KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Seven major travel trends are expected to be felt in 2024.
• Longer and off-season trips will rise in popularity.
• Climate change is anticipated to make traditionally cooler destinations more popular.

According to Froward Keys, travellers will make slightly different travel choices next year, with longer trips and off-season travel anticipated to be among the top preferences, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Data show that travellers are not opting towards fewer but longer trips rather than frequent short gateways. The increasing cost of travel as well as the growing environmental consciousness among travellers are contributing to this shift.

Short trips of one to three nights of stay to a destination globally have fallen by four per cent. Instead, the popularity of medium trips of four to up to 13 nights and long trips with more than 14 nights has spiked.

This is good news for destinations that aim to attract more sustainable and impactful visitors while promoting less carbon-intensive travel.

Forward Keys notes that another trend to watch in 2024 is off-season travel. Due to the rise of remote work, travellers do not have the flexibility to take advantage of lower prices during off-seasons and explore less crowded destinations.

Off-season travel is expected to have a positive impact on the travel and tourism industry as destinations will have a more well-distributed number of visitors throughout the whole year rather than a record high number in some months and then a significantly lower number in others.

In addition to the two travel trends mentioned above, Forward Keys said that luxury experiences are making a comeback, outpacing regular travel options. In some parts of the world, the demand for premium cabin classes continues to surpass that for economy seats.

As for booking behaviours, it has been noted that they are returning to pre-pandemic norms. Europe has already reached its pre-pandemic levels, and consumer confidence has been restored.

Forward Keys further notes that the future of travel agencies is becoming digital. While direct booking with airlines became popular during the pandemic, now there is a noticeable shift back towards travel agencies.

Additionally, climate change is emerging as a long-term factor in the travel and tourism industry. Despite extreme weather events that took place this summer, the impact on travel patterns has been limited.

However, long-term shifts are anticipated as climate change unfolds. Predicted temperature rises may reduce summer demand in hotter destinations and increase interest in traditionally cooler regions.