According to the research, travel is set to take center stage in 2024. This trend is driven by the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in travel, which helps travelers streamline planning and frees them to enjoy more enriching experiences.
GLOBooking.com, the travel booking platform, recently published its annual Travel Predictions research. According to this research, travel is set to take center stage in 2024. Approximately 82% of travelers based in Singapore feel more alive when they are on vacation, and 64% believe they are at their best during holidays. This trend is driven by the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in travel, which helps travelers streamline planning and frees them to enjoy more enriching experiences.
Here are Booking.com’s seven predictions for travel in 2024, based on insights gathered from over 27,000 travelers across 33 countries and territories, including Singapore:
-
Reboot Retreaters: In a busy world, travelers are seeking trips to rejuvenate and rekindle their desired way of life. For instance, “sleep tourism” is on the rise, catering to the 67% of Singaporean travelers who want uninterrupted sleep. Some are open to matchmaking vacations (40%) or heartbreak getaways (34%). Parents, surprisingly, are opting for solo travel to prioritize their well-being.
-
Surrender Seekers: Travelers in 2024 are embracing spontaneity and the unknown, with 54% of Singapore-based travelers interested in booking surprise trips where the destination is revealed upon arrival. They prefer having flexible plans (55%) and are even open to traveling with strangers (28%).
-
A La Carte Affluencers: Travelers will use money-saving strategies to enhance their vacations with luxury elements. AI will provide insights and tips to upgrade their experiences (62%). Additionally, many will choose destinations with a lower cost of living (60%) and opt for day passes to enjoy five-star hotel amenities without staying there.
-
Culinary Excavators: Travelers will explore the origins of a destination’s culinary delights (72%) and try indigenous cuisines (80%). Foodies are seeking immersive “phygital” food experiences enhanced by VR or AR.
-
Mindful Aesthetes: Travelers are increasingly seeking accommodation that combines exceptional design with environmental sustainability (56%). Many are interested in sustainable travel apps that offer rewards for contributing to conservation efforts (57%).
-
Cool-cationers: Climate change will impact travel plans, with many travelers looking for ways to escape rising temperatures (67%). Water-centric vacations will become popular (29%), offering activities like floating yoga and underwater hotels.
-
(Alter) Ego Enthusiasts: Travelers are exploring alter egos on vacation, with 42% making up stories about their lives to people they meet. Many enjoy the anonymity of travel (73%) and feel like the main character of their journey (64%).
In the words of Booking.com’s Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, Laura Houldsworth, “Our 2024 travel predictions reflect the idea that travel is not a means to escape life but a catalyst to live our best lives. From thrilling adventures in a new destination to feeling the pulse of a new culture and every experience in between, travel allows us to become the best version of ourselves.”
To read more about booking.com’s 2024 Travel Predictions, visit LINK.
