international travel trends 2023

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Global Travel Trends 2023

As the leading provider of comprehensive global air travel intelligence, ForwardKeys is delighted to release the 2023 Global Travel Trends Report. The report examines the emerging patterns of global tourism and evolving traveller behaviour that have shaped the industry through 2023 and beyond.

The year 2023 marks a significant milestone as many destinations and travel businesses are still focused on recovering from the impact of COVID-19. While the speed of recovery varies by region, it is expected to be complete by the end of 2024, even for countries that recently lifted travel restrictions. This means that destinations can now turn their attention to pre-pandemic issues such as determining the type of tourism, destinations, and purposes that they want to promote. However, the context in which these questions are asked has changed. It is now shaped by geopolitical events, technological advancements, and concerns about sustainability.

Key trends: Outbound travel is changing in 2023

Trends for DMOs and tourism partners to take note of include:

Urban Tourism is on the rise

Over the last two years, due to the post-pandemic scenario, travellers have developed a strong preference for destinations that offer ‘sun and beach’. However, in the year 2023, there has been a remarkable shift in the trend. Urban destinations are now becoming more popular among tourists, with a growth rate of 52% as compared to 26% growth in ‘sun and beach’ destinations over the same period in 2022.

Climate change matters in the long-term

In the summer of 2023, the Northern Hemisphere experienced extreme temperatures, wildfires, and floods due to climate change. However, these events did not have a significant impact on travel patterns. Despite the Rhodes wildfires, ticket sales returned to normal levels within a month. Nevertheless, climate change is expected to have a long-term effect on travel preferences. As temperatures rise, summer demand in hotter destinations is likely to decrease, while cooler regions will become more appealing to travellers.

Family travel is back.

Many travellers value shared experiences, and this is evident in the popularity of family group travel, where three to five passengers travel together. Compared to 2019, this segment has shown the fastest recovery across all regions, particularly in the Americas, where it has already surpassed 2019 levels. Although the recovery has been slower, couple travel is the second most resilient segment in every region and is only slightly behind family group travel in APAC and the Americas.

Luxury beats Economy travel worldwide.

The Asia-Pacific region has seen a faster recovery in the demand for luxurious travel experiences compared to regular travel options. This can be attributed in part to the “revenge travel” phenomenon. However, in the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, where this phase has passed, the demand for premium cabin classes is showing a stronger recovery compared to economy seats. This suggests that, despite the widespread concerns about the cost of living, consumers are still willing to pay more for high-end travel experiences.

Travellers desire variety the most in 2023

An analysis of international tourist arrivals in 2023, including forward ticket data for Q4, reveals several noteworthy trends when compared to the figures from 2019. The analysis reflects the continued recovery of global tourism post-COVID-19.

In 2022, the Caribbean and Southern Europe were the most popular destinations, as pent-up demand for “sun and beach” destinations boosted international tourist arrivals. In 2023, however, more diverse travel patterns emerge. The Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Greece still maintain high positions but the mix is more varied overall, with the Middle East and Africa (MEA) particularly well-represented among the top performers.

This year, Colombia ranks second, surpassing 2019 levels for international tourist arrivals by 5%. This marks a return to growth and a considerable outperformance compared to its peer destinations in South America. This growth is attributable to the country’s improving reputation for tourist safety, paired with relatively high affordability and substantial connectivity improvements.

The 2023 Global Travel Trends report features 21 pages of travel intelligence and insights using the latest air ticketing data from ForwardKeys in addition to the 2023 Global Destination Rankings, per region too. To grab a copy, click the download button below.

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1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This poll was conducted between January 31 – February 8, 2024 among a sample of 2,005 US Adults, 1,007 Australia Adults, 1,002 Canada Adults, 1,002 UK Adults, 1,002 Japan Adults, 1,006 Mexico Adults and 1,005 India Adults who have at least a $50k+ income equivalent and typically travel at least once a year. The interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2-4 percentage points. Some geographies may be weighted with fewer variables depending on local census data availability.

2 Gen-Z and Millennials are defined as respondents as being born between 1981 - 2012.

3 GenX are defined as respondents as being born between 1965 - 1980.

4 Baby Boomers are defined as respondents as being born between 1946 - 1964.

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Fine Hotels + Resorts Program: Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) program benefits are available for new bookings made through American Express Travel with participating properties and are valid only for eligible U.S. Consumer, Business, and Corporate Platinum Card® Members, and Centurion® Members. Additional Platinum Card Members on Consumer and Business Platinum and Centurion Card Accounts are also eligible for FHR program benefits. Companion Card Members on Consumer Platinum and Centurion Card Accounts, Additional Business Gold and Additional Business Expense Card Members on Business Platinum and Centurion Card Accounts, and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card Members are not eligible for FHR program benefits. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be traveling on the itinerary booked. The average total value of the program benefits is based on prior-year bookings for stays of two nights; the actual value varies. Noon check-in and room upgrade are subject to availability and are provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of experience credit or additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the experience credit will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the experience credit. Advance reservations are recommended for certain experience credits. The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day. If the cost of Wi-Fi is included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit of that amount will be applied at check-out. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for FHR program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.

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$200 Hotel Credit: Basic Card Members on U.S. Consumer Platinum Card Account are eligible to receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when they or Additional Platinum Card Members use their Cards to pay for eligible prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings made through American Express Travel (meaning through amextravel.com, the Amex® App, or by calling the phone number on the back of your eligible Card) or when Companion Platinum Card Members on such Platinum Card Accounts pay for eligible prepaid bookings for The Hotel Collection made through American Express Travel (meaning through amextravel.com, the Amex® App, or by calling the phone number on the back of your eligible Card). Purchases by both the Basic Card Member and any Additional Card Members on the Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, the total amount of statement credits for eligible purchases will not exceed $200 per calendar year, per Card Account. Fine Hotels + Resorts® program bookings may be made only by eligible U.S. Consumer Basic Platinum and Additional Platinum Card Members. The Hotel Collection bookings may be made by eligible U.S. Consumer Basic and Additional Platinum Card Members and Companion Platinum Card Members on the Platinum Card Account. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card Members are not eligible for the benefit. To receive the statement credits, an eligible Card Member must make a new booking using their eligible Card through American Express Travel on or after July 1st, 2021, that is prepaid (referred to as "Pay Now" on amextravel.com and the Amex App), for a qualifying stay at an available, participating Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection property. Bookings of The Hotel Collection require a minimum stay of two consecutive nights. Eligible bookings must be processed before December 31st, 11:59PM Central Time, each calendar year to be eligible for statement credits within that year. Eligible bookings do not include interest charges, cancellation fees, property fees or other similar fees, or any charges by a property to you (whether for your booking, your stay or otherwise).

Statement credits are typically received within a few days, however it may take 90 days after an eligible prepaid hotel booking is charged to the Card Account. American Express relies on the merchant to process transactions within the same calendar year that you made the prepaid booking in order to apply the statement credit in the calendar year that it was intended. For example, if you make an eligible prepaid booking on the last day of the year, but the merchant doesn't process that transaction until the next day, then the statement credit available in the next calendar year will be applied to the Card Account, if the purchase is eligible. Statement credits may not be received or may be reversed if the booking is cancelled or modified. To be eligible for this benefit, your Card account must not be cancelled or past due at the time of statement credit fulfillment. If American Express does not receive information that identifies your transaction as eligible, you will not receive the statement credits. For example, your transaction will not be eligible if it is a booking: (i) made with a property not included in the Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection programs, (ii) not made through American Express Travel, or (iii) not made with an eligible Card. Participating properties and their availability are subject to change. If American Express, in its sole discretion, determines that you have engaged in or intend to engage in any manner of abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with this benefit, American Express will not have an obligation to provide and may reverse any statement credits provided to you. If a charge for an eligible purchase is included in a Pay Over Time balance on your Card Account, the statement credit associated with that charge may not be applied to that Pay Over Time balance. Instead, the statement credit may be applied to your Pay In Full balance. Please refer to AmericanExpress.com/FHR and AmericanExpress.com/HC for more information about Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection, respectively.

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Bonuses that may be received with your Card on other purchase categories or in connection with promotions or offers from American Express cannot be combined with this benefit. Any portion of a charge that the Basic Card Member elects to cover through redemption of Membership Rewards points is not eligible to receive points. Additional terms and restrictions apply.

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. We group certain merchant codes into categories that are eligible for Additional Points. A purchase with a merchant will not earn Additional Points if the merchant’s code is not included in an Additional Points category. Basic Card Members may not receive Additional Points if we receive inaccurate information or are otherwise unable to identify your purchase as eligible for an Additional Points category. For example, you may not receive Additional Points when: a merchant uses a third-party to sell their products or services, a merchant uses a third-party to process or submit your transaction to us (e.g., using mobile or wireless card readers), or you choose to make a purchase using a third-party payment account or make a purchase using a mobile or digital wallet.

To be eligible for this benefit, the Card Account must not be cancelled. If American Express, in its sole discretion, determines that you have engaged in or intend to engage in any manner of abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with this benefit in any way American Express may remove access to this benefit from the Account. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card or visit americanexpress.com/rewards-info for more information about rewards.

5X Membership Rewards Points for Business Platinum Card: You will get one point for each dollar charged for an eligible purchase on your Business Platinum Card® from American Express. You will get 4 additional points (for a total of 5 points) for each dollar spent on eligible travel purchases. Eligible travel purchases include scheduled flights and prepaid flight+hotel packages made online at AmexTravel.com, minus returns and other credits. Additionally, eligible travel purchases include prepaid hotel purchases made through American Express Travel, over the phone with our Travel Consultants or made online at AmexTravel.com, minus returns and other credits. Eligible travel purchases do NOT include non-prepaid hotel bookings, scheduled flights and prepaid flight+hotel packages over the phone, vacation packages, car rentals, cruise, hotel group reservations or events, ticketing service, cancellation or other fees, interest charges, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. To be eligible for the 5x Membership Rewards® points, you must both reserve and charge the travel purchase with the same eligible Business Platinum Card®. To modify a reservation you must cancel and rebook your reservation. You can cancel and rebook your reservation on AmexTravel.com or by calling a representative of AmexTravel.com at 1-800-297-2977. Cancellations are subject to hotel cancellation penalty policies. If hotel reservations are made or modified directly with the hotel provider, the reservation will not be eligible for this 5X Membership Rewards® point benefit. To be eligible to receive extra points, Card account(s) must not be cancelled or past due at the time of extra points fulfillment. If booking is cancelled, the extra points will be deducted from the Membership Rewards account. Extra points will be credited to the Membership Rewards account approximately 6-10 weeks after eligible purchases appear on the billing statement. Bonuses you may receive with your Card on other purchase categories or in connection with promotions or offers from American Express may not be combined with this benefit. The benefits associated with the Additional Card(s) you choose may be different than the benefits associated with your basic Card. To learn about the benefits associated with Additional Card(s) you choose, please call the number on the back of your Card.

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. We group certain merchant codes into categories that are eligible for additional points. A purchase with a merchant will not earn additional points if the merchant’s code is not included in an additional points category. You may not receive additional points if we receive inaccurate information or are otherwise unable to identify your purchase as eligible for an additional points category. For example, you may not receive additional points when: a merchant uses a third-party to sell their products or services; or a merchant uses a third-party to process or submit your transaction to us (e.g., using mobile or wireless card readers); or you choose to make a purchase using a third-party payment account or make a purchase using a mobile or digital wallet.

Please visit americanexpress.com/rewards-info for more information about rewards.

Pay with Points: To use Pay with Points, you must charge your eligible purchase through American Express Travel to a Membership Rewards® program-enrolled American Express® Card. Eligible purchases through American Express Travel exclude non-prepaid car rentals and non-prepaid hotels. Points will be debited from your Membership Rewards account, and credit for corresponding dollar amount will be issued to the American Express Card account used. If points redeemed do not cover entire amount, the balance of purchase price will remain on the American Express Card account. Minimum redemption 5,000 points.

See membershiprewards.com/terms for the Membership Rewards program terms and conditions.

If a charge for a purchase is included in a Pay Over Time balance on your Linked Account the statement credit associated with that charge may not be applied to that Pay Over Time balance. Instead the statement credit may be applied to your Pay in Full balance. If you believe this has occurred, please contact us by calling the number on the back of your Card. Corporate Card Members are not eligible for Pay Over Time.

Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.

The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo .

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Travel trends for 2023

Excited to get your 2023 travel plans going? Same. We’ve crunched the numbers on what we think will be the top trends in travel for next year – because what’s the point of having all this travel data if we don’t share it? From the most affordable destinations to those places we think will be “in,” these are the travel trends you need to know for the year ahead.

Trending destinations.

When it came to 2022 trips, travelers were more than ready – destinations around the country and the world saw tourism coming back. The emergence of “revenge travel” was also too real and there are no signs of it stopping in 2023. So where is everyone headed this year? We’ve got a few educated guesses.

Region of the year: Asia and South Pacific.

Snapshots in London, Paris and the Amalfi Coast flooded our feeds in 2022 as US travelers were returning to travel. In 2023, we expect to see travelers branch out to destinations in Asia and the South Pacific. Based on our data, here are the places that we anticipate will generate buzz:

Top 10 trending destinations for 2023

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam : Searches were up 769% year over year
Taipei City, Taiwan : Searches were up 289% year over year
Auckland, New Zealand : Searches were up 272% year over year
Singapore : Searches were up 201% year over year
Hong Kong : Searches were up 190% year over year
Melbourne, Australia : Searches were up 167% year over year
Bangkok, Thailand : Searches were up 166% year over year
Tokyo, Japan : Searches were up 150% year over year
Sydney, Australia : Searches were up 145% year over year
Tel Aviv, Israel : Searches were up 134% year over year

Our takeaways: Travelers will be flocking to bucket list destinations in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand in 2023, likely because these destinations have (finally) re-opened to visitors. Already have your eyes on flights? We’ve got new data on when to book – keep scrolling for the details.

*KAYAK US considered round-trip, economy flights for search dates 1.1 – 11.20.2022 and travel dates 1.1-12.31.2023. To find year over year percent change, the same search dates in 2021 and travel dates in 2022 were considered. Search volume thresholds were utilized, and destinations were excluded based on insufficient search volume.

Which places are cheaper? You’re getting warmer…

Skipped out in 2022 because of audacious flight prices? We hear you – fares this past year were out of control (which might bleed into 2023 too… but more on that later). That’s why we took a look at our numbers to see which destinations are seeing the biggest dips in flight prices:

Destinations trending cheaper vs. last year

Melbourne, Australia : 10% YoY price decrease in airfare
Bora Bora : 9% YoY price decrease in airfare
Copenhagen, Denmark : 8% YoY price decrease in airfare
Sydney, Australia : 2% YoY price decrease in airfare
Fiji : 2% YoY price decrease in airfare

Destinations trending cheaper vs. 3 years ago

Warsaw, Poland : 10% Yo3Y price decrease in airfare
Bora Bora : 8% Yo3Y price decrease in airfare
Mykonos, Greece : 7% Yo3Y price decrease in airfare
Lisbon, Portugal : 4% Yo3Y price decrease in airfare
Bogotá, Colombia : 2% Yo3Y price decrease in airfare

Our takeaways: You might have noticed that Melbourne and Sydney are also on the top-trending destinations list. While flights there are generally expensive, 2023 will see lower-than-usual prices… so this could be your time to plan a trip “down unda.” Additionally, if you’ve had your eyes on Bora Bora, our numbers show flights there are less pricey than they’ve been in years.

