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How travel trends are reshaping South Africa in 2025

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The South African traveller is no longer content with cookie-cutter holidays. A recent consumer insights study by KLA and YouGov Profiles reveals how local travel behaviour has evolved into something more personalised, flexible, and experience-led.

Mobile-first tools, meaningful activities, and off-the-beaten-path discoveries are now high on the agenda.

Eva Darron/Unsplash

Tech is the new travel essential

From trip inspiration to booking confirmations, tech is non-negotiable. A resounding 84% of South Africans believe that mobile devices improve their travel experience. The consistency of this trend since 2021 shows just how essential mobile tech has become at every step of the travel experience. Whether it’s navigating with Google Maps, checking real-time reviews, or sharing the perfect sunset on Instagram, travellers want their tech tools to be intuitive and integrated. This shift means that travel brands must prioritise mobile-first designs—not as a feature, but as the foundation of every interaction.

Authenticity over itineraries

Checklist tourism is out, and cultural immersion is in. An increasing number of South Africans—81% in 2025—say that the only way to truly understand a country is by experiencing its culture. This includes sampling local cuisine, joining community-led tours, or simply lingering in a neighbourhood coffee shop. It’s a move toward “slow travel” that invites longer stays, deeper connections, and a richer understanding of place.

ALSO READ: Cape Town International Airport takes title of best airport globally

The joy of planning

Forget last-minute stress— 76% of South Africans enjoy researching and planning their holidays. Travel planning has become a hobby in itself, spurred by dreamy Instagram reels, travel-themed TikToks, and endless online resources. Curated guides, itinerary builders, and visually rich content are key tools that help today’s traveller map out their perfect escape.

Adventure meets intention

Relaxation still matters—but it looks different now. The classic “sun, sea, and slumber” holiday is making way for more dynamic experiences. From food tours and pottery classes to forest hikes and yoga retreats, 62% of travellers now favour trips that include scheduled activities. Active doesn’t mean exhausting; it means engaging the body and mind.

Picture: Supplied

Spontaneity has its moment

Last-minute getaways are on the rise, with 40% of travellers waiting for deals before booking. Compared to just 31% in 2021, this jump points to shifting work patterns, tighter budgets, and the influence of social media FOMO (fear of missing out). For tourism providers, this is a call to action—be ready with flash sales, flexible bookings, and real-time mobile alerts.

The allure of the unfamiliar

Roughly 46% of South African travellers actively seek out less-trodden routes. Instead of high-end hotels or famous landmarks, they’re after quiet hiking trails, remote farm stays, or local stargazing spots. Tapping into this desire means showcasing hidden gems with compelling storytelling, organic imagery, and word-of-mouth reviews.

Holidaying through hobbies

More than ever, leisure time is being shaped by personal interests. Whether it’s birdwatching, landscape photography, trail running, or food foraging, holidays are increasingly about doing what you love in a new setting. About 70% of South Africans now pursue hobbies while on holiday, turning travel into a form of self-expression.

What it all means for the future

The data is clear: South African travel in 2025 is personal, tech-savvy, and driven by a desire for depth over distance. It’s not about ticking off tourist attractions—it’s about connection. For travel brands, this means adopting mobile-first strategies, offering flexible and meaningful experiences, and showcasing authentic, local stories. The future belongs to those who build journeys that reflect who travellers are—and who they want to become.

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ALSO READ: Club Med’s South African debut: Beach meets bush in style





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Actions for Hoteliers to Leverage Emerging Travel Trends : 4Hoteliers

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Travelers are blending business with leisure, seeking cooler climates, and working from inspiring new locations, but the hotel industry has largely remained unresponsive.

The data may not yet fully reflect the volume of these burgeoning trends, but this signals a crucial opportunity for proactive hoteliers to move beyond generic offerings and capture a growing market of guests seeking higher value and tailored experiences.

The disconnect between trending topics and hotel actions is apparent. Standard hotel offerings leave many travelers in these emerging categories underserved. Hotels have a clear opportunity to differentiate themselves and build guest loyalty.

Instead of waiting for overwhelming statistical evidence, savvy hoteliers should be at the forefront, shaping their services to meet and exceed the expectations of these new traveler personas. Here are three key actions hoteliers should take to interpret and act on the latest trends, ensuring they capture their full impact.

1. Deep Dive into Data and Decipher the “Why”

Understanding a trend’s relevance to your specific property is crucial before taking meaningful action. Acknowledging a new buzzword isn’t enough; investigate how it appears in your market and guest data to gain a deeper understanding of its relevance. Moving beyond guesswork and manual spreadsheet analysis is essential.

