We’re almost halfway through 2024, which means it’s time to take stock of how people are exploring the world. We had an idea of what would be the year’s biggest travel trends coming into 2024. Nevertheless, it’s still fascinating to see how people are putting their money where their mouth is and adapting to the economic, political, and social conditions in how they travel.
It’s always fascinating to peek behind the curtain and learn what inspires people to get on a plane and jet to another part of the world. Join us as we unpack some of the hottest travel trends of the year so far.
1. Travellers can’t get enough of Europe.
Italy, Spain, and even countries like Scotland are exceptionally popular for summer and fall travel. France remains the world’s most visited country, and this year will only see that rise with the 2024 Summer Olympics kicking off in Paris in July. Türkiye is also continuing to trend. Travellers flock there to split their time between coastal resorts and incredible cultural and historic sites. It’s not hard to figure out why people love Europe so much. It’s easy to get to, abounds with history and culture, and has a nearly endless number of travel options within an easily navigable geography.
2. Travellers are looking beyond Japan and Thailand in Asia.
Don’t get us wrong: Japan and Thailand remain incredibly popular with just about every kind of traveller. But they’re not the only countries people want to explore in Asia. Indonesia, driven by people’s insatiable appetite for the island pleasure of Bali, is very popular. The Maldives is once again front of mind for travellers who want to stay in overwater bungalows and enjoy intimate resort experiences. Vietnam is the cool kid on the block in Southeast Asia, with a dynamic food scene and vast array of landmarks, from Halong Bay to Ho Chi Minh City. And last, but certainly not least, is India, which is driving enormous traveller interest, especially as people start planning for next year.
3. Travellers want to slow down the pace when visiting a country.
Slow travel continues to be all the rage with world travellers. It seems a bit of the FOMO that followed the pandemic has subsided. So instead of cramming as many countries as possible onto a single itinerary, travellers are focusing on a single country and going deep. They want to stay longer and explore more. This means travelling at a leisurely pace, staying more than one night in individual accommodations, and booking itineraries that go beyond the tourist trail.
4. Travellers are planning their trips around special events and festivals.
If Taylor Swift has taught us anything with her Eras Tour, it’s that people are willing to fly across oceans to attend an event. This isn’t only the case for concerts by world-famous superstars. The aforementioned Olympics will obviously be a big deal for France, but so is Euro Cup for Germany and Copa America in the United States. It’s also not only events that take place every four years like these tournaments that draw the crowds, either. Yearly festivals, including Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and the Day of the Dead in Mexico, are drawing more interest from travellers than ever before.
5. Travellers want to go with a group.
Group travel cannot be stopped. It’s been the way to explore the world for the past several years now and shows no signs of slowing down. We’re seeing this intimately with Goway GroupsOnly, which customizes trips for any group of 10 or more people. People want to share their travels with like-minded others. So, whether that means joining fellow birders for a wildlife escape to Costa Rica or heading on a golfing adventure through the United Kingdom, people are gathering their crew and hitting the road.
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You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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