Leisure travel is still riding high, but the priorities of today’s travelers have shifted. In response to greater costs, travelers are taking shorter, more drivable trips that are less pricey and rich in experiences. Read on for more ways leisure travel trends are evolving and how to turn them into opportunities for your destination.
Today’s travelers are redefining the holidays by choosing where and how they want to celebrate them. More and more, people don’t feel compelled to remain at home, devoting hours trying to come up with a menu sure to please everyone, arranging for extra seating and kumbaya-ing around a fire. Instead, many are choosing to sing a new tune and head out on holiday getaways. This trend puts destinations in a new role, making them an integral part of family memory-making, not solely an amenity-rich place for guests to lay their heads at night.
When someone says, “culinary tourism,” you may envision epicures savoring gourmet meals in Michelin-starred restaurants or oenophiles sipping varietals amongst the vines at Napa Valley wineries. Well, there’s a new segment of travelers who are far more interested in Indigenous food culture — knowing who grew the food on their plate, how it was harvested and the history and heritage behind it. Today, we’re digging into these travelers’ motivations, the hot spots currently capturing their vacation dollars and how your destination or resort can satisfy their appetite for Indigenous food experiences.
Buckle up, destinations! Gen Alpha is here, and they’re paving the way to what’s next in family travel. Born between 2010 and 2024, Gen Alpha is the first generation to be born entirely within the 21st century —technically considered minors, but a major influence on their parents when it comes to vacation planning. Here are some ways to know if your marketing needs a tune-up to reach this unique group.
Where escapism makes way for enrichment and meaning-making beats out sightseeing, you’ll find the wanderlusters who travel with purpose. DON’T STOP READING if you market a luxury oceanfront resort or getaway-from-it-all destination! There are ways for you to capture these travelers — we’ll get into the details surrounding that — but, first, it’s important to understand their motivations.
Ghost tours. Haunted hotels. Prisons widely known for intense paranormal activity. Besides the obvious, otherworldly connections, they all have one thing in common. They are powerful economic and cultural assets for destinations. It’s true. Now more than ever, travelers are intrigued by these mysterious brushes with the unknown and the numbers aren’t afraid to show it. In fact, haunted tourism, also known as dark tourism, has become a multi-billion-dollar global business.
Data suggests that U.S. travelers are making one thing loud and clear. They’re ready to distance themselves from getaways fueled by hustle and bustle, sensory-heavy attractions, jam-packed tours and rushed itineraries. Instead, they’re seeking escapes focused on mindfulness, nature, a break from overly techy activities, and, yes, even cell phones — gasp! As predicted, the quietcation travel trend is silently making itself known — and perking up the ears of savvy destinations everywhere.
Event tourism refers to travel motivated by planned events—whether cultural, sporting, entertainment or business-driven— that draws visitors beyond their everyday environment. From international festivals to global sports competitions like FIFA World Cup 26™, these events don’t just fill seats. They influence where people go, how long they stay and how they experience a destination.
From picking the perfect pumpkin to farm-to-table dining and raising a glass to local vintages on a guided vineyard tour, agritourism is captivating travelers who crave connection, authenticity and a taste of something real.
They’re hitting the headlines, dominating social feeds and changing the way we visit the world. They are some of the top travel trends of 2026 — from perk-infused hotel hopping to meaningful whycations and serene hush-pitality gems. Here’s how destinations, like yours, can get in on the action and stay ahead of the game.