An unprecedented number of travelers are anticipated to take to the skies in the upcoming year, pursuing destinations that gained popularity through television as well as remote places where relaxation is the aim.
Passenger quantities are projected to soar to 5.2 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 6.7% from this current year and surpassing the 5 billion threshold for the first time, as detailed in a forecast released this week by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The desire to travel is palpable — 40% of travelers polled by the organization indicated they expect to journey more in 2025 than in 2024, and about half revealed they plan to spend more money on their travels.
Members of the National Tour Association anticipate a comparable increase, with two-thirds foreseeing a rise in visitor numbers to their areas next year compared to 2024.
Get those passports ready. Data from Kayak indicates that two-thirds of all flight inquiries for travels in 2025 involve international flights. Moreover, Americans are flying further distances.
“Asia is the leading trending region,” stated Kayla Inserra DeLoache, an expert in consumer travel trends at Kayak. told Yahoo Finance.
Adventurous individuals are considering nations influenced by movies or TV shows they have enjoyed, according to a report from Expedia Group. Alternatively, they might plan trips around attending a concert featuring their favored musician or band. Others are inclined to make advance payments for an all-inclusive package. Additionally, some aim to disconnect and relax while engaging in puzzles and preparing delightful meals with friends and family in a rental property by the beach or in the mountains.
Regardless of your guiding inspiration, it is likely that you will discover lower costs and more offers in 2025. International flight fares are down 4% for the upcoming year compared to 2024, according to Kayak data. Travel to the Caribbean is currently the most affordable it has been in three years, with flight costs down 17% from 2024, particularly with excellent deals to spots like Dominica and Barbados.
Airfares to Asia have decreased by 7% in relation to 2024, as noted by DeLoache. Moreover, travelers are venturing beyond major urban areas.
“While Tokyo continues to be a sought-after destination, the focus is shifting towards lesser-known locales such as Sapporo and Osaka, which provide a break from the hustle and bustle of popular tourism,” DeLoache mentioned.
Hotel prices are anticipated to remain consistent with this year’s rates, whether you are in the US or abroad.
Regarding road trips, the projection for gasoline rates is promising, estimating an average of $3.20 per gallon next year, significantly below the exorbitant $5 or more per gallon seen in the summer of 2022, and slightly reduced from 2024. However, rental car prices are expected to rise compared to this year both in the US and globally, according to Kayak.
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Nearly two-thirds of travelers are planning detours in 2025.
“These won’t be completely off-the-beaten paths, undiscovered places, but rather side trips from established destinations,” said Melanie Fish, a travel expert at Expedia Group, in an interview with Yahoo Finance.
For instance, travelers might visit Reims, France, as a side trip from Paris; Brescia, Italy, as a side trip from Milan; or Fukuoka, Japan, as a side trip from Tokyo.
“Reims is an excellent addition to your Paris itinerary for a unique experience away from the crowds,” Fish remarked. “I advise individuals to consult a map and consider, ‘I’m headed to destination A, perhaps I can also include destination B.’”
This trend has also been increasingly popular among tour group participants.
“We frequently design our itineraries to feature a prominent location such as Santorini as a lure, but then travelers are often delighted to visit less-known islands,” stated Maeve Hartney, chief programs officer at Road Scholar, during a conversation with Yahoo Finance. “We include those attractions that entice them, but then we reveal what they truly desire to see but weren’t aware existed.”
For Betty Sheets, the allure lies in off-the-beaten-path destinations. “I have two thrilling Road Scholar excursions organized for 2025 — the Silk Roads and Mongolia,” the Stamford, Conn., resident shared with Yahoo Finance. “I am eager to dive deeper into Islamic culture and explorations away from mainstream paths.”
Another attractive option for vacationers next year will be all-inclusive getaway packages. These aren’t just the endless margaritas at the swim-up bar or all-you-can-eat buffet fiestas of the past.
