Trip Planning
Travel’s Next Big Trends That Are Gaining Speed
SINGAPORE – As the global travel industry continues to reinvent itself, Trip.com Group today released its forward-looking report, Momentum 2025: Travel’s Next Big Trends. Based on insights from over 6,000 travellers across six Asia-Pacific markets, this report forecasts the trends and innovations shaping the future of travel, including technology-driven personalization, niche travel experiences, and a renewed focus on meaningful, immersive journeys. Below is a snapshot of key highlights, download full report here.
1. Experiential Dining to Dominate Travel Itineraries
Culinary tourism is on the rise, with 60% of Trip.com users searching for food-related content since early 2024. Across Asia-Pacific, travellers are drawn to food festivals (62%), hotel dining (60%), and street food tours (52%) as top culinary experiences. Urban food lovers from Hong Kong and Singapore show a particular enthusiasm for street food tours, while travellers from Japan and South Korea prioritise hotel dining for its blend of convenience and luxury.
When it comes to preferences by demographic, wine and beer tasting are most popular among men, while women gravitate towards cookery classes for a hands-on experience. Millennials, on the other hand, display a keen interest in interactive food art events. Globally, cities like Tokyo, Paris, and Bangkok have become culinary meccas, celebrated for their diverse and vibrant food scenes.
These trends highlight an increasing demand for immersive, culturally rich food experiences. Catering to this surge, the Trip.Gourmet food guide and booking platform offers travellers access to over 50,000 restaurants and expertly curated food guides across 300 cities, enhancing the way travellers explore the world through taste.
2. Travellers Inspired by Media Content
The power of films and television on travel choices is stronger than ever, with 70% of travellers across the region planning trips inspired by what they’ve seen on screen. Romantic comedies and adventure films, in particular, have sparked wanderlust, with Millennials leading the trend at 72%. In Malaysia, a remarkable 91% of travellers credit media for shaping their travel plans, influenced by fan-favourites like Emily in Paris and Running Man.
In South Korea, 66% of respondents cited movies and TV shows as key motivators. Shows such as Culinary Class Wars have inspired trips focused on food exploration. This culinary media influence extends to Thailand, where popular programs like MasterChef and Iron Chef are inspiring travellers to seek out dynamic food experiences abroad.
Destinations featured in iconic productions are also seeing increased interest. New Zealand’s breathtaking “Middle-earth” landscapes and the historic charm of Kyoto, Japan, continue to draw fans eager to experience these magical places firsthand. This trend reflects a growing connection between travel and storytelling, as more people turn their favourite on-screen moments into real-world adventures.
3. Cruise Tourism Sees Major Growth
Cruising is set to become a major growth segment in 2025, driven by scenic sea views, fresh ocean air, and diverse onboard experiences. According to the report, 44% of travellers place a high value on onboard dining, 38% are drawn to all-inclusive packages, and 31% prioritise live shows and entertainment.
Popular cruise destinations include Tokyo, Jeju Island, and the Maldives. Among Singaporean travellers, affordability (57%), scenic views (52%), and all-inclusive travel (51%) are the most attractive features of cruise holidays. Meanwhile, scenic sea views are the top draw for 62% of respondents aged 55 to 64 in Hong Kong.
4. Entertainment Travel: Big Events Driving Movement
Entertainment-driven travel is set to soar, with concerts and sporting events becoming major travel motivators in 2025. Following the global phenomenon of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024, which drew record-breaking crowds worldwide, nearly two-thirds (66%) of travellers now plan to organise trips around live events. This trend isn’t just local—66% have already travelled internationally to watch their favourite artists perform, turning concerts into full-fledged travel experiences.
In 2024, sports tourism was driven by marquee events such as the UEFA Euro. Now in 2025, football remains the top choice for live sports travel, followed closely by basketball and the ever-growing popularity of Formula 1. Enthusiasts are not just attending these events but seeking destinations that offer complementary experiences, such as exploring local landmarks and culinary hotspots in between match schedules or race weekends.
In 2025, entertainment travel is poised to become even more immersive, with fans blending cultural exploration with their passion for live events. This growing demand signals a shift toward more experience-oriented travel, where the thrill of a concert or sporting event becomes the centrepiece of a memorable journey.
5. The Social Media-Driven Explorer
Social media will continue to shape where and how people travel. Viral travel content on platforms like TikTok has already influenced 45% of travellers’ decisions. Popular destinations including Tokyo and Bali will further benefit from this trend, as users seek destinations with “Instagrammable” appeal. Trip.com’s social-sharing Trip Moments travel platform is expected to play a key role in fostering this community-driven exploration.
6. Emerging Micro-Trends for 2025
- Dark Sky Stargazing: A growing number of travellers (37%) are planning trips to remote areas for optimal stargazing experiences.
- Underwater Hotel Stays: Immersive travel experiences, such as underwater hotels and cultural immersion retreats, are gaining traction.