*KAYAK US considered round-trip, economy flights for search dates 1.1 – 11.20.2022 and travel dates 1.1-12.31.2023. To find year over year percent change in airfare, the same search dates in 2021 and travel dates in 2022 were considered. To find year over 3 year percent change in airfare, the same search dates in 2019 and travel dates in 2020 were considered. Search volume thresholds were utilized, and destinations were excluded based on insufficient search volume.

Staying within a budget? Here’s where to go.

For flights that don’t drain your bank account, we’d recommend a city adventure that’s closer to home. Based on our data, airfare to these popular destinations in and around the US are where you can see more… for less:

Destinations around North America seeing the lowest fares on average

New York, NY, US : $337
Chicago, IL, US : $343
Austin, TX, US : $360
Atlanta, GA, US : $363
Houston, TX, US : $365
Nashville, TN, US : $365
Guadalajara, Mexico : $369
Toronto, Canada : $375
Raleigh, NC, US : $375
Fort Lauderdale, FL, US : $376

Want to make use of your recently-renewed passport without paying a hefty price? It’s possible – based on our data, here are some places to consider for international travel on a budget in 2023:

Destinations outside of North America seeing the lowest fares on average

Bogotá, Colombia : $534
Medellín, Colombia : $542
Guayaquil, Ecuador : $642
Lima, Peru : $691
Lisbon, Portugal : $708
Quito, Ecuador : $712
Reykjavik, Iceland : $718
Warsaw, Poland : $747
Copenhagen, Denmark : $749
Krakow, Poland : $766

Our takeaways: For those staying closer to home in 2023, we recommend pursuing popular cities in the US, Canada and Mexico. For international excursions, consider flying to destinations in South America and Northern Europe to stay under $800.

*KAYAK US considered round-trip, economy flights for search dates 1.1 – 11.20.2022 and travel dates 1.1-12.31.2023 with the lowest average airfare. Search volume thresholds were utilized, and destinations were excluded based on insufficient search volume.

Flight trends.

The searches continue..

Inflation made its mark (or… dent) in 2022 – and many of us have felt that effect on our budgets. But travelers have continued to search for flights… even if it means shelling out more money than usual. Based on our numbers, here are 3 things we noticed about search behavior and what these trends could mean for 2023:

Interest in travel isn’t going anywhere. It’s clear travelers aren’t willing to sacrifice their long-awaited vacations. Both domestic and international flight searches are up for 2023 compared to 2022 (25% for domestic and 64% for international).*
Solo travel is on the rise. Travelers are ready to find themselves (and their new favorite destinations). Searches for single-person flights are up 36% for travel in 2023 compared to 2022.**
Wanted: more legroom. Travelers are looking to upgrade. Though all flight classes are seeing an increase in search interest, one class got more attention: premium economy. Searches for these seats are up 64% for travel in 2023 compared to 2022.***

Our takeaways: Flight searches in 2022 for travel in 2023 were up 46% versus searches in 2021 for travel in 2022 – which could be telling for travel demand in 2023. Travelers continue to plan trips both domestically and abroad, with no signs of stopping.

**KAYAK US considered round-trip, economy flights for one traveler for search dates 1.1 – 11.20.2022 and travel dates 1.1-12.31.2023.

***KAYAK US considered round-trip flights for different airfare classes for search dates 1.1 – 11.20.2022 and travel dates 1.1-12.31.2023.

Airfare prices are reaching for the sky.

We won’t sugarcoat it – the increase that we saw in 2022 for flights will likely carry over into 2023. Does that mean we’re going to stop traveling? Absolutely not – especially since we have the data to help ease the burden of heftier prices. Based on our numbers, here’s what you can expect for trends in flight prices:

Higher demand = higher prices. With more search interest comes bigger price tags. Both domestic and international flight prices are up in 2023 compared to 2022 (52% for domestic and 29% for international).*
These are the regions with the lowest increases. Flights from the US to destinations around the world will see an increase in price for 2023 trips. That being said, flights to the South Pacific (+3%) and Europe (+10%) will see the smallest price increases.*
Fly out mid-winter. Both domestic and international trips are expected to see price increases through June, so you may save if you take trips earlier in the year. This is especially true for trips abroad – prices for international flights departing in February dip 8%, making this month a great time to travel.*

Our takeaways: Searches show that the demand for travel is there – and even though flight prices continue to soar (up 52% for domestic and 29% for international), this doesn’t seem to be stopping US travelers from getting away.

*KAYAK US considered round-trip, economy flights for search dates 1.1 – 11.20.2022 and travel dates 1.1-12.31.2023.

The best days to book for a better price.

There’s never a straight answer to the age-old question: when is the best time to book flights for the best possible deal? That’s because the data is always changing. As far as when to book in 2023, we have multiple answers. Based on our numbers, here’s what to expect:

Leave on these days of the week. Yet another reason to love Thursdays and Fridays: because they may offer cheaper prices on airfare*. Our historical data shows that the lowest flight prices can be found if you book your departing flights on one of these days.
This is when people are traveling. Travelers really take advantage of that extended holiday time off – our historical data shows that December is when travelers take the longest trips. This data also shows that the largest number of trips are taken during June and July*.
Trips are being booked in advance. Both domestic and international flight booking windows increased compared to 2021 (9% for domestic and 7% for international). Domestic flights were booked 42 – 46 days in advance and international flights were booked 62 – 66 days in advance, respectively.*

Our takeaways: Opt for flights that leave on Thursday or Friday for a better deal and avoid booking trips during the busier months of June and July if you can help it. Booking your flights in advance also would be wise. In fact, here’s when to book your flights based on your destination:

*KAYAK US historical data was considered for flight search dates 1.1.2022-11.20.2022 for travel dates 1.1.2022-12.31.2022.

Hotel trends.

Lots of up and down..

Flights may have their inflation moment next year, but that doesn’t mean that hotels are following suit – it all depends on where you’re going. More travelers are searching for international hotels, meaning that domestic travelers are likely visiting more destinations where they already have a place to stay. Wondering what that means for nightly rates? Based on our numbers, here’s what to expect when finding a place to stay in 2023:

Opposites attract. The data for domestic vs. international stays are pretty opposite. While searches for domestic hotels decreased 5% YoY and nightly rates increased 8% YoY, searches for international hotels increased 4% YoY and nightly rates decreased 6% YoY.*
Staying local? Head west. Looking at the locations with more affordable options, the West dominates with generally lower nightly rates. If you’re looking to stay in and around the US for less, you may find the best hotel prices in Northwest and Southwest locations.*
International places with good prices. Going along with the theme of trending destinations, the international locations where you’ll find stays with reasonable rates are in Asia, the South Pacific and Europe. Many of these international rates rival those located in the States.*

Our takeaways: Travelers are searching less for domestic stays and more for hotels abroad. Domestic nightly rates have increased slightly – making them around the same price point as international nightly rates, which have decreased slightly.

*KAYAK US considered standard, double occupancy hotel searches between 7.1.2022 and 11.20.2022 for travel dates 1.1.2023-12.31.2023.

Where to stay for less.

No matter where you’re looking to stay, nightly prices for hotels and rentals aren’t seeing huge increases in rates. For both domestic and international stays, travelers could expect to pay under $220 a night depending on where they’re headed. Based on our numbers, here are destinations with affordable accommodations:

Destinations around North America with the lowest rates*

Ocean Shores, WA, US : $153/night
Portland, OR, US : $161/night
Cody, WY, US : $169/night
Mexico City, Mexico : $190/night
Reno, NV, US : $190/night
Salt Lake City, UT, US : $192/night
Toronto, Canada : $202/night
Houston, TX, US : $205/night
San Antonio, TX, US : $212/night
Denver, CO, US : $214/night

Destinations outside North America with the lowest rates*

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam : $105/night
Bangkok, Thailand : $124/night
Berlin, Germany : $143/night
Lisbon, Portugal : $153/night
Seoul, South Korea : $162/night
Madrid, Spain : $172/night
Istanbul, Turkey : $176/night
Athens, Greece : $176/night
Auckland, New Zealand : $180/night
Cartagena, Colombia : $182/night

Our takeaways: The majority of destinations around North America with affordable nightly rates are what we’d consider “outdoorsy” – great for the traveler looking to get outside. International destinations with affordable hotels overlap with regions that may see the lowest increase in airfare prices, which could mean spending less overall to visit a bucket list destination, despite the general rising cost of airfare.

*KAYAK US considered standard, double occupancy hotel searches between 7.1.2022 and 11.20.2022 for travel dates 1.1.2023-12.31.2023. Search volume thresholds were utilized, and destinations were excluded based on insufficient search volume.

Rental car trends.

The demand for rental cars is going down.

When it comes to search interest and prices, rental cars are in a league of their own. This past year was still a little chaotic for those looking for a ride – especially with residual demand and lack of inventory left over from 2021. With many of these issues in the rearview (we hope), we expect to see rental car searches and rates start to level out. Based on our numbers, here’s what you can expect to see for rental cars over the next year:

There’s more interest abroad. Domestic rental car searches are down 21% YoY, whereas international searches are up 41% YoY.*
Drivers know what they want. What do they want? Some want luxury – searches for luxury car rentals are up 25% YoY. Others want something more sustainable – searches for electric car rentals increased 136% YoY.*
This car won the popularity contest. By “this car” we mean this particular type, which was the most popular class of car among renters in 2022. Compact cars took the top spot in 2022, which could spell out more interest in these types of rentals in 2023.*

Our takeaways: There is less demand for rental cars in 2023 (-3%) compared to 2022. For those who are seeking rented rides, specific classes of cars are all the rage, including EVs – which could continue into the next year, since prices at the pump are still higher than usual.

*KAYAK US considered rental car searches between 7.1.2022 and 11.30.2022 for travel dates 1.1.2023-12.31.2023. For YoY comparison of car categories, the same search dates in 2021 and the same travel dates in 2022 were used.

Rental prices are matching search energy.

Search interest isn’t the only thing that’s going down – rental prices also saw decreases over the past year. Though average daily rates for domestic car rentals are down 7% YoY, average daily rates for international rental car have risen 12% YoY, matching the increased search interest for international rental cars (up 41% YoY). Based on our numbers, here are destinations where drivers can expect lower average daily rental rates:

Destinations around North America with rental deals*

Cancun, Mexico: $37/day
Aruba: $58/day
Miami, FL, US: $59/day
Fort Lauderdale, FL, US: $63/day
Los Angeles, CA, US: $64/day
San Jose, CA, US: $66/day
San Diego, CA, US: $67/day
Tampa, FL, US: $68/day
Boston, MA, US: $68/day
Santa Ana, CA, US: $69/day

Destinations outside North America with rental deals*

Bangkok, Thailand: $37/day
Málaga, Spain: $43/day
San José, Costa Rica: $45/day
Cape Town, South Africa: $49/day
Liberia, Costa Rica: $51/day
Athens, Greece: $53/day
Madrid, Spain: $57/day
Frankfurt, Germany: $59/day
Lisbon, Portugal: $59/day
Auckland, New Zealand: $59/day

Our takeaways: Rental rates as a whole are dropping it low(er), with a total 5% YoY decrease in daily rates compared to those in 2022. For the best deals in and around the US, travelers will find the cheapest rentals located in California and Florida. For international car rentals, travelers can expect to pay less than $60 a day at the most affordable destinations.

*KAYAK US considered rental car searches between 7.1.2022 and 11.30.2022 for travel dates 1.1.2023-12.31.2023. For year over year percent change, the same search dates in 2021 and travel dates in 2022 were used. Search volume thresholds were utilized, and destinations were excluded based on insufficient search volume.

That was… a lot of information, even for data geeks like us. If there’s one thing we took away from all these insights, it’s that rising costs won’t keep travelers from seeing the world. Remember, we always have tools and tips to help you navigate these pricey times, pursue those dream destinations and carpe that diem. Sign up to receive our weekly newsletters to get more on the latest travel trends and information (but they’re never as long as this post, we promise).

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Six key global travel trends for 2023

What is influencing global travel in 2023? Consumer travel behavior is evolving and adapting to the wider economic market. We aim to uncover that in our Global Travel Trends Study 2023.

Travel is back on the agenda and people are busy making holiday plans. But there’s a significant change in the way we travel. We reveal the six major trends from our latest Global Travel Trends Study here.

A quick overview

Increasing costs and the threat of inflation have led to changing consumer travel attitudes. Personalized travel is gaining traction over all-inclusive holidays. Business trips are shorter with more train journeys instead of flights. Sustainable holidays are popular with holidaymakers willing to pay more for sustainable options.

Top six global travel trends to look out for in 2023

These six trends can be divided into four categories:

Summer holiday bookings

Cost-of-living shifts consumer priorities

Our study finds a large majority of people (84 percent) are making holiday plans and not deterred by higher prices. However, around one in five will not go on vacation, with financial constraints being a major reason. This number is down compared to previous years. The rising cost-of-living is driving people to focus on spending on essentials and traveling outside peak holiday seasons.

Holidaymakers in the UK and the Netherlands are the most likely to have already booked their holidays. Conversely, those in the US are the most likely to not have booked a holiday.

Inflation drives advance booking

Consumer booking lead time has remained unchanged from 2022 with 41 percent of holidaymakers booking their holidays more in advance than last year. The fear of inflation influences people toward more advance booking – 37 percent want to avoid inflation-driven price hikes. 38 percent of advance bookers do it to benefit from attractive booking deals and 25 percent fear everything will be sold out, so they book their holidays early.

The rise of personalized travel

Through our research we have seen a rise in popularity of personalized trips. Our study shows that more consumers are opting for personalized holidays over all-inclusive ones.

Half of holidaymakers in the US selected a personalized trip for their most recent holiday. Across all markets, personalized trips have increased by five percent, up from 28 percent in 2022.

While preference to organize and book a holiday through a travel agent has remained unchanged from 2022 to 2023. Travel agents are more prevalent in the UK and UAE. In contrast, most holidaymakers in France prefer to book themselves.

Holiday spending

Segmented travel spending

Despite inflation, consumers’ leisure travel budget in 2023 is anticipated to increase by eight percent. But inflation has given rise to three types of travelers – splurge, cautious, and stable. Where the splurge travelers plan to spend 20 percent more on average this year, the cautious ones plan to spend six percent less. The stable travelers’ budget will remain the same.

Splurge travelers show an inclination toward personalized trips whereas cautious and stable travelers lean more toward all-inclusive holiday packages. The rising popularity of personalized holidays can be perceived with bookings going from 42 percent last year to 60 percent this year.

In 2023, holidaymakers are planning to curb costs when it comes to souvenirs and local experiences. However, they will generally spend more on food and accommodation.

Business travel

Strained business travel

Business travel budgets are scaling back. One in five respondents are not traveling for work. For those who do travel, the business trips are shorter. Companies are also changing their travel policies with nearly two out of three now encouraging employees to travel by train. This recent adjustment is seen more in the Netherlands, France, and the US.

Sustainable travel

Embracing sustainable travel as a new norm

Sustainability is a vital lifestyle choice for many and those who wish to travel sustainably are willing to pay extra for it. Our research shows that nearly one in three holidaymakers are ready to pay more for sustainable options.

UAE (46 percent) and the US (33 percent) are the most willing to pay more for holidays that meet environmental sustainability expectations. Holidaymakers are prepared to spend on average 55 percent higher on sustainable food, accommodation, and flights. In general, however, only 20 percent would agree to pay for carbon emission charges on flights.