To truly unlock these insights, you need a hotel business intelligence (BI) system. A modern BI platform automates the collection and analysis of data from all your key systems—your Property Management System (PMS), point-of-sale (POS), and even online guest reviews. Instead of relying on gut feelings, a BI system provides a comprehensive view of guest behavior.

It can flag patterns, such as increasing lengths of stay that bridge a Thursday to a Monday (a classic bleisure indicator), correlate guest origin with on-site spending, or track booking lead times from specific markets. This technology enables you to identify emerging trends with statistical confidence, allowing you to act decisively while your competitors are still discussing it.

With this powerful analytical foundation, you can begin to dig deeper. Are you seeing longer stays that bridge weekdays and weekends? Are guests inquiring about workspaces or the reliability of high-speed internet? Is there an uptick in visitors from regions experiencing extreme heat during certain times of the year? A BI system will not only help you ask these questions but also give you the clear, data-backed answers you need to build your strategy.

2. Reimagine and Repurpose Your Physical Spaces

Once you have a handle on the trends impacting your business, the next step is to adapt your physical environment. A one-size-fits-all approach to hotel rooms and common areas will no longer suffice.

For the “work-from-anywhere” guest, this means more than just a desk and a chair. Consider creating dedicated, well-equipped workstations that feature ergonomic seating, ample power outlets, and excellent lighting for video calls. Could a lesser-used common area be transformed into a stylish and functional co-working space? Offering day passes to these spaces can also attract local remote workers, creating a new revenue stream.

Attract “bleisure” travelers by ensuring a seamless transition between work and relaxation. Offer packages that bundle a spa treatment or a happy hour credit with a room booking. Create a “Business and Leisure” section on your website to highlight your meeting facilities and proximity to local attractions.

For “coolcationers,” the focus shifts to the experience of the destination. While you can’t change the weather, you can enhance the enjoyment of it. Partner with local tour operators to offer unique excursions that capitalize on the pleasant climate, such as guided hikes, boat trips, or outdoor yoga sessions. In-room, you could provide amenities that encourage exploration, like pre-loaded transit cards or a curated guide to local parks and outdoor cafes.

Continue to read about the third action here



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Film-Inspired Travel Campaigns : Tourism Fiji

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Tourism Fiji has unveiled a new global marketing initiative titled ‘Wilson’s Happily Ever After,’ commemorating the 25th anniversary of the acclaimed film Cast Away. The campaign revives the film’s iconic character, Wilson, through a thoughtfully produced 90-second short film that reimagines his narrative—from isolation to joyful belonging—set against the stunning backdrop of Fiji’s islands.

Produced by Special PR and directed by James Anderson, with on-location filming by Radlab, the campaign centers on Wilson’s symbolic return to Fiji. The story begins as he is discovered on the white-sand shores of Serenity Island Resort by a young Fijian girl named Lani. She embraces Wilson with a sense of wonder, inviting him into a series of memorable, culturally rich experiences. These include “cycling along historic sugar cane rail tracks with Eco Trax, kayaking in crystal-clear waters, partaking in a traditional Kava ceremony, and engaging in a spirited game of volleyball.”

This film-inspired campaign blends cinematic nostalgia with authentic Fijian hospitality, highlighting the destination’s enduring appeal and reinforcing Fiji’s position as a welcoming, adventure-filled travel destination for global audiences.

Image Credit: Tourism Fiji



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Travel-Friendly Summer Apparel : Lake Geneva Series

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Public Rec has introduced the ‘Lake Geneva Series,’ a thoughtfully designed menswear collection tailored for comfort, versatility, and refined ease during summer travel. Created with the modern traveler in mind, the collection is intended to offer elevated relaxation—whether at the lake, on a weekend getaway, or in transit.

Emphasizing breathable materials, polished silhouettes, and functionality, the Lake Geneva Series features a selection of wardrobe essentials that seamlessly transition from leisure to casual outings. Key pieces include the ‘Dealmaker Chino+ Short’ and the ‘Dealmaker 5 Pocket Pant,’ both designed to balance structure with flexibility. These are complemented by the ‘Adapt Tee,’ known for its lightweight performance fabric, and the ‘Pro Weekender,’ a sleek and comfortable top suited for travel or unwinding.

Each garment in the collection reflects Public Rec’s ongoing commitment to comfort-led innovation, ensuring that style and practicality go hand in hand—no matter where the summer journey leads.

Image Credit: Public Rec



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