- AI and Travel Innovation: AI-powered tools will revolutionise travel planning by offering hyper-personalised experiences. Over half of travellers (58%) already use AI for travel recommendations. Trip.com’s dynamic tools, like Trip.Genie, Trip.Best and Trip.Trends, are designed to enhance this journey by offering itinerary planning from real-time suggestions based on user behaviour.
The rise of AI-powered personalisation and sustainable travel will shape the next phase of the industry. Travelers are increasingly prioritising journeys that reflect their values, including cultural preservation and environmental protection. Trip.com Group’s investments in AI and eco-conscious travel solutions position it to lead this transformation, creating seamless and impactful travel experiences for every traveller.
About Trip.com Group
Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com. Follow us on: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Audley Travel has relaunched its programme to Jamaica three years after pulling out of the destination.
The tailor-made tour operator said it had reintroduced the country due to client demand for more Caribbean islands.
A sample itinerary to Jamaica includes a nine-day ‘Jamaica beach & rainforest escape’ with stays in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Other itineraries include a tour of Kingston and a visit to Dunn’s River Falls and The Blue Hole.
Audley has also expanded its programme in India, Japan and Tanzania.
New tours in India include a 15-night tailor-made itinerary, with stays in Delhi, Nimmu, Uleytopko, Nurla, Leh, Nubra Valley and two nights at the Drenmo Lodge. There’s also bear tracking in the valleys of Dras, where guests can stay in the Drenmo Lodge for the chance to see the Himalayan Brown Bear.
In Japan, Audley has added Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, which can be included in a traditional Japanese itinerary to expand the Golden Route. A sample itinerary includes a 17-day trip with two nights in Nagoya as well as time in Tokyo and Kyoto.
The expanded Tanzania programme includes a 10-day itinerary with one night in Arusha, four nights for the Great Rift Valley Trek and two nights in Karatu.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has revealed details of its first 2027-28 deployment, marking its return to the Oceania region.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ 2027–28 season features voyages across seven continents, designed to connect travelers with wildlife, wild places and local communities in ways that are authentic, enriching and respectful. The season will see its return to the Oceania region after two years with the relaunch of several immersive itineraries on board the National Geographic Resolution, including the 11-day Pearls of the Pacific: The Society and Tuamotu Islands, and a return to Easter Island after four years with the 18-day Easter Island To Tahiti: Tales of The Pacific itinerary.
“Our 2027-28 deployment reflects everything our guests value about traveling with us: extraordinary access, thoughtful pacing and a deep respect for the environments and cultures we visit,” said Trey Byus, Chief Expedition Officer, Lindblad Expeditions, in a press release statement. “Every itinerary has been crafted with care—whether it’s a guest favorite or a returning route—to offer experiences that are not only awe-inspiring, but also positively impactful. We believe travel can be a powerful force for good, and through these voyages, we invite our guests to deepen their connection to the planet, support conservation and communities, and return home with a renewed sense of wonder and purpose.”
The brand will also return to Alaska in 2027-28, inviting guests to explore its snow-capped mountains, fjords and wildlife with additional departures of its eight-day Alaska’s Inside Passage, 11-day Voyage to the Great Bear Rainforest, and 14- and 15-day Treasures of the Inside Passage itineraries aboard National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture.
Additional departures will also be available on its 16-day Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture itinerary, exploring Japan’s history, culture, and landscapes—from the storied castle towns of the Edo period to the shrines and merchant districts of the Meiji era.
Whether kayaking alongside icebergs in Antarctica, observing sea lions while snorkeling in Baja California, wandering through rainforests in Central America, or journeying where few travelers have before by sailing through the Northwest Passage, each voyage is designed to offer transformative experiences that deepen guests’ understanding of the world—and their place within it.
For more information, visit expeditions.com.
New Zealand lives and breathes kaitiakitanga, which translates to guardianship of the land. For a sustainable holiday, check into The Hotel Britomart–New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel–or stroll through Brick Bay vineyard, known for its greening ethos and farm-to-table delicacies.
From donning a wizard’s hat to spinning on the water, laughing in a Hobbit™ Hole, or soaking in geothermal pools, the actors found joy in spontaneity. They even shared quiet villa breakfasts with a view of Lake Taupō. Beyond these experiences, the country offers a rare connection to verdant landscapes where trees have stood tall for hundreds of years. Up north, Sanctuary Mountain stands as one of the country’s largest ecological projects, while down south, Fiordland comes alive with the chatter of rare birds like the kea, weka, tūī, and bellbirds.
Rajkummar and Patralekhaa departed with stories, smiles, and soulful memories. Whether it was the warmth of Māori hospitality, the mist rising from hot springs, or the hush of a native forest, every memory felt earned and cherished.
The mini-series will be released in phases on newzealand.com/in and owned channels, with advertising campaigns going live across digital channels and social platforms. Watch the first episode of the mini-series here. Inspired to take a no-filter trip to Aotearoa New Zealand? Explore SOTC travel packages here and Thomas Cook packages here.
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