Why these trends matter

Despite inflation and rising costs, the excitement for travel is still ongoing. Holidaymakers who plan to raise their holiday budget in 2023 expect to do so by almost a fifth, compared to 2022.

However, the different trends indicate how consumers are behaving during the holiday season. By understanding these tendencies and planning for them, businesses can be well-prepared to meet consumer needs.

For example, in the two trends – personalized trips and sustainable travel – there is great opportunity for the leisure, travel, and tourism sector to explore. Tour operators and travel agencies can offer curated trips to holidaymakers and create personalized pricing around those.

Another opportunity for the sector is around sustainable holidays. Businesses must build a strategy around green holidays and focus on pricing them correctly.

Interested in a deeper look at our Global Travel Trends Study? Reach out to us here.

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State of Travel 2023

Welcome to skift research’s state of travel 2023 report.

Travel is back! While 2022 was all about bumper performances in some countries and sectors, and lagging performances in others, we can truly say that 2023 is the year that travel fully recovered. Sure, there continue to be weaknesses in demand, issues with supply, and a nagging worry about the broader economy, but everything points to travel getting back to the status quo.

This State of Travel 2023 report, then, is a positive report, but we want the industry to be clear-eyed about the persisting and upcoming challenges. We have gone to great lengths to explore key trends (and fads) from different angles, to provide you, the reader, with a strong foundation and understanding of the world you work and live in.

This report highlights many opportunities. We discuss the biggest consumer, business, and investment trends, so you can stress-test, and where needed alter, your strategies. Take this report as a starting point for discussions about how your company, association, or destination can benefit from these opportunities.

The report draws on Skift Research’s own research and third-party data sources to analyze the industry’s current performance, and chart travel’s path forward, all backed by real-world data. We provide over 250 graphs and statistics in this deck.

The first section of the report covers travel’s performance, as well as the wider economic landscape. The second section is all about trends. Finally, the third section provides sectoral coverage with quick overviews of every noteworthy travel sector.

Already a Skift Research subscriber? You can download the report, here .

In this report:

250+ insights defining the state of travel today and the trends that will shape the future
Proprietary and third-party data showing how the travel industry is performing on the back of the Covid pandemic
Regional overviews of travel and tourism performance, based on proprietary Skift Research data
Discussions of the economic climate and major consumer, business, and investment trends, including the impact of AI, the return of business travel, luxury travel, sustainability, and operational constraints
Data-driven insights on the current state of all travel sectors: airlines, hotels, short-term rentals, online travel, traditional travel agents, multi-day tour operators, tours and activities, cruise, and car rental

A Special Report by

Skift Research provides proprietary research, analysis, and premium data tools for travel industry leaders and their teams to better understand the industry and the outside forces driving change.

Our team uses financial and economic analysis and proprietary survey data to support qualitative observations and travel-focused forecasts. We work with more than 25 data partners from across the travel industry to provide timely insights into the performance of sectors and countries.

By combining extensive industry experience, rigorous quantitative analysis, and access to top executives at nearly every major travel company, we are able to launch over 50 comprehensive research reports annually that aim to help you understand the industry and the outside forces shaping the future of travel.

View Skift Research subscription plans for individuals or groups .

Latest Skift Research

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These Trends Will Define How We Travel in 2023

From the economy to the environment, from health and wellness to food and friends, these factors are influencing how we travel the world this year..

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Instead of following the White Lotus fans to Sicily this year, why not head to Italy’s Polignano a Mare, which topped Booking.com’s list of most welcoming cities in the world.

Photo by Vincenzo de Simone/Unsplash

When we look at 2023, several factors will shape how we travel this year. Of course, there’s the economy and concerns about a possible recession. Add to that the rising cost of, well, just about everything due to inflation, and travelers are keeping closer tabs on their spending. But financial concerns aside, consumer surveys indicate that after nearly three years of being hampered by the pandemic, travelers aren’t holding back and are planning and booking trips with a vengeance this year.

As they plan their adventures, people are also looking to reconnect—with friends, family, and the world. And as they travel through that world, they are doing so with greater awareness of their impact on it. Health, wellness , and food are also top of mind as we think more intently about our mental health and overall well-being .

Given all of that, these are the six trends that will define how we travel in 2023.

In search of lesser-known locales

Street scene in Hualien City on the east coast of Taiwan

Booking.com rated Hualien City on the east coast of Taiwan as one of the world’s most welcoming cities.

Photo by Su San Lee/Unsplash

Travelers are ditching beaten paths for alternative, under-the-radar destinations. Whether it’s due to a heightened awareness of the worrying effect overtourism is having on some of the world’s most visited places, or to simply wanting to unearth a destination that feels fresh, new, and unique to the discoverer, either way, travelers in 2023 will be flocking to hidden gems. Think Lyon over Paris for food lovers and volcanic hikes in the Azores instead of Hawai‘i. According to Skift Research , 70 percent of millennials and Gen Zs report that they will be seeking travel experiences their family and friends haven’t heard of.

Airbnb’s “anywhere” searches—just add dates and the number of guests for far-flung suggestions—and filters for lodgings labeled off-the-grid, shepherd’s huts, and “OMG!” are tools that can help explorers find that next travel surprise. Another way to search for alternative destinations is through Booking.com’s new list of the world’s most welcoming cities (based on hotel and transit reviews), which includes an intriguing lineup of places such as Polignano a Mare, Italy; Hualien City, Taiwan; and Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Wellness that focuses on the healing benefits of nature

Exterior of Forestis, a boutique wellness lodge in Italy’s Dolomites, surrounded by forest

Forestis, a boutique wellness lodge in Italy’s Dolomites, channels ancient forest reverence.

Photo by Jeremy Austin/Forestis

The pandemic sent travelers fleeing to the wilds—or at least local parks—for solace in naturally socially distanced settings, while also triggering a new appreciation for the physical and mental health benefits of switching off and smelling the roses. We’ve come to recognize that nature is not just a pretty view, but a soul-restoring, endorphin-eliciting, stress-relieving outlet. Consequently, biophilic—or nature-loving—design can be found everywhere from the future Pittsburgh International Airport expansion , where baggage claim connects to outdoor gardens, to Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel in Sedona, opening this month with accommodations in 40 glass-walled cubes for maximum immersion in Arizona’s high desert.

Forest bathing , a practice that derives from the Japanese shinrin-yoku , or meditative walks in nature, and actual bathing are being integrated into back-to-basic wellness treatments and experiences . Commune with nature at Forestis , a boutique wellness lodge in Italy’s Dolomites, which channels ancient forest reverence in its Druid-inspired Wdya movement techniques , and alternate between hot pools, cold dips, and sauna visits at the new World Spa in New York City, a true urban sanctuary.

The rise of the thrifty traveler

Why buy brand-new gear when you can rent or buy gently used equipment for camping and other gear-intensive outdoor adventures?

Photo by Cristofer Maximilian/Unsplash

Whether it’s the pinch of an inflationary economy, a green rejection of consumerism, or the only way to slake wanderlust, travelers will venture boldly with smaller budgets. The virtues of thrift have already shown up in the stats on resale clothing—the secondhand apparel market is projected to grow three times faster than retail by 2026, according to the online reseller ThredUp . Travelers can now buy used Patagonia ski jackets at recent online startups like Out&Back Outdoor , rent camping equipment rather than buying it through outfitters like Arrive Outdoors , and see the world at bargain rates through growing hostel-meets-coworking brand Selina . In a survey, Hotels.com found nearly a quarter of global travelers plan to be more frugal in 2023.

Travelers will have more ecofriendly options

Electric car charging in a parking garage

We can expect to start seeing more electric vehicles being offered by rental car agencies this year and beyond.

Photo by Michael Fousert/Unsplash

In 2023, the travel industry is finally starting to walk the talk on its climate goals. The vast majority of consumers (90 percent) are now looking for sustainable options when traveling, according to a survey of 11,000 global travelers conducted last year by Expedia Group Media Solutions. Half said they would pay more to take a sustainable trip. That’s a sizeable demand, and the industry is finally (really) working to meet it. Actors like England-based room2 hotels are modeling innovations like “whole life net zero” that accounts for emissions during construction and eventual demolition. Big-player Marriott International plans to implement a search filter for its hotels this year to identify those that are sustainable. G Adventures publishes a “ripple score” for each trip based on the amount of money that stays in a destination, which factors in things like local sourcing for food.

J. D. Power, which surveys consumers on rental car satisfaction, predicts that car rental agencies will offer more electric vehicles this year, in part responding to governmental financial incentives and in part to appeal to more environmentally focused renters. Decarbonizing aviation remains a more distant goal—the waste-oil-derived sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is key to making the industry net-zero carbon-producing by 2050, but greater investment in the technology is needed. Although airlines like Swiss are modeling hydrodynamic fuselage skin to reduce drag, and we will surely continue to see a parade of innovations in air travel. Actions like France’s ban on domestic flights that are 2.5 hours or less are pushing more people to train travel , a better environmental option.

Vacation homes with chef-worthy kitchens

Book a vacation rental and let your inner chef shine.

According to the World Food Travel Association , more than half of leisure travelers are food travelers, keen to experience food tours, cooking classes, winetastings, craft breweries, and local markets. All that provisioning from markets and wineries has led to increased demand for vacation homes to feature deluxe kitchens.

In a recent report, vacation rental company Vrbo found more than half of travelers seeking rentals with friends or family say cooking amenities are the most important criteria—often as a way to trim costs and to bond as a group. Airbnb’s new filter for “chef’s kitchens” turns up results like a Wisconsin lake estate with Viking kitchen appliances and a Spanish villa-style home in downtown Avila Beach along California’s Central Coast with a massive and airy gourmet kitchen. Vrbo said its top in-demand cooking amenities include outdoor kitchens, pizza ovens, and on-site gardens with fresh produce.

Hotels are creating unique spaces for gatherings and celebrations

Larger groups can book adjoining apartments at the Bode Nashville.

Courtesy of Bode

In its 2023 trends report, Hilton noted a rise of intimate group travel to celebrate milestones regardless of the date; think a 40th birthday–level celebration but on your 42nd birthday. Travelers still have a lot of making up to do in 2023, and while vacation rentals often ban parties, hotels are creating spaces within their properties carved out specifically for small groups of family or friends to gather and celebrate.

“COVID expanded multigenerational travel to include any kind of group, and hotels are finding ways to encourage those connections by creating floors that can be totally closed off,” says Jack Ezon, the founder of the luxury travel agency Embark Beyond in New York City. The Atticus Hotel in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine region reports booming business for its five-bedded Bunkhouse room . Bode hotels in Nashville and Chattanooga were designed with friends in mind with adjoining apartments. And groups of four can take a shared dorm room at The Pad in Silverthorne, Colorado.

Low dunes and seagrass frame one of Amelia Island’s serene beaches.

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These Are the Biggest Travel Trends of 2023, According to the President of American Express Travel

What are people really traveling for in 2023?

Travel Faery/Getty Images

If 2022 was the year of wading back into travel, then 2023 is the year of diving in head first. According to a recently released report by American Express Travel, a majority of respondents say they not only plan to take more trips this year than last, but they will also spend more money on travel in 2023 than in 2022.

“As people continue to be eager to take trips, we are seeing a huge emphasis on experiences, especially ones that are personalized and centered around travelers’ passions,” says Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel , in an interview with Travel + Leisure.

Courtesy of American Express

One common theme among travelers worldwide: The continued "rise of 'set-jetting,'" per the report, a.k.a. destination decisions that are heavily influenced by a binge-worthy show or Hollywood film. Entertainment-focused tourism has been on the rise, and the year ahead may see more than ever before. Seventy percent of Gen Z and millennial respondents agree that they have "been inspired to travel to a destination after seeing it featured in a TV show, news source, or movie."

While Amex’s report doesn’t mention specific programs, Hendley tells T+L that “people are booking trips to destinations like Yellowstone, Paris, or Sicily after being inspired by their favorite TV shows.” It isn’t difficult to surmise that travelers are seeking out the cities, hotels, and experiences that were featured in shows such as The White Lotus, Yellowstone, and Emily in Paris, among others.

The Amex-commissioned study also explored overall travel behaviors and trip planning, with participants from a diverse array of seven countries (Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States).

kazuhide isoe/Getty Images

In addition to “set-jetting,” there’s a renewed emphasis on food-focused travel, wellness and self-care on vacation, and traveling off the beaten path. Surveyed travelers say they want to shop at small businesses and spend more during a vacation if they know it supports the local community.

Tying all of that together are younger travelers at the heart of these trends. According to the report, 84 percent of Gen Z-ers and millennials surveyed would rather take a dream vacation than purchase a new luxury item, and 79 percent agree that travel is an important budget priority. “Younger generations are showing the strongest numbers across our trends. We are paying close attention to (Gen Z and millennials) since their habits and interests will continue to shape the face of travel,” Hendley notes.

While travel during the past several years may have been difficult to predict, especially with changing COVID-19 travel rules, the world is much easier to roam in 2023. Even one of the strictest borders, China, fully reopened to tourists in mid-March and is issuing tourist visas once again. This increased travel flexibility means longer-term bookings are also making a comeback.

Nik West/Getty Images

“We’re seeing growth in long-term bookings across all generations, with almost 7-in-10 of survey respondents stating they like to plan trips three to six months in advance,” Hendley shares. “We are also seeing an increase in people booking big trips, which people typically book further in advance.”

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

International Tourism to End 2023 Close to 90% of Pre-Pandemic Levels

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International Tourism to End 2023 Close to 90% of Pre-Pandemic Levels

All Regions
30 Nov 2023

International tourism is on track to recover almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38% on the same months of 2022.

The newest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer also shows:

World destinations welcomed 22% more international tourists in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong Northern Hemisphere summer season.
International tourist arrivals hit 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92% in July, the best month so far since the start of pandemic.
Overall, tourism recovered 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023 . That puts the sector on course to recover almost 90% by the end of the year.
International tourism receipts could reach USD 1.4 trillion in 2023 , about 93% of the USD 1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.

The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts. This is critical for destinations, businesses, and communities where the sector is a major lifeline. "

The Middle East, Europe and Africa lead recovery

The Middle East continues to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September 2023. The Middle East remains the only world region to surpass 2019 levels this period. Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events, help underpin this remarkable performance.
Europe , the world's largest destination region, welcomed 550 million international tourists over the period, 56% of the global total. That represents 94% of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound was supported by robust intra-regional demand as well as strong demand from the United States.
Africa recovered 92% of pre-pandemic visitors this nine-month period, and arrivals in the Americas reached 88% of 2019 numbers this period, as the region benefitted from strong US demand, in particular to Caribbean destinations.
Asia and the Pacific reached 62% of pre-pandemic levels this period due to slower reopening to international travel. However, performance among subregions is mixed, with South Asia recovering 95% of pre-pandemic levels but North-East Asia only about 50%.

International tourist arrivals (% change vs. 2019)

The World Tourism Barometer includes more focused data on regions, as well as sub-regions and individual destinations.

Tourism spending strong

Strong demand for outbound travel was reported by several large source markets this period, with many exceeding 2019 levels. Germany and the United States spent 13% and 11% more respectively on outbound travel than in the same nine months of 2019, while Italy spent 16% more through August.

The sustained recovery is also reflected in the performance of industry indicators. Drawing on data from IATA (the International Air Transport Association) and STR, the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker details a strong recovery in air passenger numbers and tourist accommodation occupancy levels.

Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges such as high inflation and weaker global output, as well as important geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

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The top travel destinations for 2023, according to experts

Italy will be hot again next year, along with a re-opened asia, sunny beaches and the mountain west.