“For many years, all-inclusives had a reputation for being one-size-fits-all,” Fish stated. “But that stereotype has been discarded. We are now observing ski all-inclusives like the Alpinresort ValSaa — Sport & Spa in Saalbach, Austria, adults-only all-inclusive options, family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, gourmet dining all-inclusives, and wellness retreats that include sound bath experiences.”What’s fueling the interest? “I don’t know if these are perceived as an exceptionally fair option and a convenient way to vacation, or if it’s the ease and reduced tension being the significant aspect of the allure,” Fish stated.
“It’s probably a consequence of life’s overwhelm. There are countless items vying for our focus, from our careers to our social activities, to our families, to social networks, making it rather pleasant to simply click and have an entire getaway arranged and financed,” she remarked.
In other terms, “A fly and flop.”
JOMO travel, or joy of missing out, where families and circles of friends are leasing holiday homes to relax, is gaining popularity. Approximately 6 in 10 travelers revealed to Expedia they were seeking journeys where they engage in less.
“They’re enjoying the joy of skipping timetables, bypassing ticket purchases, avoiding dinner reservations, and steering clear of busy attractions,” Fish explained. “They’re renting entire vacation properties to do puzzles, to cook together, to read books, and simply to be present with one another.”
Reservations for smaller travel clusters like Road Scholar’s Microgroup Programs, which involve a maximum of 12 attendees, have surged for next year, Hartney informed Yahoo Finance.
Ultimately, two-thirds of travelers claim films, streaming platforms, and television series have swayed their travel decisions, a rise of 16% from the previous year, as per Expedia research.
“A new season of White Lotus is being filmed in Thailand,” Fish mentioned, “and that has started generating interest in Thailand, even before the show is released.”
The beloved children’s character bear Paddington is set to have a new film this year traveling to Peru, which is likely to increase the interest in Peru, she added. The latest season of Yellowstone has already triggered heightened interest in VRBO vacation home rentals in Montana and Wyoming for 2025.
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has broadened awareness of tour-related travel—this trend will continue to motivate travel destinations in 2025.
“People are realizing that they can economically combine typically lower-priced concert tickets in other countries with a trip,” Fish remarked. “I don’t anticipate we’ll see tour-related travel at the scale of the Eras tour next year, but there will be essential concerts like the Oasis reunion that fans will likely travel to experience.”
For all the nature enthusiasts, your type of travel is currently trending. Popular spots include the synchronous firefly season in the Great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tenn., occurring in May and June; the Penguin parade on Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia; or the Northern Lights in the Lapland region of Finland from August until April.
“We are heading on a safari in Tanzania in January 2025,” shared Anne Fantacone, a resident of Melbourne, Fla., with Yahoo Finance. “This has been a lifelong aspiration for my husband, Antonio, and me to witness the animal migration.”
Mt. Fuji, here they come. Travel to Asia is the least expensive in three years, according to Kayak research. (Getty Creative) ·Kannika via Getty Images
If you know your preferred travel destinations, establish a fare price tracker. You will receive an email or text alerting you whenever prices increase or decrease. Major travel applications, like Hopper, Kayak, and Skyscanner, provide fare tracking, as does Google Flights. You may also conduct a search using Kayak’s “best time to travel” tool.
Avoid booking too early. If you are over six months ahead of your trip, fares tend to be elevated.
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Generally, traveling midweek—on Tuesday or Wednesday—can assist you in saving on domestic airfares. Consider taking the first flight of the day since delays are a reality. Additionally, this year, February was noted as the most economical month to travel according to Kayak researchers.
Airline miles, hotel loyalty rewards, and credit card points can significantly impact both affordable and more comfortable travel experiences. Business class, anyone?
A credit card without foreign transaction fees is crucial if you are traveling outside of the US. Always request that your purchases be processed in the local currency for the best exchange rate.
My top advice: Allow yourself to envision far-off destinations, conduct your research, utilize those points, and retrieve your passport from the drawer for 2025.
