Booking.com’s annual Travel Predictions research has revealed that instead of retreating, Asia-Pacific travellers are eager to redefine how they engage with the world by challenging conventional getaway norms and fostering deeper connections with themselves, others, and their destinations in 2025.
By breaking free from traditional expectations around age, gender, and travel styles, these emboldened adventurers are using their journeys to fuel and find long-lasting personal growth.
To understand how people plan to defy the status quo, Booking.com commissioned research among more than 27,000 travellers across 33 countries and territories, to present nine travel predictions which foresee 2025 being the year that ushers in new ways of experiencing the world for travellers in Asia-Pacific:
1. AI = Alternative Itineraries
New technologies are already helping travellers find experiences tailored to their needs, but 2025 will see innovations being leveraged to help tourists meet the needs of the destinations they hope to experience. 72% of Asia-Pacific travellers will use technology to make informed decisions and find authentic experiences, to not only respect the locations they visit but contribute positively to them.
AI-powered tools, like Booking.com’s AI Trip Planner which was newly launched in Singapore, are set to shape these journeys, with nearly half (49%) interested in using AI to curate trips, opening the door to itineraries that encourage deeper, more positive connections with localities and communities. Travellers will also apply a more responsible lens to how they are using technology, with 38% not tagging locations on social media when visiting a lesser known destination to keep it under wraps. That said, technology will equally play a role in finding alternatives that can be shared without the guilt of overburdening the usual hotspots, with 69% hoping to use technology to find less crowded areas.
2. Passport to Immortality
Amid the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, a vacation is more than just time to unwind. Driven by the desire to cultivate better lifestyle choices, 60% are interested in a longevity retreat – a super-charged flex on traditional well-being itineraries where temporary fixes are replaced in pursuit of a longer, healthier life. Deep revitalisation is a top priority, from body vibration (61%) and red light therapies (54%) to cryotherapy (51%) and stem cell treatment (51%). More than two thirds (70%) are looking for new wellness activities they can mix into their daily lives as they reconnect with a more balanced version of themselves, with 57% of Asia-Pacific travellers revealing they would pay for a vacation that’s sole purpose was to extend their lifespan and well-being.
3. Noctourism
Travellers will be focused on building connections with the universe as they turn to stargazing escapes in 2025. Ditching the daylight crowds for midnight magic, two thirds (67%) are considering visiting darker sky destinations with star-bathing experiences (76%), star guides (66%), constellation tracking (62%) and once-in-a-lifetime cosmic events (61%) top of the stellar adventure list. Concerns around climate change have also influenced this shift, with 57% planning to elevate their night-time pursuits to avoid rising day-time temperatures and 56% of travellers preferring to vacation in cooler locations. An appreciation for the nocturnal world is also deepening travellers’ connections with nature, as the majority of travellers (60%) would book an accommodation without lights to encourage less light pollution and preserve flora and fauna.
4. The Gate Escape
Gone are the days of arriving ‘just in time’ to avoid lingering in crowded lounges post-security, as travellers embrace a new era of airport entertainment. More than a third (44%) express an interest in visiting somewhere because of its airport, with 71% curious about airports with more unique experiences or facilities. Gen Z (50%) and millennials (51%) are set to fuel this trend, as they are keen to consider destinations based on their airport from sleep pods (38% Gen Z, 37% millennials) and spas (31% Gen Z, 33% millennials) to Michelin star restaurants (28% Gen Z, 31% millennials). With over two thirds (73%) suggesting they would feel more excited and stress-free about their trip if there were a wider array of facilities for use prior to their flight, vacations will start long before boarding the plane.