At the beginning of 2022, the outlook for travel felt uncertain. A new coronavirus variant had tripped up society again, and it was still a roll of the dice to plan a vacation — let alone take one. But once the omicron wave waned, travel roared back with a vengeance: Testing requirements fell, borders opened and it seemed as if every other person you knew went to Europe.

As we begin 2023, all signs show the collective appetite for travel remains huge, despite inflation and recession concerns. Industry experts are forecasting certain 2022 trends will carry over in the new year, such as people taking longer trips, going on more of them and spending more to take them.

Julia Carter, founder of Craft Travel , says her typical client would usually book one big trip a year. Now, two or even three are the norm, with one person already locked in for four major trips: Morocco, Switzerland, Botswana and a tiger safari in India. For Brittany Campbell, owner of Bucket List Holidays , most clients are booking trips for at least 10 days, and some as long as 32.

Our 10 best City Guides, according to readers

A notable change in the new year is a willingness to book long in advance again, even as far out as 2024 for clients of Susan Blume at Personal Escape Travel . That may be because more people are interested in taking bucket-list trips, which require more planning. Or it could be because many people couldn’t get what they wanted in 2022 thanks to high demand for travel, says Liz Einbinder, spokesperson for the biking and hiking tour company Backroads .

So where are people going in 2023? We asked dozens of travel advisers, tour operators and booking platforms to find out. Some of our findings won’t surprise you — “Europe is still very hot,” says Alisa Cohen, founder of Luxe Traveler Club — while other breakout destinations might. Zambia, anyone?

The absolute, undisputed most popular destination for 2023 is Italy. And if you thought everyone went in 2022, buckle up.

Fulvio De Bonis, president and co-founder of Imago Artis Travel , says they’re bracing for “way more” business in 2023.

De Bonis puts Italy travel trends into three categories: people, nature and sports. Travelers want to meet interesting locals, such as chefs or fishermen. They want to see beautiful places by going foraging in the mountains near Lake Como, for example, or hitting the beach. And they want to have exciting sports experiences , maybe by catching a soccer game or touring a team’s training facilities.

Shayna Mizrahi, founder and CEO of Vive Voyage , says her clients are also highly interested in connecting with Italian culture through cooking classes, boat excursions and artisan workshops.

For private tour operator Access Italy , the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily are clients’ most requested destinations. These classics are also the most popular for Imago Artis, but De Bonis notes that travelers want off-the-beaten-path experiences within these well-known places. They don’t just want to see Tuscany’s highlights; “there is a world outside of Florence,” De Bonis says, and travelers want to explore it.

Other European destinations trailing behind Italy next year (but still in hot pursuit) are Greece, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Our best Italy travel advice:

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A local’s guide to Rome

As the last region in the world to reopen during the pandemic, East Asia is expected to have a banner year for tourism, with Japan poised to be the fan favorite.

Although people want to go to the “Golden Triangle” — Tokyo , Kyoto, Osaka — Mike Salvadore, a travel agent with Travel Leaders, recommends adding a stop to see Japan beyond its best-known cities, such as mountainous Sapporo in the north or beachy Okinawa in the south.

If you’d like to go during cherry blossom season, you may be out of luck. Jeff Krevitt, vice president of marketing for the Americas for Inside Travel Group, which owns InsideJapan Tours , notes that this will be the first spring since 2019 that the country will be open to international travelers, so big crowds can be expected.

For a cheaper alternative with more availability, Rani Cheema, chief executive and travel curator at Cheema’s Travel , recommends traveling to South Korea to see the flowering cherry blossoms this spring instead.

Our best Japan travel advice:

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Everything you need to know about traveling to Japan
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Southeast Asia

Behind Japan, Southeast Asia is also high on travelers’ wish lists, with Thailand, Bali and Vietnam at the top.

The travel subscription service VIP Traveler has seen a 200 percent increase in interest in Bali, perhaps following Indonesia’s newly launched digital-nomad visa .

It could also be that Bali appeals to the growing number of travelers interested in trips focused on wellness. Salvadore says most of his clients want to go to Ubud, Bali’s lush jungle town near the center of the island. But some have been open to suggestions to try the lesser-visited eastern coast or northwestern Bali, “which is a little bit more secluded but also really beautiful,” Salvadore said.

Our best Asia travel advice:

Asia is slowly reopening to travelers. Here’s where you can go.
Traveling to a newly reopened Asia allowed me to be myself again
Marijuana is now legal in Thailand. What does that mean for tourists?

The Caribbean

A perennial sunshine-filled favorite that tends to be easy for Americans to reach, the Caribbean will remain sought-after in 2023.

“A lot of people will go to the typical places like the Dominican Republic or Jamaica or the Bahamas,” Salvadore said, but eastern Caribbean countries are some of his favorites, such as Barbados, Saint Lucia, Anguilla, Antigua and Grenada.

Our best Caribbean travel advice:

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Jonathan Alder, owner of the luxury travel company Jonathan’s Travels , has booked more Egypt trips for clients in the past two years than he has over the entire decade, and requests are picking up speed in 2023. “We’ve had one after another after another after another,” he said.

Some of the renewed interest may be attributed to the anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, says Jasmine Padda, Egypt destination expert for Kensington Tours . She also pointed to the increase in major cruise lines adding sailings in the region.

Carolyn Addison, head of product for the luxury travel company Black Tomato , credits Egypt’s trending status to people who want to check classic trips off their bucket lists.

“We have lots of people who are like: ‘I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids. I’ve always wanted to cruise the Nile,’” she said.

The American West

Jen Moyse, VP of product for the travel app TripIt , says that although international travel is having a moment, Americans will continue to return to iconic cities at home that are still rebounding from the pandemic.

Of the Top 5 most booked domestic destinations on the travel booking platform Hopper , four are out west: Las Vegas, Denver, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

For Skyscanner bookings, Las Vegas and Los Angeles took the top spots for most booked flights in the new year, with San Francisco, Honolulu and Denver also making the Top 10.

The vacation rental platform Vrbo says demand for homes in western U.S. destinations is on the rise, as customers look for trips in the great outdoors.

Our best travel advice on the American West:

How to do Montana like a local, beyond Glacier and Yellowstone
A hater’s guide to Las Vegas
UNESCO at 50: 24 World Heritage sites to see across America

Mexico has been breaking tourism records throughout the pandemic and will return as a powerhouse destination in 2023. Its most popular and easy-to-get-to beach destinations are major contributors to that success.

“People are welcoming that beach vacation,” Cohen said. “They want to go to Mexico and just relax.”

Cancún, on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, is the most booked international destination next year for Hopper, Skyscanner and the airfare search engine Skiplagged . However, demand for cultural capitals will also continue to rise.

Oaxaca is the second-most popular destination for the travel company Modern Adventure, and Mexico City ranks high as well.

Our best Mexico travel advice:

6 Mexico vacations that check every travel style
Where to drink natural wine in the heart of Mexico
A local’s guide to Mexico City

Another carry-over from 2022, Costa Rica is attracting travelers — including families, honeymooners and retirees — with its abundance of affordable flights, outdoor adventures, wildlife and coastline.

For customers of travel planning company Zicasso , the most sought-after places to visit are Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Tortuguero and the Osa Peninsula, which lines up with our expert recommendations .

The most booked 2023 itinerary for Road Scholar, a group tour company for senior travelers, is a Costa Rica vacation that hits many of those places, as well as Punta Leona, on the central Pacific coast, and Sarapiqui, a renowned birdwatching region in Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands.

The Galápagos Islands

Another dream trip becoming a reality for travelers in 2023 is the Galápagos Islands. The biggest seller for Astonishing Travel owner Heidi Bocianowski, the Pacific Ocean archipelago appeals to people who want to see something new every day, including black lava rock, red sand and rare wildlife.

Brian Tan of Zicasso says customers are keen on combining a trip to the Galápagos with other South American highlights.

That may be Patagonia, which has been “by far one of the most popular destinations” for Craft Travel founder Carter. It helps that travelers can once again cross between Chile and Argentina by road. Carter has been planning combination trips for clients to Torres del Paine National Park on the Chilean side, with the charming villages of El Calafate and El Chaltén on the Argentinean side.

7 travel mistakes to avoid in 2023

African safaris

Keeping with the once-in-a-lifetime theme, Brian Pentek, owner of LuxeLife Travel , says “Africa is huge” for his clients.

Most are going in multigenerational groups who use the trip as graduation presents or family reunions. They may be going to Cape Town, South Africa, as well as Botswana (for game reserves) or Rwanda for gorilla trekking.

In addition to safaris, Salvadore incorporates ways for his clients in Africa to experience local culture, check out the food and drink scenes, and enjoy bush camping instead of staying in luxury lodges. In 2023, he’s sending travelers to Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, a country listed as one of the top up-and-coming travel spots in a summary compiled by Scott Dunn luxury travel planners.

The most booked destinations for Niarra Travel also include South Africa, Victoria Falls (which sits on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe) and Kenya, while trips to the Serengeti in Tanzania dominate reservations for Deeper Africa . One of the company’s owners, Karen Zulauf, said she has noticed upcoming travelers are more interested in adding active excursions, such as “walking safaris, mountain biking, horseback riding, you name it.”

For those who have already done a traditional safari vacation, Carter recommends Namibia, a country seeing a resurgence in interest, where travelers can go on self-driving road trips (vs. ones with a guide) between eco-lodges or take small planes to some of the world’s most remote places, such as the Skeleton Coast and Hoanib Valley.

Gorillas are Rwanda’s main attraction. Dian Fossey would hate that.

Even before the North African country drew international attention in the World Cup, Morocco was emerging as a major travel hot spot. It’s the most booked country for Intrepid Travel , and “we expect Morocco to continue to be incredibly popular in 2023, given the increase in flights into the destination and the ability to get out and have great experiences in one-week, 10-day or two-week itineraries,” said the company’s CEO, James Thornton.

That’s also true for Modern Adventure. Liz Boudreau, vice president of experiences for the company, says it has had a 53 percent increase in bookings compared with 2022.

If you’re worried about your travel budget, consider visiting as a work exchange volunteer, like Washington Post reporter Andrea Sachs tried in Fez.

Small cruises

Cruises are making a strong comeback, even for travelers who might not consider themselves cruise people. But instead of taking megaships, they’re looking for smaller options operating expedition trips (think Antarctica and Alaska) or luxury voyages, mainly river cruising in Europe and Egypt.

For destinations with the highest interest, such as Portugal, Emma Cakmak, owner of the cruise-focused company A Passport to Travel , is warning clients that May through September is practically sold out across all the top cruise lines, although there’s some availability in low-end stateroom categories.

If you’re striking out, keep shopping around. As they notice demand climb, some cruise lines seem to be “bringing on significant capacity as they move into” 2023, said Priceline CEO Brett Keller.

Our best cruise advice:

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Virgin Voyages gets its sea legs

An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Susan Blume as Stephanie Blume. The error was updated.

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

A woman in a pool is traveling based on the 2023 travel trends and predictions, according to experts...

Adding these destinations to my bucket list right now.

With the new year around the corner, it’s never too soon to start thinking about your 2023 plans. A new year means new goals, and something you could be manifesting for yourself is a big vacation. Whether you’re someone with a suitcase always half packed and ready-to-go, or your passport has never been touched before, you’ll still want to know the biggest 2023 travel trends and predictions from the industry’s top experts.

Similar to how 2022 was full of spontaneous trips and vlog-worthy adventures, 2023 has its own vibe and travel trends everyone will be wanting to follow. These 2023 travel trends are influenced by different factors like budgets and lifestyles. For instance, many people are working remotely nowadays, which means you can work from just about anywhere in the world. A hybrid work vacay could be the easiest way for you to see everything on your bucket list without having to sacrifice your PTO. There has also been a shift from rental homes back to hotel accommodations to avoid clean-up costs and the stress of having to deal with certain hosts, which will definitely play into how people travel in 2023.

Elite Daily tapped 10 travel experts from Lonely Planet, National Geographic, American Express Travel, EF Ultimate Break, and more to share their their travel predictions for 2023, and here is everything you should consider before booking your first plane ticket for the new year.

A woman at a freestanding hotel accommodations, which is one of the 2023 travel trends and predictio...

While you can’t pass up a one-of-a-kind stay on Airbnb, the President and CEO of Refined Hospitality , Ron Gorodesky, believes that hotel accommodations will take over in 2023. Gorodesky says, “[T]ravelers are looking for freestanding home alternatives with all the service of a traditional hotel.” Instead of having to do dishes or throw your towels in the wash on your final day to avoid additional fees, you can just stay in a hotel that feels like a unique rental stay.

One of these options is Refined’s River House at Odette’s in Pennsylvania. You could also find a hotel that’s all-inclusive, so you not only avoid extra fees but also receive tons of amenities as well.

Stephen Arthur, the Director of Leisure Sales at Timbers Resorts , shared that “due to increasing remote work,” Timbers is seeing more guests choosing to go on trips with an extended stay. Instead of just taking the weekend to visit, you can spend an entire week or even longer in your dream destination, exploring when you’re off the clock.

Another trend that Arthur says will be big in 2023 is multi-generational traveling. While you may want to go places with your partner or bestie, “family travel is expected to rise by nearly 25% annually.” You want to share these once-in-a-lifetime trips with the people you love the most, so it makes sense to go old school with a family vacay.

Choquequirao is one of the 2023 travel trends and predictions, according to experts.

It seems the adrenaline rush isn’t over in 2023. Similar to how high adrenaline excursions and outdoor adventures were a travel trend in 2022, National Geographic ’s Senior Editor, Amy Alipio, also sees 2023 as a big year for adventure. Some recommendations include off-the-beaten-path spots like Choquequirao in Peru, going bungee jumping in New Zealand, or hiking in Austria. If you rather stay close to home, Utah has hiking, camping, and river rafting.

Alipio also sees community as a big trend that focuses on conservation and sustainable tourism. This means that, along with taking away memories, you’re also giving something back to the community you’re visiting. That could mean getting to know the culture or contributing to the economy in positive ways. Alipio suggests visiting the Dodecanese Islands in Greece, checking out some breweries in Milwaukee , or taking a train through Laos .

If you enjoy the outdoors but aren’t looking for an adrenaline rush, Alipio also says that visiting to see natural wonders is a travel trend next year. While bioluminescence was huge in 2022, you’ll want to “marvel at the biodiversity of Botswana ” in 2023. Foodies may want to check out the gastrotourism in Slovenia that takes you to different farms and cheesemakers as you bike around. There are also plenty of national parks and natural wonders like the Northern Lights that should be on every traveler’s to-do list.

People visit the surroundings of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, which is one of the 202...

On the top of American Express Travel’s list of places to visit is Mexico City . While you can make your trip your own, they shared an itinerary that packs every minute of your trip with something memorable to do, like strolling through San Angel's Saturday Bazaar and visiting art galleries. While in Mexico, Nat Geo also suggests visiting the Revillagigedo National Park for both checking off the nature sights and sustainable tourism from your list.

Sure, vacations are about experiences and making new memories, but they’re also for relaxation. American Express Travel reports that 89% of their respondents are looking to escape their day-to-day routine while “74% plan to travel more in 2023 for their wellbeing.” Lonely Planet suggests beachy locations like Halkidiki in Greece or Jamaica as options while American Express travel has stress-free itineraries planned to the Florida Keys and Fiji . Even an all-inclusive stay at a resort is a great way to relax, just as long as it’s not at a White Lotus Resort.

