Five long-term trends show how travellers are seeking deeper meaning, slower journeys, and hyper-local immersion
Sep 25, 2025
Tripadvisor’s first annual Trendcast identifies 14 global shifts in experiential travel, with five emerging as especially relevant for South Asia. These aren’t fleeting fads but long-term changes powered by millions of real traveller reviews, searches, and stories—pointing to a tourism future centered on meaning, immersion, and authenticity.
Key takeaways
- Spiritual travel on the rise: Travellers are blending wellness and spirituality, with demand for astrologer-led tours, sound healing, and crystal therapies expanding beyond retreats into mainstream hotels.
- Water as culture, not just leisure: Bathhouses, conservation diving, and ritual festivals are turning water-based experiences into hubs of social and cultural connection.
- Slow journeys over speed: Eco-conscious travellers prefer scenic trains, boats, and cycling routes that emphasize the joy of travel itself rather than rushing to destinations.
- Food as investigation: Agritourism and farm-to-table experiences are evolving into hands-on learning journeys, where guests engage directly with farming and food preparation.
- Zooming in on nano neighbourhoods: Instead of covering whole cities, travellers explore single blocks or streets for intimate, hyper-local immersion in crafts, food, and heritage.
- Industry takeaway: Hotels, operators, and destinations that design authentic, immersive experiences aligned with these shifts will be best positioned for long-term growth.
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