media on their own devices, but “airlines are raising the stakes” by providing algorithmic entertainment “customized for the individual flyer, based on their past preferences”. Delta Air Lines has already launched its Delta Sync system for loyalty program participants, which “transforms seat-back screens into smart TVs” by remembering where users paused viewing and curating their favorite shows.
Natural Wonders
Strokkur geyser in Iceland erupts approximately every 10 minutes
(Image credit: Roc Canals / Getty Images)
Adventurers will be eager to witness awe-inspiring natural displays, ranging from “looking toward dark skies for stargazing” to “visiting the beach to observe sea turtles hatch,” as noted in Expedia Group’s latest trend report, Unpack ’25. High on the list is the Northern Lights, followed by stunning geological sites such as volcanoes, geysers, and lava fields in Iceland, bird dances of cranes in Japan, and the world’s highest tides found in Canada’s Bay of Fundy. Locally, starling murmurations in Somerset are a top bucket-list experience.
Men’s Health and Wellness
“Gender expectations and norms” are becoming “increasingly fluid” and will influence our travel behavior, stated Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Insights. Wellness weekends at spas and yoga retreats are popular among women, yet “men-only retreats focused on wellness and personal development” are likely to become “more common”. Almost half of the 27,713 travelers surveyed would advocate for a men-only trip as a means to escape the “stresses of contemporary life”—29% would utilize such a journey for relaxation, 23% to emphasize mental health advantages, and 14% to combat loneliness.