While a traditional trip is always welcome, Hotels.com also shares that 60% of Millennials are hoping to take “alternative wellness getaways” in 2023. Get creative with non-traditional activities like forest bathing or staying in a Whitepod in Switzerland .

American Express Travel also reports that 74% of their respondents are planning to spend more next year on their travel plans. They may even sacrifice their budget for upgrades and amenities like late checkout. Since 70% of people also want to go on new adventures and check off their bucket list, this may be your sign to finally go on that one expensive trip to your dream destination.

Michelle McNeice, the Vice President of Marketing at EF Ultimate Break , shared with Elite Daily that many Gen Zers are planning to go all out: “Call it ‘revenge travel’ or ‘the semester abroad that COVID cancelled,’ Gen Z is embracing adventure and taking on their bucket lists with extended trips across multiple cities.”

You could go on an Emily in Paris- inspired trip to Paris or immerse yourself in everything that Portugal has to offer . Now that their borders are open to tourists, take that wanderlust trip to Japan or go on a month-long European Summer that gives you “more experiences, more core memories.”

Umbria, Italy has some of the best food to eat as part of the 2023 travel trends and predictions, ac...

Foodies will be excited to know that Lonely Planet has also released their list of the best places to eat in 2023. Of course, Italy — more specifically Umbria, Italy — tops the list. Sip on some wine while snacking on Italian truffles, prosciutto, and fine cheeses. Lima, Peru is also a must for anyone with an appetite. They have everything from ceviche to Peruvian doughnuts, Picarones. Other foodie spots include Fukuoka in Japan, South Africa, and Montevideo, Uruguay.

As mentioned, Japan is way easier to travel to now as a tourist. McNeice also shared that all of Asia is going to be a big travel destination in 2023. “Travel is all the way back, and Gen Z and Millennial travelers have made it clear that they’re focused on one destination — Asia. From Bali to Japan to Thailand, interest in adventures across the Asian continent is ever increasing,” McNeice says.

To account for the interest, EF Ultimate Break is launching new destinations that were voted for by customers and include South Korea and Vietnam. This may be an ARMY’s chance to visit the home of BTS and K-Pop, while foodies will love eating pho in Vietnam. As McNeice says, “Simply put, Asia is having a moment.”

“Traveling solo continues to gain popularity within the Gen Z and Millennial demos,” McNeice revealed. “They’re over the idea of coordinating with friends when they can skip the hassle and fly off on an adventure themselves.” Of course, if you’re not ready to do everything by yourself, booking a group getaway with EF Ultimate Break is a great option. You’ll still be choosing your own adventure and charting your own path to where you want to go, but you’ll feel safe and be able to “connect with other travelers” along the way.

If you are planning to travel alone in 2023, be sure to check out our solo travelers issue for tips on where to go and what to pack.

Visiting filming locations like the ones in 'Emily in Paris' will be a 2023 travel trend, according ...

Have you always wanted to visit Sex and the City filming locations in NYC or stay in the hotel from your new fave show, The White Lotus ? With Season 3 of Emily in Paris about to drop on Netflix, you may even want to follow in her footsteps by visiting France.

Expedia reports that 40% of their travelers find inspiration forwhere to go next from TV shows and movies. As such, set-jetting or visiting IRL filming locations is expected to be big in 2023. Apps like SetJetters make it easy to find locations from what you’re currently marathon-watching, so you can add it to your travel to-do list.

While trends like cottagecore have inspired people to travel to cabins and national parks in the past, Expedia believes that cities will make a comeback in 2023. Not just any cities, though. The travel site expects to see culture-rich cities with a lot of art and festivities like NYC, Edinburgh, Lisbon, and Dublin to be extra popular.

“Rustic getaways are on the rise,” according to Vrbo. If cities still aren’t your thing, you may want to consider a cowboy-cation. You could listen to “Cowboy Like Me” by Taylor Swift as you go horseback riding in Montana. Choosing to vacation in a western state rather than traveling all the way to Europe can also be great for your budget, and Vrbo shares that 42% of their travelers find inspiration in outdoorsy locations.

A couple enjoying hotel breakfast, a way to save money, is one of the 2023 travel trends and predict...

Although splurging on your dream trip will be a thing in 2023, experts at Hotels.com and Vrbo believe travelers will still take advantage of creative ways to save money. In fact, Hotels.com shared that three-star hotels have increased in popularity recently. These value hotels still include amenities like free parking and breakfast, so you’re not sacrificing quality or comfort.

At the same time, Vrbo also shared that 43% of travelers plan to cook on vacation to save some money as well. That’s why they’re seeing “foodie-menities” — aka food amenities — as a 2023 travel trend.

Vrbo also sees the rise of hidden gems in 2023. Everyone has the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon on their travel bucket list, but something they don’t have are hidden gem cafes in Los Angeles or off-the-beaten-path restaurants in Europe . The vacation rental site shared that interest in “unconventional destinations has increased by 30%.” That includes cities like Nampa, Idaho and Spokane, Washington.

If other 2023 travel trends have piqued your interest, like solo traveling and splurge vacations, but you’re not sure where to go, the experts at Airbnb offer up the top trending travel spots for 2023 — and they’re all international. Three of the biggest destinations include Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil, with Málaga, Spain taking the No. 1 spot.

You could definitely tour around Australia for a trendy extended vacay, while stopping in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. Other options include a set-jetting trip to The Rings of Power filming locations in New Zealand or unwinding on a mental health vacay in Brazil.

Expert Sources Cited:

Amy Alipio, National Geographic ’s Senior Editor

Michelle McNeice, VP of Marketing at EF Ultimate Break

Ron Gorodesky, President and CEO of Refined Hospitality

Stephen Arthur, Director of Leisure Sales at Timbers Resorts

American Express Travel

Lonely Planet

This article was originally published on 11.30.22

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The biggest travel trends for 2024

By Sarah Allard

If 2022 was all about a return to travel, then 2023 was the year we went further than ever before. Travellers took to the skies, rails, roads and seas to tick off major bucket-list moments, with Arctic adventures, luxury yacht cruises and even the first tourist trip into space .

In 2024, travellers will be putting what’s important to them front and centre of their plans, valuing deeper experiences that leave a positive impact, time spent with loved ones and wellness moments that last well after checkout. We’ll be choosing destinations carefully, slowing it down to enjoy the silence and the stars, indulging in our love of food in new and interesting places, and immersing ourselves in wellness practices that help us live longer.

These are the 20 travel trends likely to guide how we see the world in 2024.

Astro tourism

1. Astro tourism

What’s the trend? Astronomy, of course, is a field of study that has been around since the dawn of civilisation, and the act of gazing up at the stars has long been a source of soul-soothing wonder. Today, the more society falls deeper into an ever-expanding virtual world, the more we feel a need to broaden our horizons in the real universe. Astro tourism, or star bathing, is the act of travelling with the aim of catching sight of astronomical phenomena – disappearing to lands devoid of any pollution, crowds and traffic, where we can focus solely on the skies above and while away hours gazing at the stars, planets and constellations overhead.

Why will it matter in 2024? Increasingly, wellness-centric hotels and spas are creating the space for guests to gaze upwards, watching for comets, spying constellations and identifying patterns in the glittering expanse. In the UK, Port Lympne has opened the Lookout Bubble, a glass dome allowing guests to sprawl out on king-sized beds and study the stars. Further east on the Arabian Gulf, Zulal Wellness Resort is surrounded by the expanse of the Qatari desert – the ultimate destination for pollution-free astromancy, with dedicated workshops and stargazing sessions for families and children looking to learn more about the cosmos. Safari company Desert & Delta organises trips for travellers looking to soak up the stars across Botswana and Namibia, where guests can sleep in tents at remote locations such as the Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world’s largest salt flats, and spend nights with uninterrupted star vistas. Similarly, Tswalu is a South African safari camp with star beds set on a sleep-out deck in the Korannaberg mountains. And 2024 happens to be a big year, astronomy-wise, from mind-boggling eclipses to spectacular meteor showers – plus, scientists are predicting the best displays of the northern lights in 20 years, according to the Guardian , as we approach the next solar maximum (the sun’s peak of its 11-year activity cycle). Olivia Morelli

2. Eco diving

What’s the trend? A rise in divers choosing their travel destinations based on the sustainability of the scuba centres, and having a more positive, regenerative impact on the ocean once there.

Why will it matter in 2024? In 2022, UK marine ecology charity The Reef-World Foundation found that 95 per cent of divers wanted to book with sustainable operators, but struggled to do so. In response to this, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (Padi) launched its Eco Center accreditation on World Earth Day (22 April) 2023, with the United Nations Environment Program and Reef-World itself. The steps required to earn this green status are so rigorous – including sharing evidence of conservation activities and a real reduction in environmental footprint – that Padi advised operators to allow at least 12 months to hit the criteria, taking us to… Earth Day 2024. After an initial figure of just 11 worldwide, there are now 100, and Padi has set a goal to reach 660 by 2030 – a 10th of its membership. “South East Asia currently has the highest density (more than 20), along with the Caribbean ,” says Julie Andersen of Padi. So what does this mean for divers and their trips? “The type of conservation work done and reported on depends on the Eco Center,” Andersen explains. “Those in the Caribbean offer coral replanting programmes, key for regenerating coastlines. In Baja, Mexico , they’ve developed citizen science courses, collecting data for whale conservation.” There are also a number of new Padi courses being launched for any diver to take anywhere, including the Global Shark and Ray Census in August 2024, as well as the relaunch of the Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course before December. Becky Lucas

3. Home swapping

What’s the trend? Increasingly, discerning travellers are looking to stay away for longer stretches, while the rise of remote jobs post-pandemic means that working and living abroad has never been more appealing. The catch? Forking out on hefty accommodation fees while you’re at it. Enter home swapping: the perfect solution to guarantee yourself a (free) home abroad while you offer up your own in exchange – for weeks or even months at a time.

Why will it matter in 2024? As the cost of holidaying continues to climb, home swapping is an affordable alternative to splashing out on expensive hotels or Airbnbs. And while the concepts of couch surfing and house exchanges have existed for decades, several slick new platforms are redefining what home swapping looks like today. Twin City, which operates in cities as far-flung as Lisbon and Los Angeles , has curated a community of 1,100 plus carefully vetted users in just eight months. For an annual subscription fee of £150, members can find Twins to connect with through the platform, and are encouraged to exchange local recommendations for their city as well as their homes, enabling members to feel as if they’re swapping with a trusted friend rather than a stranger. Meanwhile, Kindred, a home-swapping platform where members rack up credits for each night that they exchange homes, raised $15 million in funding this year to expand operations across the USA and Europe, and currently has 10,000 plus homes in more than 50 cities. Members simply pay a cleaning and service fee for each stay, while the cost of the stay itself is free. Or skip out on membership fees entirely and head straight to TikTok, where Gen Z appears to be spearheading the home-swapping movement on social media. Inspired by cult film The Holiday , trending tags #houseswap and #homeswap have garnered more than 23 and 20 million views respectively, with users utilising the platform as a means to advertise their homes, discover like-minded peers to swap with and document their adventures along the way. Gina Jackson

4. Train stations are the new food destinations

What’s the trend? Train stations around the world are usually passed through as quickly as possible, having not been designed for commuters to stay and hang out. Nowadays, as travel delays increase and visitors want more local experiences, it pays for train stations to welcome travellers with shops, restaurants and bars for them to explore. In an effort to create a more dynamic visitor experience, historic train stations are being revamped, with bespoke food and drink offerings as an integral part of the redesign.

Why will it matter in 2024? As train stations are renovated to accommodate more travellers and update old infrastructure, local restaurants and bars are being added to attract more customers. In 2023, the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York City became home to The Irish Exit, a bar from the team behind the acclaimed Dead Rabbit, and Yono Sushi by trendy BondST, plus outposts of beloved NYC restaurants Pastrami Queen and Jacob’s Pickles, with Mexican hotspot La Esquina coming soon. Platform 1 a new bar and restaurant that opened in November underneath Glasgow Central Station . The cave-like space, with its historic brick arches, serves street-food-style dishes and craft brews made in the on-site microbrewery, plus there’s an outdoor beer garden. As part of its renovation, Toronto’s Union Station launched Union Market in May 2023 with favourite local food retailers Manotas Organics, Chocolatta Brigadeiro’s, Patties Express and Kibo. Meanwhile, in Somerset, Castle Cary station is in the process of a revamp, with nearby hotel The Newt creating a creamery, cafe and co-working space, which is set to open in 2024. Also on tap for the next few years is the completed renovation of 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, with plans for a 20 per cent increase in concession space that will focus on local purveyors. Devorah Lev-Tov

5. Sports tourism

What’s the trend? No longer the domain of lads on tour keen to sink as many pints as possible with one eye on a football game, sports tourism has evolved in the past few years with a new generation – and type – of sports fan emerging thanks to glossy TV documentaries ( Formula 1: Drive to Survive , we’re looking at you). Now, we’re taking our fandom out of the house and following a host of different sports in destinations across the world, planning holidays that hinge around seeing games, races and other activities in exotic locales, and extending trips on either side to see the sights too.

Why will it matter in 2024? A little event known as the Olympic and Paralympic Games anchors the 2024 sports calendar. It kicks off in Paris in late July and runs until early September , during which time more than a million tourists are expected to check in across the French capital. The games have inspired city-wide projects such as the €1.4-billion clean-up of the Seine, which , all going well, will allow public swimming in the river for the first time in a century. Elsewhere, the Tour de France starts in Italy for the first time in 2024, with competitors speeding off in Florence before heading to Rimini on the Adriatic coast and then north to the Apennines through Emilia-Romagna. New bike routes in the area have been released by tour operators such as Ride International Tours and Ride Holidays for cycling enthusiasts keen to join in the fun. Sarah James

6. Coolcationing

What’s the trend? For the vast majority of folk, summer holidays used to be about following the sun, seeking the heat – watching the mercury climb and hitting the sands. With the intense, record-breaking temperatures of recent years, however, many are considering travelling in the opposite direction: booking "coolcations" in temperate destinations, which also benefit from being less crowded.

Why will it matter in 2024? Rising temperatures caused by the climate crisis have resulted in the hottest recorded summer in the UK – just over 40℃ in July 2022 – while 2023, with a sweltering summer in much of Mediterranean Europe, North America and China – is on track to be the hottest year ever. Little wonder that many travellers are thinking again before booking literal hotspots such as the South of France and Sicily in July or August. A survey for luxe travel network Virtuoso found that 82 per cent of its clients are considering destinations with more moderate weather in 2024. Destinations such as Iceland, Finland and Scotland, according to Intrepid Travel, along with Latvia, which is surging in popularity. “We’re seeing an increase in those holidaying further north,” says Andrea Godfrey of Regent Holidays. “Scandinavia and the Baltics are both getting noticed more: they offer a more pared-back style of holiday but have some lovely beaches, and forests and lakes for both relaxation and adventure activities.” Cooler temperatures are particularly well suited to family travel too. “We’re getting far more enquiries from families for destinations that offer summer sun but also respite from the high temperatures being experienced in beach resorts across the Med,” says Liddy Pleasants, founder of family specialist Stubborn Mule Travel. “Kayaking in Norway, with its midnight sun, for instance, and cycling or hiking in Slovenia, which is also very good value.” Time to ditch the SPF50… Rick Jordan

Gig tripping

7. Gig tripping

What’s the trend? For years, athletes and wellness gurus were the big headliners at retreats. But rock stars are, well, the new rock stars of travel. Call it the Swift Effect. Destination concert business is up more than 50 per cent, led mostly by Taylor Swift, says Janel Carnero, a travel advisor at Embark Beyond. In the USA, tickets for Swift’s Eras Tour cost thousands and were still impossible to score. Music fans are realising they can pay less and have a more memorable experience by seeing their favourite pop icons perform in say, Amsterdam or Milan . Tours from performers such as Pearl Jam, U2, Doja Cat and Madonna will anchor trip itineraries, while music festivals (Glastonbury sold out in less than an hour) will be major catalysts for travel.