5. Vintage Voyaging
Vacation wardrobes will get a makeover in 2025, as trendy travellers turn vintage voyagers, hitting thrift stores while on holiday to curate a more sustainable suitcase. Over half (57%) said they would be interested in buying their vacation wardrobe during their trip rather than before, jumping to 66% of Gen Z, while 57% would visit thrift stores on vacation with over three quarters (76%) having already bought vintage or second-hand products when abroad. With 57% intending to be thriftier on their trips and 71% tightening budget planning in order to maximise their experiences, finding bargain hidden gems in second-hand stores has become a pivotal part of the adventure. Flying in the face of fast fashion and mass consumerism, 36% say they find better quality products in vintage stores abroad than at home, while 37% say they buy vintage on vacation because they find better bargains. A thrift trip is now more than just shopping; it’s a way to bring cultural connections back home, all while making eco-conscious and wallet-friendly choices.
6. Neuroinclusive Navigation
Neurodivergent travellers will be putting their often invisible needs in the spotlight, using emerging and evolving technologies to revolutionise how they experience the world in 2025. Over half (54%) of Asia-Pacific travellers who consider themselves neurodivergent have had a negative experience while travelling due to their neurodivergence, while 58% believe their travel options are limited because of their neurodivergence. Many would like to see technology play a greater part of their travel journey and help reduce theirs, or their travel companions’, anxiety. Nearly 72% are keen on AI tools that would provide them with up-to-date travel information, reports of delays and suggestions on quieter, less busy spaces in airports and hotels. Sensory rooms in airports, hotels and other locations are sought after by 70%, while 77% would like to see more ‘block out noise’ options across the travel experience. In fact, the call for progress in 2025 is loud and clear with 74% wanting an industry-wide initiative or programme that shares their needs and preferences seamlessly with airlines and accommodation providers, providing a closer connection between travellers, platforms and operators.
7. Boyz II Zen
With growing awareness around stereotypical social guidelines for men, ‘men-only’ vacations rooted in well-being, self-development and vulnerability are becoming popular. Over half (53%) confirm they would encourage one of the men in their life to go on a men-only trip, jumping to 68% for Gen Z and 61% for millennials. Male travellers are also abandoning ‘bro culture’ clichés to switch off from the stresses of everyday life (34%), rest and rejuvenate (36%), in pursuit of mental health benefits (28%) and personal growth (28%). They wish to build connections, both old and new, with 29% looking to make new friendships and 26% looking to improve their relationship-building skills with friends and family. Interestingly, it is women persuading the men in their lives to go on a men-only trip, with 57% encouraging their partner, 40% their friends, 27% their brother and 22% their father to put themselves first.
8. Multigen Megatrips
Parents flip priorities by spending kids’ inheritance instead of squirrelling savings. 51% of Singapore travellers would rather spend money on a trip of a lifetime in 2025 than leaving inheritance to their children – with baby boomers coming in at 54%.
Next year, however, this trend will take on an increasingly altruistic approach as older relatives look to splash the cash among their families, helping the younger generations through the cost of living crisis by paying for their next vacation. While 65% of travellers admitted that their parents had already paid for their vacations or part of their vacations since being an adult, boomers are likely to influence an uptick thanks to the 76% who are happy to pay for their children when booking their next trip.
9. Ageless Adventures
An emerging cohort of baby boomers will defy their years and conventional expectations in favour of thrill seeking in 2025, with 21% of this generation interested in vacations that involve adventure and 24% eager to push beyond their established comfort zones.
Easing their way into an era of adrenaline, close to a third (30%) are interested in horseriding and letting go of their inhibitions at a wine rave (28%). Venturing further, 20% would take to the water to canoe down the world’s largest rivers, 16% will hunt for glaciers and 14% may lace up their hiking boots to trek one of the highest mountain ranges.
Laura Houldsworth, managing director, Asia Pacific at Booking.com said: “In 2025, travellers in Asia-Pacific will be using their trips to transform themselves, their relationships and ultimately the world around them. It’s all about breaking travel norms to foster a deeper sense of connection. Technology and imagination are coming together to create a new era of traditions and ultimately make it easier for everyone to shape their own journeys in 2025 and beyond.”
