2023’s BIGGEST tourism trends are ‘Three-star Superstars‘, ‘New Wave Wellness’, ‘Hidden Gems’, ‘Set-Jetters’ and ‘Culture Capitals’ according to one of the world’s biggest travel companies.
These are the top categories which have seen an uplift in popularity in the last year and are set to continue over the next 12 months.
According to data from Hotels.com, part of the Expedia Group, wellness breaks have bounced back from 2021, with more than a 30 per cent increase on 2022 demand, which is set to continue.
The brand also conducted research of 2,000 adults who plan to holiday in the next three years, which found almost a third (31 per cent) have become ‘bored’ with traditional wellness trips and want to try something more exciting.
The most popular new wave wellness breaks include fruit harvesting and ‘sylvotherapy’, also known as forest bathing, which is said to link a human’s energy with the forest.
Another travel trend set to dominate 2023 is ‘Set-Jetters’ – those who consider travelling somewhere after seeing it featured in a streaming show or movie – with Expedia finding 44 per cent admitted TV has already influenced their travel decisions.
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While 46 per cent have researched travelling to a destination from a show, another 37 per cent have already booked a trip after seeing it featured on TV or in a movie on a streaming service.
The brand also revealed that after nearly two years of visiting national parks and nature reserves, the city is calling with its trend ‘Culture Capitals’.
Expedia found cities such as Edinburgh, Lisbon and Tokyo come top of their global top 10 destination list.
Jon Gieselman, Expedia Brands president, said: “When we look at Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo data together, we see a detailed and robust picture of travel into 2023.
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“We’re seeing a surge in trips to culture capitals, a new wave of interest in wellness retreats, and a spike in demand for outdoor destinations beyond just beaches and mountains.
"Not a new normal but people branching out to unexpected trends in what we’re calling the ‘no normal.”
Globally, Hotels.com found searches for three-star and under hotels were down more than 10 per cent year on year, but interest was up globally by more than 20 per cent.
One in five travellers polled consider a hotel’s star rating something ‘very important’ to them.
The data also uncovered Vrbo’s, which is also part of Expedia Group, top 10 ‘Hidden Gems’ in the UK, where the holiday homes site found searches have increased by 40 per cent or more in the last year.
These include Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire in England, South Ayrshire and East Lothian in Scotland or Monmouthshire in Wales.
And the travel company’s research of 2,000 adults in the UK who travel at least once every three years found 37 per cent would rather book a cool and unique holiday home in a lesser-known destination, than a boring space in a popular destination.
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TOP 10 UK HIDDEN GEMS – WHERE SEARCHES HAVE INCREASED BY 40 PER CENT OR MORE
1. Cambridgeshire, England
2. Leicestershire, England
3. Hertfordshire, England
4. Buckinghamshire, England
5. South Ayrshire, Scotland
6. East Lothian, Scotland
7. Monmouthshire, Wales
8. Tyne and Wear, England
9. Midlothian, Scotland
10. Bath and North East Somerset, England
The brand also found food-specific travel is a trend set to dominate searches in 2023 as British families are increasingly searching for properties with outdoor kitchens, fancy coffee machines and pizza ovens.
And 44 per cent even go as far as to say these needs are more important than their travel destination, according to the research by OnePoll.
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