Why will it matter in 2024? New music festivals, including Untold in Romania's Cluj-Napoca, are introducing travellers to undiscovered destinations, says Alexandrea Padilha of Fischer Travel. And it’s no longer just about the music, says Carnero. “It’s the social aspect of sharing experiences with friends,” she adds. Hotels and travel companies have taken note and are creating the equivalent of backstage VIP experiences for guests. Global adventure collective Eleven has recently introduced Music with Eleven. The programme’s dedicated team of music-industry insiders (including Chris Funk, guitarist from the Decemberists) custom design itineraries that might include sitting in on a recording session at Flóki Studios, just outside the Arctic Circle at Deplar Farm in Iceland. And Rhythm & Sails hosts musicians on its catamarans. The company’s music director, Anders Beck of the jam band Greensky Bluegrass, curates the line-up of artists who perform sessions onboard and in ports as you island hop around the Caribbean . Jen Murphy

8. Resorts will help you biohack your health span

What’s the trend? Longevity is the latest wellness buzzword thanks to best-selling books such as Outlive and the hit Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones . Between 2021 and 2022, venture-capital investment in longevity clinics more than doubled from $27 million to $57 million globally, according to analysis from longevity research and media company Longevity.Technology. Now, the science of extending life and optimising health has become the focus at hotels. Blue Zones retreats are the new boot camps and even sybaritic resorts are offering the latest biohacks. Poolside vitamin IV anyone?

Why will it matter in 2024? Since the pandemic, feeling good trumps looking good. “People have become aware of the critical importance of developing a more proactive, preventive approach to health on all levels,” says Karina Stewart, co-founder of Kamalaya, a wellness retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand . This means a new willingness to go beyond diet and exercise and embrace sci-fi-sounding bio-regenerative treatments such as ozone therapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambers, both on offer at Kamalaya's new Longevity House. Luxury hotel brands are embracing the trend too. Six Senses Ibiza recently teamed up with biotech company RoseBar to offer guests full diagnostic testing. Maybourne Hotel Group is collaborating with wellness tech pioneer Virtusan to help guests boost performance. And Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea administers treatments such as stem cells and NAD+ (aka the fountain of youth) through its partnership with Next Health longevity centre. At 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Kauai, guests are welcomed with a B12 shot instead of bubbles and the resort’s new wellness-specific rooms come with recovery-boosting mod cons including infrared light mats. If the trend continues, the secret to longevity may be as easy as taking more holidays. Jen Murphy

9. Peak season gets the cold shoulder

What's the trend? There’s been a dramatic recent increase in shoulder season travel to Europe’s most popular destinations (particularly France , Spain , the UK and Italy ), which is set to continue in 2024. Luxury travel specialists Original Travel has launched new shoulder season itineraries to locations traditionally in demand during the summer – including the crystalline seascapes of Sardinia and Corsica – after seeing 14 per cent more bookings for September 2023 than for August 2023. Pegi Amarteifio of Small Luxury Hotels of the World shares similar insights. “Comparing phone reservations in 2023 against 2019, we’ve seen a 33 per cent increase for March to May and a 58 per cent increase for September to November , a pattern reflected across our other booking channels too.”

Why will it matter in 2024? A combination of social, economic and environmental factors is driving this trend into 2024. The cost of living crisis means a heightened focus on value. For 62 per cent of respondents to Booking.com’s 2024 travel trends survey, this is a limiting factor for 2024 travel planning, so much so that 47 per cent of respondents are even willing to take children out of school for cheaper off-peak travel. Shoulder season travel is also becoming more attractive due to rising temperatures, and more feasible due to flexible working. Layered on top of these practical considerations is an emotional motivation too: travellers are craving authenticity more than ever, seeking a tranquil, local feel when abroad, rather than Where’s Wally beach scenes. Toyo Odetunde

10. Private group travel

What’s the trend? The post-pandemic desire to gather friends or family and embark on a shared holiday experience shows no sign of abating – in fact, it’s on the increase in luxury travel, as people appreciate the benefits and savour the moment, from 3G family groups to 50-something empty-nesters keen to rekindle life-long friendships. Just don’t take Succession ’s family outing to Tuscany as a role model.

Why will it matter in 2024? “While some predicted group travel would peak post-pandemic, we’ve seen it have a lasting, positive impact with private group bookings continuing to be a dominant trend,” says Tom Marchant of Black Tomato, for whom group travel now accounts for 30 per cent of bookings. The company has just launched its See You in the Moment series to cater for the demand: it uses a mood board of over 35 experiences themed around key flash points, from The Meal (a backcountry feast served on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, for example) to The Challenge (rafting down the Apurímac in Peru, perhaps), all designed to create lasting memories. For Scott Williams, meanwhile, multi-generational travellers are thinking big: why take one house when you can take a whole estate, such as Meli on Paxos in the Greek Islands, which sleeps 17? Other groups are taking to the water, with Red Savannah reporting an increase in bookings for Turkish gulets, Egyptian dahabiyas and Indonesian phinisis. Scott Dunn have seen an increase in bookings amongst groups of friends, with 30 per cent of respondents in a recent survey saying they were planning trips for 2024 that included ski trips to France, adventure travel in South and Central America, and beach breaks on Antigua and Barbados. Empty-nesters are also a growing force, with groups of couples in their 50s to 70s hiring villas in the shoulder season for cultural weeks away, and all-female groups – mainly aged between 50 and 65 – who are proactive in wanting to renew long-term friendships. “We had one repeat group that included several cancer survivors,” says Sarah-Leigh Shenton at Red Savannah. “A hammam afternoon in Turkey was a deeply bonding experience and they’ve since travelled to Jordan and Sicily together.” Rick Jordan

11. AI aims to be your sidekick

What's the trend? Early last year, after OpenAI’s ChatGPT broke the record as the fastest-ever growing consumer app, travellers started playing around with AI chatbots to get inspiration on where they could go. More recently, major travel booking platforms have started to integrate AI chatbots into the booking experience. But if 2023 was the year of AI chatbots wanting to plan your trips , 2024 will be all about how AI aspires to be your travel sidekick. A wave of new AI-powered features and products aims to support travellers on the ground – all while raising concerns around the potential negative impacts as AI becomes more widely integrated with our travels.

Why will it matter in 2024? AI will start to make more real-time interventions in our travels in 2024. One practical example is live translation , which Samsung plans to launch on its 2024 Galaxy devices. Imagine calling somewhere you want to visit to get information without worrying about whether staff speak the same language as you. Another example is greater AI personalisation in popular apps you already use. Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has recently touted the company's increasing use of personalised AI algorithms , which will learn about your habits and make suggestions based on what you’re doing. For the true early adopters, real-time travel interventions could also mean ditching your screen entirely and clipping a screenless personal translator and travel assistant to your chest. This is the unusual idea behind the new talking and projecting AI Pin from Humane , a start-up backed by investors including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, that promises to function a bit like the universal translator from Star Trek . Will anyone want to actually wear the pin or will it go the way of previously hyped devices such as Google Glass? It certainly raises a host of ethical questions about privacy and data protection. Yet the more that AI products successfully help in addressing on-the-go problems, the more travellers will come to rely on them too. JD Shadel

12. Skip-gen travel

What’s the trend? Skip-gen travel describes when grandparents holiday with grandchildren, in other words, "skipping" a generation. “In the past few months, I've had around twice as many enquiries as usual for grandchild/grandchild bookings,” says Clio Wood, founder of family retreat company &Breathe . “There’s been a rising trend of grandparents taking their grandchildren away,” agrees Ollie Summers, Head of Sales at bespoke operator Scott Dunn . “Often to places that have a sentimental meaning to them.”

Why will it matter in 2024? Several travel agencies have created itineraries to cater specifically for this demand in 2024. “Skip-gen safaris are emerging as a micro-trend from the UK, reflecting a niche traveller group now well established in the US luxury market,” says Liane Goldring of Mahlatini Luxury Travel . “The grandparents are usually in their 70s and still active enough to fully embrace a fully guided safari adventure.” Original Travel, meanwhile, has relaunched its Bonding Holidays Collection , featuring trips focussed on discovering something new together, such as its 14-day Family Ranching itinerary in the American West. Some of this growth can be attributed to big-ticket lockdown promises coming to fruition. Now, amid the UK’s cost of living crisis, parents are also keen to make the most of the time and childcare support of their typically baby boomer, more comfortably retired parents. Plus, the global ratio of living grandparents to grandchildren is higher than ever, thanks to a combined increase in life expectancy and drop in the number of children per person. We’re even said to be living in the "the age of the grandparent". Don’t expect this trend – or your grandparents – to slow down anytime soon. Becky Lucas

Glamorous train travel

13. Train travel gets glam

What’s the trend? Rising climate consciousness has fuelled a rail travel revival, the luxury train niche is reaching new heights of popularity, extravagance and ambition. Travel booking platforms are reporting growing demand for luxury rail trips , where the journey is, yes, the destination. In fact, new design-forward train lines increasingly rival the finest hotels for the culinary experiences and bells and whistles on offer.

Why will it matter in 2024? A new wave of rail lines and itineraries launching in 2024 puts an emphasis on deeper immersion into the culture and landscapes of the destinations, which are more and more off the beaten track. Responding to growing demand for luxury train travel among its user base, specialist platform Railbookers plans to launch arguably the most geographically extensive and expensive luxury train itinerary around. With prices per person starting at $113,599, the 80-day Around the World by Luxury Train voyage will cross four continents and 13 countries. Beginning in August , the slow journey will string together existing luxury rail trips including Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Jasper and India’s Maharajas Express from Delhi to Mumbai. In Asia, the previously paused Eastern & Oriental Express is making a grand comeback starting in February, with carriages getting an upscale revamp and its legendary route being retraced through Malaysia's landscapes. Meanwhile, Japan is a hot destination for its scenic train journeys such as the exclusive Train Suite Shiki-shima , which quickly closed applications for its 2024 trips due to demand. And in Europe, six new train lines will commence or terminate in Rome under Accor's La Dolce Vita umbrella, with suites designed by starchitects Dimorestudio, building on the cultural legacy of the famous Orient Express . JD Shadel

14. Restaurateur-owned hotels

What’s the trend? Restaurants and hotels are the two linchpins of the hospitality industry. And naturally, the two are often intertwined on one premises. Until recently, though, most hotels weren’t started or owned by restaurateurs. Yet as food-focused travel keeps increasing, with people hankering for the next hot reservation and planning entire trips around discovering a culture through its food, it makes sense that restaurateurs are adding hotelier to their CVs – and ensuring their new properties have impressive food offerings. We’d be remiss not to mention Nobu, which began as a restaurant in 1994 and in 2013 launched its global hotel brand, as a harbinger of the trend.

Why will it matter in 2024? Just as design brands (RH, West Elm) have opened hotels in recent years, now restaurateurs are getting in on the action. In the USA, restaurateur and 12-time James Beard award nominee Sam Fox has just launched the Global Ambassador in Phoenix, Arizona, with five restaurants. Santa Barbara’s Good Lion Hospitality is relaunching Petit Soleil , a Californian wine country boutique hotel, with a new bar and restaurant slated for next spring. The Lafayette Hotel & Club was debuted last summer in San Diego by Arsalun Tafazoli, founder of a local hospitality group that operates 16 bars and restaurants. The hotel has five restaurants and bars, with two more opening by the end of the year. In Dallas, Harwood International, which owns a dozen or so restaurants in the area, opened Hôtel Swexan in June. In the St Gallen region of Switzerland two hotels were recently added to beloved restaurants: the revamped Mammertsberg and Gasthaus Traube . In Slovenia, AS Hotel is a new place to stay launched Sebastjan Raspopović, son of chef Svetozar Raspopović-Pope of renowned restaurant Gostilna AS in Lublijana. Aside from a restaurant by Raspopović-Pope, the hotel has an eatery by Michelin-lauded chef Ana Roš. Finally, R48 , and its lauded Chef’s Table, was opened in Tel Aviv last spring by R2M Hospitality Group, which also runs restaurants CoffeeBar and Herzl 16. Devorah Lev-Tov

15. Silent travel

What’s the trend? In an age of overstimulation, silence might be just what we need from our travels in 2024. Offering a chance to restore and reset, silent travel represents a more mindful kind of trip, one that doesn’t leave you needing a holiday to recover from your holiday. Silent meditation retreats are an increasingly popular wellness trend, but silent travel also encompasses secluded nature resorts, sleep retreats , quiet hotels , silent walking tours and even silent disco and concert experiences.

Why will it matter in 2024? Saturated with stress and screen time, many of us are looking for ways to disconnect. The silent walking trend that recently took TikTok by storm reflects a growing impulse to escape the noise of our tech-fuelled lives and embrace the quiet, with promising implications for wellbeing. One 2015 study suggests silence may help to stimulate brain development, while another found that two minutes of silence during or after relaxing music increased the music's calming effects. With the Global Wellness Institute forecasting a 21 per cent increase in wellness tourism in the next two years, what better counter to the chaos of our always-on lives than silence? Silent travel is also part of a move towards more sustainable tourism. Quiet Parks International , for example, offers unique nature experiences in dedicated quiet spaces, reducing noise pollution for the surrounding wildlife. Silent travel opportunities abound in 2024. Kick off the year with a silent retreat in Portugal (with Innate ) or Italy (with Mandali ). More adventurous silent-seekers can trek the peaceful Japanese Kumano Kodo trail, or explore Finland’s Arctic landscape with a Silence & Nature Tour . For a tailor-made silent experience, Black Tomato’s Blink camp offers luxury accommodation in the world’s most remote settings, while its Get Lost programme promises to help you find yourself by getting lost in a far-flung location. Tasha Kleeman

16. Urban gardens

What’s the trend? Never mind the biophilic office and those pot plants you forget to water: whole cities are going green as architects and planners create leafy microclimates amid the grey concrete to help keep us cooler, connect communities and even feed us.

Why will it matter in 2024? Having trees and gardens in our cities is a pretty good idea. King Nebuchadnezzar certainly thought so, which is why his Hanging Gardens of Babylon made it into travel’s first-ever bucket list – the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – back in the 2nd century BC. Nowadays planting trees creates much-needed shade, stores carbon and increases biodiversity, but it also makes our cityscapes so much nicer. While Valencia, an early adopter of urban greening with its 12km-long Turia Garden in 1986, is the 2024 European Green Capital, France is busy planting trees like there’s no tomorrow: go to Paris for the 2024 Olympics and you’ll spot budding new forests growing in Place du Colonel-Fabien, Place de Catalogne and in the Charonne district, while Bordeaux’s Grandeur Nature project includes urban cooling islands, micro-forests and rain gardens. All of which will doubtless be discussed at the ISHS Green Cities 2024 symposium, hosted by RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, England, in September. Meanwhile, on Cyprus – an island that experienced temperatures of 44℃ in 2023 – the new Salina Park opens in time for summer shade in the seaside city of Larnaca. In Brazil, Rio’s Hortas Cariocas is a groundbreaking achievement that will be completed by the end of 2024: the largest urban vegetable garden in the world, connecting 56 community gardens across favelas and schools. And in London, the £1-billion Google building in King’s Cross will show just what can be done with one structure. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the "landscraper" – only 11 storeys high but stretching out longer than the Shard is tall – is hoped to provide a blueprint for future urban projects: running along the rooftop is a multi-level garden, with wildflowers, lawns and decked seating areas, set with more than 55,000 plants and 250 trees. Can you dig it? Rick Jordan

17. Back-of-house tours

What’s the trend? Greener hotels giving us a look behind the scenes to show us – not just tell us – they're sustainable. We don't mean a look-see at solar panels or composting, but heart-lifting experiential tours that help us appreciate why it matters to support socio-economic uplift through tourism. In South America, Blue Apple Beach invites visitors to get up close and personal with the community work it does in Colombia through its impact fund. Founder Portia Hart wanted more than token-gesture carbon offsetting, where locals themselves could decide how money was spent. In Africa, guests of the Bushcamp Company contribute to initiatives through the Luangwa Conservation and Community Fund. A popular excursion in Zambia is visiting the boreholes that are installed with outreach funds. Each pump provides fresh drinking water to hundreds of people a day, and visitors who spend time with those gathered get a very tangible insight into how such provisions funded by hospitality can literally change lives in regions most affected by a warming planet.

