Amadeus has revealed its travel trends for 2025 with nostalgia, personalisation, destination hotels, spontaneous connections and Asia tourism booms set to redefine global travel.
The travel technology firm partnered with forecasting agency Globetrender to highlight five key trends it anticipates will reshape the travel landscape in the coming year.
“After a year where change has become the backdrop to daily life, travelers are seeking a deeper connection to people and places more than ever,” said Daniel Batchelor, Vice President, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications at Amadeus. He continued: “We’ll see a blend of old favorites and new immersive experiences, with one-of-a-kind stays putting destinations on the map. Asia is set for a tourism revival, while we are also seeing a rise in spontaneous solo travel, as people seek more off-screen, authentic experiences.”
Among the trends highlighted by Amadeus, personalised flying will see advances in AI, 5G mobile connectivity and virtual reality (VR) converge to create tailored, connected and immersive experiences for air passengers.
In addition, all eyes are on Asia as it gears up for a travel revival as China opens its doors to visa-free travel while Thailand’s new digital nomad visas and broader visa-free programme for 93 countries are set to see the region reclaim its position as a key player in the global tourism industry. Pop culture is also driving interest in Asian tourism with TV series such as ‘Squid Game’ and ‘The White Lotus’ inspiring travel to the region.
Over the next 15 years, IATA predicts that Asia Pacific will record the fastest rise in passenger numbers and contribute to more than half of the net increase in global passenger numbers by 2043. Amadeus data reflects this momentum as outbound travel from Chengdu, China surged 66 per cent to 35.2 million passengers from 2016 to 2023, while Guangzhou grew 20 per cent. Delhi also saw a 31 per cent rise with over 30 million outbound passengers in 2023.
And as digital dating burnout rises, travel is expected to become a new avenue for real-world relationships, from holiday romances to lasting friendships.
Jenny Southan, founder and CEO of Globetrender, explained: “It is important to predict the changing ways people are exploring the world, and the forces of influence that are determining their decisions.”
Photo: Amadeus
