The biggest tourist trends of 2024 according to the president of Expedia Group
Travel planning for 2024 is in full swing. Online travel booking giant Expedia has released its 2024 travel trends report, combining a wealth of proprietary data with a global survey of 20,000 travelers.
There is a wide range of interesting information: from how travelers look for recommendations to which destination "fooled" jetsetters choose to avoid overcrowded places, as emphasized by the president of Expedia Brands. This information is reported by travelandleisure.com.
"What happens in a culture often shapes consumer behavior, and we definitely see it in travel," said John Gieselman, President of Expedia Brands.
Generative AI
Although generative AI tools such as ChatGPT were in the spotlight in 2023, only a small proportion of travelers - 6% overall - used them to plan their trips, according to Gieselman. However, in 2024, Expedia predicts wider adoption, with half of those surveyed interested in using generative AI to plan their next trip.
The technology's ability to simplify the planning and booking process - albeit often with unwanted side effects - is driving its use. Almost 40% of travelers say they would use generative AI to find the perfect place to stay.
The trend of "ace" and "set jets"
Artificial intelligence can be useful for travel planning. A study commissioned by Expedia examined the "scam" trend that has taken over TikTok, applying it to 2024 travel destinations. "These cities made the list because they've all experienced a marked increase in searches on the Expedia app over the past year, so clearly they're becoming great alternatives," says Gieselman.
In many cases, these "cheats" are affordable alternatives to places that have historically been more expensive. Topping the list is Taipei, Taiwan, which saw a 2786 percent increase in air travel requests in 2024; Expedia says the city is a spoof of Seoul. Other well-known fake cities include Pattaya, Thailand (instead of Bangkok); Paros, Greece (instead of Santorini); Curacao in the Caribbean (instead of St. Martin); and Perth, Australia (instead of Sydney).
Jetting will continue to be in fashion in the new year. More than half of the travelers surveyed say they have searched for or booked a trip to a particular destination after seeing it on a TV show or movie.
Sober travel
Once on the ground, Expedia expects travelers to fully embrace "dry travel" to vacation with little or no alcohol year-round. The travel industry has responded accordingly by stocking minibars with soft drinks and offering cocktail services.
Gieselman says that it is Generation Z travelers who are driving the land travel trend. "A sober and fun lifestyle is becoming more commonplace, and many Generation Zers are practicing a non-alcoholic lifestyle," he notes.