Why will it matter in 2024? Transparency is on the up as the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive comes into force and greenwashing is coming close to being officially outlawed. A year of droughts, floods and heatwaves also reminds us we need to make better-informed choices in our travel planning – and all the better if we can also get a crash course in the science and sociology of positive impact. Experiences that go beyond explaining responsible practices, but demonstrate a deep respect for communities on the climate-change frontlines and help make their challenges relatable to visitors are especially helpful. Juliet Kinsman

18. Wild feasting

What’s the trend? Have you ever noticed how food always tastes better outdoors? But in today’s modern world many of us are more used to eating a sandwich while staring at a screen. Wild feasting describes the trend for beautifully curated culinary experiences in natural environments with the incorporation of hyper-local and foraged ingredients. In Sweden, for example, you can tap into a network of do-it-yourself outdoor restaurants where you book a table in a scenic location, search for nettles, birch leaves, lingonberries and trumpet chanterelles, and then cook them on an open fire according to a recipe card provided by a Michelin-grade chef.

Why will it matter in 2024? A greater range of wild feasting opportunities will give urbanites a chance to properly connect over food. Leading the way is Noah Ellis, founder of the UK's Nomadic Dinners. “Since launching in 2018, we experienced compounded year-on-year growth for our feasting and foraging experiences,” he says. In 2024 he will be hosting a new series of fire feasts, including one set among the bluebells. Also tapping into the zeitgeist is TikTok star Alexis Nikole Nelson (aka the Black Forager) who will publish a book about wild food in 2024. And don’t forget, 2024 is the last year you will be able to eat at Copenhagen ’s legendary, foraging-focused restaurant Noma before it turns into a test kitchen and closes to the public. Another innovator is Holmen Lofoten’s Kitchen On The Edge Of The World series in the Norwegian Arctic Circle, where guests can participate in four nights of wild feasts cooked by top chefs. In 2024, these will include Lennox Hastie, José Pizarro and Heidi Bjerkan. Ingunn Rasmussen, owner of Holmen Lofoten, says: “Now, as when we were little kids, gathering around a bonfire in the wilderness, sharing stories, feasting under the stars in these magical, remote surroundings is one of the absolute highlights, both for our guests and for us.” Jenny Southan

19. Plan-free travel

What's the trend? Saying no to endless scrolling to plan every inch of a trip, and saying yes to spontaneity instead. The power of the algorithm-spawned era of Fomo travel is waning, with those once secret spots made Insta-famous becoming tired and cookie-cutter, and the drive to plan a trip around them losing momentum. The rising counter movement is travel with no plans at all.

Why will it matter in 2024? The plan-free appeal is going one step further in 2024. Booking.com recently reported that 50 per cent of UK travellers want to book a surprise trip in 2024, where everything, even the destination, is unknown until arrival. And it’s possible to do it via travel companies such as Black Tomato, whose Get Lost service offers customers the ability to simply select a preferred environment – polar, jungle, desert, mountain or coastal – and leave its team decide everything else. “While we launched Get Lost several years ago, post-pandemic we’ve seen a notable and rising uptick in bookings and enquiries,” says Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant. Journee offers a similar surprise element, with travellers only finding out where they’re going at the airport. The service, which includes a full itinerary and access to a team via Whatsapp, is particularly popular with solo female travellers, while overall demand has grown so much that the London -based brand recently launched trips in the USA. Lauren Burvill

20. Frontier tourism

What’s the trend? To go above and beyond. Or below and under. As crossings of the tumultuous Drake Passage to Antarctica rack up millions of TikTok views and traffic jams form on Everest, canny travellers are seeking more individual, less obvious experiences that combine thrill-seeking with more meaningful self-empowerment.

Why will it matter in 2024? One person’s frontier is another’s backyard, of course, so frontiers are entirely subjective here. For some, this could mean being the first to camp under the stars in a remote landscape, or hike an ancient pilgrimage trail that’s been off the map for centuries. It’s still possible to bag a rare place on a Kamba African Rainforest Experience in the Republic of the Congo, being one of just 12 people to explore a game park the size of Belgium. Black Tomato, meanwhile, is designing an intrepid new expedition to the remote Mitre Peninsula in Argentina, along with a trip in Peru navigating the Sacred Valley of the Incas by raft. “This sort of adventure goes beyond bragging rights and is more akin to self-empowerment and the gratification of pushing our own horizons,” says Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant. The Ultimate Travel Company is also heading to Peru, a country repositioning itself for luxury travellers, with stays at Puqio, its first tented exploration camp,, in the remote Colca Valley in the Southern Peruvian Andes. Wilderness camping is also pegging out fresh terrain in Kyrgyzstan, with yurt stays on the steppes trending for 2024, according to Wild Frontiers, as is Mongolia ; while Albania, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Empty Quarter of Oman are all on the radar for an increasing number of travellers. And while the space-age pods of White Desert have already sold out for New Year’s Eve 2024 and 2025, latter-day frontiersfolk can take the path less travelled and explore the frozen continent’s southern coast (99 per cent of visitors go from South America to the northwest) with The Ultimate Travel Company’s new Ross Sea cruises, seeing the Ross Ice Shelf and Transantarctic Mountains. Don’t forget to pack your penknife. Rick Jordan

With international traffic roaring back, there’s a new No. 2 busiest airport

G lobe-trotters are on the move again in a big way, boosting the rankings of a handful of international aviation hubs on the list of the world’s busiest airports.

There’s no change at the top of the list. The No. 1 airport for passenger volume in 2023, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, has held that position every year — except pandemic-walloped 2020 — for more than two decades.

But for the first time, Dubai takes the No. 2 ranking, according to Airports Council International’s preliminary rankings for 2023, released on Monday.

“Dubai served around 87 million passengers in 2023. That is a year-to-year increase of 31%, and that is 1% higher than 2019. And they connected 262 destinations around 104 countries to 102 international carriers,” said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI World’s director general.

The airport’s jump up from No. 5 in 2022 is representative of a big growth area in aviation, with industry expansion in emerging and developing economies in the Middle East and Asia Pacific expected at more than twice the rate of advanced economies in the decades to come, de Oliveira said.

But Atlanta doesn’t have too much to worry about for now. With 104.7 million passengers in 2023, Dubai’s not nipping at its heels just yet.

That figure is still about 5% below ATL’s pre-pandemic 2019 passenger total, but de Oliveira said ACI expects Atlanta to serve about 110 million passengers in 2024 – bringing the airport back to 2019 passenger levels.

Globally, passenger traffic in 2023 grew by 27% from 2022 to reach nearly 94% of 2019 results, with domestic travel rebounding more quickly from the pandemic — growing by 20% from 2022 to reach almost 97% of 2019 levels.

The world’s largest domestic market, the United States, had four more airports – all with significant domestic passenger shares – in the top 10 in 2023: Dallas/Fort Worth (No. 3), Denver (No. 6), Los Angeles (No. 8) and Chicago O’Hare (No. 9).

International travel is driving recovery

But in 2023, it was the international market that drove recovery, growing about 37% to reach about 90% of 2019 figures. And while Dubai is the No. 2 airport for overall traffic, it’s No. 1 in the world for international passengers. Plus, it has evolved into a destination in its own right.

London Heathrow, another strong international player, jumped up from No. 8 in 2022 to No. 4 last year. But it was Tokyo Haneda in Japan that made the biggest leap – from No. 16 to No. 5, thanks largely to Japan’s reopening. It’s a welcome indicator that Asia’s passenger numbers are getting back on track, de Oliveira said.

Istanbul’s airport held steady at No. 7, and Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi dropped one spot from No. 9 in 2022 to No. 10 last year. India, with an enormous population and an increasingly connected aviation network, is an example of growth in the industry’s “capillarity” in different parts of the world.

“In the US, you have a very good capillarity in the system – the small, medium and big airports connecting with each other. We don’t have that in many parts of the world,” de Oliveira said.

But it’s growing rapidly in India, he said, with Air India and IndiGo buying hundreds of aircraft and the government investing in the country’s more than 140 airports.

The 2023 global total passengers figure is close to 8.5 billion, according to ACI’s preliminary figures.

Smoothing out rough air

The global outlook is “very positive” for continued growth. “In 2020, we lost like 20 years of development of the aviation sector in one year, so we are recovering very fast considering that,” de Oliveira said.

In 2023, the system was able to cope better with surging demand than it did earlier in the pandemic rebound, he said, although there are still some pressure points, including a shortage of US air traffic controllers.

There’s also very high demand for new, more efficient aircraft to reduce fuel costs and increase sustainability.

In addition to the most recent production slowdowns precipitated by issues with Boeing aircraft, supply chain slowdowns have contributed to a backlog of orders. The supply chain issues have improved, but the backlog is still significant, de Oliveira said.

Aircraft delivery delays could affect growth if airlines aren’t able to cope with demand, but he added that airlines are consequently likely to delay retiring less efficient planes to continue to meet strong demand.

Everything that happened as a result of the pandemic has underlined the importance of being ready for future issues, de Oliveira said, and ACI is working with member airports to become more resilient.

“That is always with the focus on the passenger … We have this ecosystem, if the ecosystem doesn’t work well, the passenger suffers.”

World’s top 10 busiest airports for passenger traffic in 2023

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta , Georgia (ATL): 104.7 million passengers; up 11.7% from 2022

2. Dubai , United Arab Emirates (DXB): 87 million passengers; up 31.7% from 2022

3. Dallas/Fort Worth , Texas (DFW): 81.8 million passengers; up 11.4% from 2022

4. London Heathrow , United Kingdom (LHR): 79.2 million passengers; up 28.5% from 2022

5. Tokyo Haneda , Japan (HND): 78.7 million passengers; up 55.1% from 2022

6. Denver , Colorado (DEN): 77.8 million passengers; up 12.3% from 2022

7. Istanbul , Turkey (IST): 76 million passengers; up 18.3% from 2022

8. Los Angeles , California (LAX): 75.1 million passengers; up 13.8% from 2022

9. Chicago O’Hare , Illinois (ORD): 73.9 million passengers; up 8.1% from 2022

10. Delhi , India (DEL): 72.2 million passengers; up 21.4% from 2022

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Dubai had its highest-ever appearance on the busiest airports list in 2023. - Kamran Jebreili/AP

Small Business Trends

25 international travel tips before your flight takes off.

Traveling internationally can be a great break for business owners. And sometimes, it can even be necessary for facilitating business growth. But there’s a lot that goest into organizing and planning for international travel. Here are some international travel tips to help ensure that your next excursion runs as smoothly as possible.

International Travel Tips

Make sure your passport is up to date.

You likely already know that you need a passport in order to travel internationally. But even if you have a passport that you’ve used in the past, you need to make sure that it’s up-to-date. Passports obtained by adults are usually good for ten years. But make sure that yours isn’t expired or even within months of the expiration date, as some countries won’t accept travelers with passports that are about to expire in case there are issues during your trip.

Make Copies of Your Passport

When traveling internationally, your passport is your main source of identification. So it’s very important that you keep it safe. In fact, making color copies before your trip can be a good safeguard. Keep a copy in each of your bags and consider even leaving one at home with a family member just in case.

Get Any Necessary Visas

Some countries also require you to apply for a visa before entering. You’ll need to look up the specific requirements of the country or countries you plan on visiting with the embassy or State Department when planning your trip.

25 International Travel Tips Before Your Flight Takes Off

Notify the State Department

It can also be a good idea to notify the State Department of your travel plans just so there are government officials aware of your whereabouts in case of emergency.

Bring an Outlet Adapter

Electrical outlets vary in different parts of the world. So you don’t want to make it to your destination only to find that none of your electronics work. Instead, purchase an outlet adapter that will work with the outlets in the country or countries you plan on visiting.

Check the Voltage of Your Electronics

Some outlets also have different limits when it comes to voltage. So make sure that the electronics you’re bringing are going to be able to work within those limits.

Invest in a Good Pair of Headphones

Whether you’re waiting around in an airport, on a train or trying to work in a noisy coffee shop or hostel, headphones can be a necessary tool for international travelers. Find a pair that are good at canceling out noise and are also comfortable for long wear.

Look Up Monetary Conversions

When traveling between countries, conversion rates for money are likely to change. But while you might get different rates at different times or in different locations, it’s a good idea to at least look up the rates beforehand so you know if you’re getting a good deal or if you should possibly try a different location.

Check Your Mobile Coverage

Even if you don’t plan on calling many people during your travels, you should at least have access to a working phone in case of emergencies. So you need to make sure that your phone will work in the locations you’re visiting. You may even need to sign up for an international calling plan that covers the area you plan on visiting.

Turn Off Your Regular Data

It’s also likely that your regular data plan isn’t set up for use overseas. Unless you have an international data plan, it can be a good idea for you to turn off your data and just use WiFi when it’s available.

Get Any Necessary Vaccinations

You may need to get certain vaccinations in order to travel to different countries. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have information about which vaccinations are necessary or recommended when traveling to various countries or regions.

Get a Letter from Your Doctor for Any Medications

If you’re bringing over any prescriptions or medications, it can be a good idea to get a letter from your doctor in case you come across any issues while going through security in other countries.

Let Your Bank Know Your Travel Plans

If you head to a different country and start charging everything to your credit cards, your bank could see that and freeze your cards or accounts due to fraud concerns. To avoid this, just let your bank or card companies know your travel plans ahead of time.

Check Entrance and Exit Fees

Some countries have fees for entering or exiting that are separate from what you pay for flights. Check to see whether there are any fees involved for the countries you plan on visiting before you leave so that you can be prepared.

Have Some Currency Ahead of Time

Getting just a bit of currency from the countries you plan on visiting beforehand can also be a good idea. You likely don’t want to get too much, because you don’t want to have a lot left over and often credit card rates are better than conversion rates for cash anyway. But some places won’t accept credit cards. And converting your money in airports isn’t always cost effective.

Use Credit Cards When Possible

It’s often more cost effective to use credit cards instead of converting all of your money to the currency of the countries you visit. And since U.S. credit cards are switching over to using chips, they’re more likely to be accepted in other countries than they were in previous years.

Set Up Automatic Bill Pay

While you’re traveling, certain parts of your life at home will continue. Namely, you’ll still likely have to pay bills. So set up automatic bill pay or schedule all of the payments for a time before you leave in case you can’t or don’t have time to access your accounts while traveling.

