The historical travel question observed by the tourism sector this summer has contributed to a strong increase in flight and hotel prices, both nationally and internationally.
Data from hotel search platform Trivago shows that travelers this summer focused on destinations and activities that boost their mental health and don’t cost a lot of money.
These travel trends give us a clear picture of how people will travel in winter 2024.
The ‘Taylor-Swift’ effect
The Taylor Swift effect is a travel trend we predicted Traveling lifestyle well before summer.
As expected, thousands of fans traveled across multiple countries to attend her famous Eras Tour, or just to be in the same city she visited.
This travel trend isn’t limited to Taylor Swift, per se. In fact, thousands of people have traveled to watch major sporting events of international importance, such as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Eurocup, both being held this summer.
Alternative destinations and accommodations
Tourists weren’t willing to sacrifice luxury or their budget this summer, so they looked for alternative destinations that offered similar benefits but at a lower price.
to this travel trend, Trivago found that travelers were choosing destinations like Turkey, Osaka and Tokyo over London or Paris, which became unaffordable due to the Olympics.
Those who traditionally booked expensive destinations in Europe and Asia opted for budget hotels to control and reduce their expenses.
Travel and mental well-being
Arguably one of the most striking trends to emerge from this research is that Americans highly value the impact of travel on their well-being and mental health. 78% of respondents say that taking regular holidays has a positive impact on their mental health.
Additionally, 30% reported that their main goal while traveling is to improve their mental well-being.
Plan, plan, plan!
This summer, tourists weren’t willing to play it by ear. The vast majority of travelers booked their tickets well in advance (Trivago did not reveal how many weeks in advance). So by the time summer arrived, travelers had already packed their bags.
Trivago also revealed that travelers were widely using trip planning apps and similar technologies to plan routes and activities during their vacation days.
