This year, travel has undergone a complete transformation – it has become smarter, more thoughtful and highly personalized. From grand cultural events to serene spiritual sojourns, 2024 gives us new reasons to pack our bags and explore. The focus was not just on where we traveled, but also why.
Here’s a deeper dive into the trends that shaped travel trends this year.
Screen-Inspired Travel
Whether you’re a fan of epic fantasies, romantic comedies or period dramas, many real-life destinations in movies and shows are inspiring travelers for their next stay. SkyScanner’s report on travel trends in 2024 says 94% of Indian travelers were influenced by movies and TV shows while choosing their destinations. For example, Amelie in Paris has popularized many Parisian locations. The Jardin du Palais Royal, where Emily often enjoys her lunch breaks, is one of the most favorite haunts among fans of the series.
spiritual tourism
Spiritual tourism has been going on here for centuries. Devotees visit a holy place or monument for inner peace or for religious reasons. But it got a big boost in India, with the grand inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 this year. More than 12 crore pilgrims and tourists reportedly visited Ayodhya in the first seven months of 2024, according to UP government data. The enduring popularity of the trend.
sleep tourism
Sleep tourism, a trend that revolves around rejuvenating through restful sleep, enthralled travelers in 2024. This trend offers a peaceful escape with a curated environment designed for maximum relaxation. According to a report by HTF Market Intelligence, sleep tourism has emerged as a thriving global market, which is currently valued at 54.4 trillion.
destination duplicate
Travelers embrace budget-friendly alternatives to famous and expensive tourist destinations in 2024. Destination-scamming is all about finding places that offer the same ambiance as a famous location, but without the expense or crowds. A study by SkyScanner found that 93% of travelers would consider ditching a destination, while 64% would be motivated by savings. For example, many travelers choose Baku (Azerbaijan) to experience Dubai at a more affordable rate.
event based tourism
This year fans plan entire events to catch a glimpse of their favorite artists performing live, a practice known as ‘gig-tripping’. According to EaseMyTrip report, event-driven travel is expected to see a 20% growth in 2024. With worldwide tours by famous artists and bands such as Taylor Swift and Coldplay, the practice has become more popular. In addition to gig-tripping, sporting events such as the recent Paris Olympics also brought in a larger international crowd, with an increase of more than 13%, according to the French government.
