6 things that will affect travel in 2024

The tourism industry is constantly evolving: trends, prices, border crossing rules, and much more are changing. In 2023, solo travel, cruises, wellness trips, and digital detoxes were popular. But in 2024, everything will look a little different.

The Times travel experts share what you need to know before you plan your trip and book your tickets. Read on to find out what "surprises" 2024 has in store for us.

Extreme heat

The period from June to October saw the hottest months ever recorded by the Meteorological Service. However, experts are convinced that this year's temperatures will be even higher. This poses a double risk for tourists. First, the abnormal heat increases the risk of dehydration or sunstroke. And secondly, it raises the risk of fires and droughts. If you travel during this time, you can stay in your hotel room until the evening, waiting for the sun to set. For vacation, we recommend booking in April-May or September-October. But hurry up: tour operators are already reporting a large number of bookings!

Flexibility

If you're flexible, you have a decent chance of securing last-minute discounts in 2024, especially since tour operators have significantly increased the number of vacations on sale - Jet2 has increased from 5.8 million to 6.7 million, and Tui from 5.3 million to 5.9 million.

Prices will "calm down"

Hotel prices soared following the global coronavirus pandemic. For example, in Italy, they increased by 50%, by 31% in the UK, and by 30% in Spain compared to 2019 data. Now prices have stabilized and are rising more slowly. The same trend applies to flights: economy flights from the UK to countries outside Europe are projected to fall by up to 10%. The biggest savings will be on flights to South America. You can fly directly from London to Lima with Latam Airlines from £733 roundtrip - pair it with a hike to Machu Picchu.

Airbnb is "under pressure"

Local protests against tourism facilitated by Airbnb have already led to bans or severe restrictions on rental company activities in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Florence, New York, Paris, Penang, Vancouver, Vienna, and 262 municipalities in Catalonia, as well as protests against high rents. Experts advise booking hotels that support local residents' livelihoods.

Tour operators are no longer as profitable

In the past, booking vacations through tour operators was advantageous. It was cheaper and provided protection in accordance with package travel regulations. But now, everything has changed. In a study of trips to the Canary Islands with flights from Tui, Jet2, and easyJet departing on April 8, nine out of ten were cheaper if airfare and accommodation were booked separately. However, for long-distance travel, extreme vacations, or challenging itineraries such as safaris, a tour operator will still be the most reliable choice.

New Rules for Traveling in Europe

The Entry-Exit System (EES) will become operational from October 6, 2024. The EES will collect biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial photographs, from all third-country nationals entering the Schengen area. This information will be stored in a central database accessible to border guards in all EU countries. Consequently, border guards will be able to verify whether a foreigner is legally staying in a specific country. Since the system is new, there may be delays and long queues, especially for travelers using cars.