Put Your Mail on Hold

You can also contact your local Post Office to have them put a hold on or forward your mail so that it doesn’t just pile up in your mailbox while you travel.

Check Internet Coverage

Especially if you plan on getting some work done or being available during your international travels, you’ll likely need an Internet connection. Check with your hotel to see if they have WiFi available. Or you could search around for local connected cafes.

Grab Hotel Business Cards

Even once you’ve reached your destination, don’t let unfamiliar surroundings get you turned around and lost in a strange city. In case you ever need to get back to your hotel and you can’t find anyone who speaks English, having a business card for your hotel can help you communicate where you need to go.

Get an International Maps App

A maps app can also be invaluable when it comes to finding your way around different cities. Just make sure you use one that works in the countries you plan on visiting.

Consider Supplemental Insurance

Your regular health coverage may not cover you in the event that something happens while you’re traveling internationally. But you can purchase supplemental coverage to cover you during your trip. You can even get insurance that will allow you to fly back home in case that becomes necessary.

Carry a Translator Guide

If you’re traveling to countries where you aren’t fluent in the language, carrying a pocket translator guide with common phrases in that language can be a good idea.

Arrange for English Speaking Guides

You can also hire guides to show you around and answer any questions in the language that you’re most comfortable speaking.

Make a List of Must Dos

There are so many ways to travel internationally. You can plan out every last minute, or you can be more spontaneous. But it’s a good idea to at least make a list of the main things that you want to see or accomplish. Then you can make plans to see those things whenever it’s convenient as long as they don’t require you to book ahead of time.

Bring an Extra Set of Clothes in Your Carry-on

Losing luggage is never a good thing. But if it happens, you want to be prepared at least for the immediate future. A change of clothes and a few basic toiletries can help you make it through until your luggage gets found or you can get to a store.

Navigation and Language

Navigating unfamiliar territory can be challenging, but you can make it easier with these strategies:

Maps and GPS : In the age of smartphones, navigation has become more convenient than ever. Download a reliable maps app that functions in the countries you plan to visit. Offline maps can be particularly helpful when you don’t have access to mobile data.
Business Cards : To navigate foreign cities more easily, carry business cards from your hotel. In case you get lost or need directions, you can show the card to locals or taxi drivers to help you find your way back.
Translator Guides : If you’re traveling to countries where you aren’t fluent in the language, consider carrying a pocket translator guide with common phrases. This can facilitate communication and interactions with locals.
Local Guides : Depending on your destination, you may want to hire local guides who can provide insights into the culture, history, and attractions of the area. These guides often speak multiple languages and can enhance your travel experience.

Planning and Must-Dos

Every international trip offers a unique set of experiences, and planning can make all the difference. Here are some additional considerations to enhance your international travel:

List of Must-Dos : While some travelers prefer spontaneous exploration, having a list of must-see places or activities can help you make the most of your time abroad. Create a flexible itinerary to ensure you prioritize the experiences that matter most to you.
Extra Set of Clothes : Losing luggage is a traveler’s nightmare. To prepare for this unlikely event, pack an extra set of clothes and essential toiletries in your carry-on bag. This precaution ensures you’ll have the essentials until your luggage is located or you can access a store.

In conclusion, international travel for business can be both exciting and essential for growth. However, it also comes with a set of challenges and considerations that should not be overlooked. These international travel tips serve as a comprehensive guide to ensure that your journey runs smoothly and that you are well-prepared for any unexpected situations that may arise during your travels.

From passport and visa requirements to financial preparations and safety measures, these tips cover a wide range of aspects to help you navigate international travel with confidence. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your travel experience, stay organized, and make the most of your business trip, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first international adventure.

Remember that thorough planning and preparation are key to a successful international business trip. By taking these steps, you can focus on your business objectives and enjoy the unique opportunities that international travel has to offer. Safe travels!

Passports Photo via Shutterstock

Wow. That’s a lot of planning! Start early.

Definitely – it’s always best to be prepared!

These are pretty legit. As an international traveler, I usually do almost all except the state dept. Always good to have a copy of your passport to carry with you so you can leave the real one at the hotel.

How about checking out check-in apps?

Can you suggest an International Map App that includes the UK?

It is important to get all your things ready especially when you are travelling. This allows you to prepare for any situation that may come your way.

I love these tips. I think that you have already covered everything here.

I suggest you take photos of your passport, drivers license and any other important documents email them to yourself and keep copies on each electronic device you have. You are more likely to be holding on to your phoneor listening to an iPod when everything else goes…

A proper planning is must before going for an international trip. We should keep in mind that we will experience new things and situation in a foreign country. From packing smartly to booking air tickets and hotels need to be done in time.

Take the time to think through what you bring so you can travel light! Today’s carry on bags are roomy and can accommodate everything you’ll need for a two-week plus trip. If necessary, book a house or apartment with laundry facilities mid-trip. Carrying on can save you in so many ways. I recently had a 6-hour delay and nearly missed flight to Europe, because my friends had to wait on their enormous bags. And if you are a foursome and renting a car, it may only accommodate four carry on-size bags. Who wants to lug big bags?

As far as foreign currency is concerned, I never purchase/exchange money prior to my trip. Upon arrival, I head to the nearest ATM and complete a transaction for enough money to get by for a day or two. That way, I’m never carrying large amounts of money on my person. I’ve never had a problem with a debit card or credit card at any foreign bank. Bank fees are usually very nominal.

Also, it will be good if you download offline maps, as it would be really helpful if you have no local sim card or roaming

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

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Number of international visitors Sydney, Australia 2023, by country of residence

Tourists traveling from the United States made up the largest group of international visitor arrivals to Sydney, Australia in the year ended December 2023, with over 403 thousand visitors recorded. International tourists from New Zealand and China were the next most prevalent tourist groups entering the capital of New South Wales that year.

Number of international visitor arrivals to Sydney, Australia in 2023, by country of residence (in 1,000s)

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Statistics on " Tourism in Sydney "

Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2010-2023
Leading destinations visited by international arrivals to Australia 2023
Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2014-2023
Leading destinations of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2023
Number of domestic day visitors Australia 2014-2023
Leading destinations of domestic visitors on day trips Australia 2023
Number of international visitors NSW Australia 2023, by region visited
Number of international visitors Sydney, Australia 2014-2023
Number of international visitors Sydney, Australia 2023, by purpose of visit
Domestic visitor expenditure Sydney, Australia 2013-2022, by type of trip
Number of domestic overnight visitors Sydney, Australia 2022, by state of origin
Number of domestic overnight visitors Sydney, Australia 2013-2022, by purpose
Domestic overnight visitors to Sydney, Australia 2022, by precinct
Domestic overnight visitor travel party types Sydney, Australia 2022
Events attendance of overnight tourists to Sydney, Australia FY 2023, by visitor type
Sydney Opera House events attendance Australia FY 2023, by event
Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens visitation Australia FY 2017-2023
Vivid Sydney festival attendance Australia 2023
Sydney WorldPride attendance Australia 2023
FIFA Women's World Cup attendance Sydney, Australia 2023, by match
Bondi Festival attendance Sydney, Australia 2023
Hotel occupancy rates during major events Sydney, Australia 2023-2024
Number of domestic visitors Western Sydney, Australia 2019-2022, by type of trip
Popular activities of domestic overnight visitors Western Sydney, Australia 2022

Other statistics that may interest you Tourism in Sydney

Premium Statistic Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2010-2023
Premium Statistic Leading destinations visited by international arrivals to Australia 2023
Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2014-2023
Premium Statistic Leading destinations of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2023
Premium Statistic Number of domestic day visitors Australia 2014-2023
Premium Statistic Leading destinations of domestic visitors on day trips Australia 2023
Premium Statistic Number of visitors at Sydney Airport Australia Feb 2019-Dec 2023, by passenger type

International visitation

Premium Statistic Number of international visitors NSW Australia 2023, by region visited
Premium Statistic Number of international visitors Sydney, Australia 2014-2023
Premium Statistic Number of international visitors Sydney, Australia 2023, by country of residence
Premium Statistic Number of international visitors Sydney, Australia 2023, by purpose of visit

Domestic visitation

Premium Statistic Number of domestic visitors Sydney, Australia FY 2014-2023, by type of trip
Premium Statistic Domestic visitor expenditure Sydney, Australia 2013-2022, by type of trip
Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight visitors Sydney, Australia 2022, by state of origin
Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight visitors Sydney, Australia 2013-2022, by purpose
Premium Statistic Domestic overnight visitors to Sydney, Australia 2022, by precinct
Premium Statistic Domestic overnight visitor travel party types Sydney, Australia 2022

Key attractions and events

Premium Statistic Events attendance of overnight tourists to Sydney, Australia FY 2023, by visitor type
Premium Statistic Sydney Opera House events attendance Australia FY 2023, by event
Premium Statistic Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens visitation Australia FY 2017-2023
Premium Statistic Vivid Sydney festival attendance Australia 2023
Premium Statistic Sydney WorldPride attendance Australia 2023
Premium Statistic FIFA Women's World Cup attendance Sydney, Australia 2023, by match
Premium Statistic Bondi Festival attendance Sydney, Australia 2023
Premium Statistic Hotel occupancy rates during major events Sydney, Australia 2023-2024

Spotlight: Western Sydney

Premium Statistic Number of domestic visitors Western Sydney, Australia 2019-2022, by type of trip
Premium Statistic Domestic overnight visitor travel party types Western Sydney, Australia 2022
Premium Statistic Popular activities of domestic overnight visitors Western Sydney, Australia 2022
Premium Statistic Popular activities of domestic day visitors Western Sydney, Australia 2022

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

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WTO TRADE FORECASTS

In the latest “ Global Trade Outlook and Statistics ” report, WTO economists note that inflationary pressures are expected to abate this year, allowing real incomes to grow again — particularly in advanced economies — thus providing a boost to the consumption of manufactured goods. A recovery of demand for tradable goods in 2024 is already evident, with indices of new export orders pointing to improving conditions for trade at the start of the year.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “We are making progress towards global trade recovery, thanks to resilient supply chains and a solid multilateral trading framework — which are vital for improving livelihoods and welfare. It's imperative that we mitigate risks like geopolitical strife and trade fragmentation to maintain economic growth and stability.”

High energy prices and inflation continued to weigh heavily on demand for manufactured goods, resulting in a 1.2% decline in world merchandise trade volume for 2023. The decline was larger in value terms, with merchandise exports down 5% to US$ 24.01 trillion. Trade developments on the services side were more upbeat, with commercial services exports up 9% to US$ 7.54 trillion, partly offsetting the decline in goods trade.

Import volumes were down in most regions but especially in Europe, where they fell sharply. The main exceptions were large fuel-exporting economies, whose imports were sustained by strong export revenues as energy prices remained high by historical standards. World trade remained well above its pre-pandemic level throughout 2023. By the fourth quarter it was nearly unchanged compared to the same period in the 2022 (+0.1%) and had only risen slightly compared to the same period in 2021 (+0.5%).

The report further estimates global GDP growth at market exchange rates will remain mostly stable over the next two years at 2.6% in 2024 and 2.7% in 2025, after slowing to 2.7% in 2023 from 3.1% in 2022. The contrast between the steady growth of real GDP and the slowdown in real merchandise trade volume is linked to inflationary pressures, which had a downward effect on consumption of trade-intensive goods, particularly in Europe and North America.

Downside risks

Moving forward, the report warns that geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty could limit the extent of the trade rebound. Food and energy prices could again be subject to price spikes linked to geopolitical events. The report's special analytical section on the Red Sea crisis notes that while the economic impact of the Suez Canal disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict has so far been relatively limited, some sectors, such as automotive products, fertilisers and retail, have already been affected by delays and freight costs hikes.

The report furthermore presents new data indicating that geopolitical tensions have affected trade patterns marginally but have not triggered a sustained trend toward de-globalization. Bilateral trade between the United States and China, which reached a record high in 2022, grew 30% less in 2023 than did their trade with the rest of the world. Moreover, for the whole of 2023, global trade in non-fuel intermediate goods — which provides a useful gauge of the status of global value chains — was down 6%.

Signs of fragmentation may also be emerging in services trade: US imports of information, computer, and telecommunications (ICT) services from North American trading partners (mostly Canada) increased from 15.7% of total ICT imports in 2018 to 23.0% in 2023 while US imports of the same from Asian trading partners (mostly India) fell from 45.1% to 32.6%. Fragmentation of data flow policies along geopolitical lines, moreover, could cause global trade of goods and services in real terms to fall by 1.8% and global GDP to decline by 1% according to estimates from a forthcoming study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the WTO.

WTO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa said: “Some governments have become more sceptical about the benefits of trade and have taken steps aimed at re-shoring production and shifting trade towards friendly nations. The resilience of trade is also being tested by disruptions on two of the world's main shipping routes: the Panama Canal, which is affected by freshwater shortages, and the diversion of traffic away from the Red Sea. Under these conditions of sustained disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and policy uncertainty, risks to the trade outlook are tilted to the downside.”

Regional trade outlook

If current projections hold, Africa's exports will grow faster than those of any other region in 2024, up 5.3%; this however is from a low base, since the continent's exports remained depressed after the COVID-19 pandemic. The CIS ( 1 ) region's expected growth is just slightly below 5.3%, also from a reduced base after the region's exports plunged following the war in Ukraine. North America (3.6%), the Middle East (3.5%) and Asia (3.4%) should all see moderate export growth, while South America is expected to grow more slowly, at 2.6%. European exports are once again expected to lag behind those of other regions, with growth of just 1.7%.

Strong import volume growth of 5.6% in Asia and 4.4% in Africa should help prop up global demand for traded goods this year. However, all other regions are expected to see below average import growth, including South America (2.7%), the Middle East (1.2%), North America (1.0%), Europe (0.1%) and the CIS region (-3.8%).

Merchandise exports of least-developed countries (LDCs) are forecasted to grow 2.7% in 2024, down from 4.1% in 2023, before growth accelerates to 4.2% in 2025. Meanwhile, imports by LDCs should grow 6.0% this year and 6.8% next year following a 3.5% contraction in 2023.

Trade in services

World commercial services trade grew 9% in 2023 despite a decline in freight transport, thanks to recovering international travel and surging digitally delivered services. In 2024, sports events to be held in Europe in the summer, as well as the easing of visa requirements by various countries, are expected to boost tourism and passenger transport.

Global exports of digitally delivered services soared to US$ 4.25 trillion in 2023, up 9.0% year-on-year, and accounted for 13.8% of world exports of goods and services. In 2023, the value of these services — traded over borders through computer networks and encompassing everything from professional and management services to streaming of music and videos, online gaming, and remote education — surpassed pre-pandemic levels by over 50%. In Europe and Asia, which hold a global market share of 52.4% and 23.8% respectively, exports rose by 11% and 9%. Growth accelerated in Africa (13%) and in South and Central America and the Caribbean (11%), exceeding the global average. The two regions, which formed only 0.9% and 1.6% of global exports in 2023, are on the path to take advantage of digitally delivered services trade.

The WTO has released a new dataset on trade in services by mode of supply as in the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). It provides valuable insights on how services trade has modified over the years, including the impact of digitalization and of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This dataset as well as the latest estimates on digitally delivered services trade and service trade in general can be visualized and downloaded in the Global Services Trade Data Hub . The newly launched Global Services Trade Data Hub gives access to comprehensive WTO services trade data. It provides visualizations and customizable features catering to the diverse needs of trade negotiators, analysts, researchers, and decision-makers, to derive insights.

The full report is available here .

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