In 2019, the world hit a record 1.46 billion international trips. Just a year later, the pandemic sent that number tumbling by more than two-thirds as borders closed and airports sat empty. When restrictions finally lifted, travelers rushed back with a vengeance, eager to make up for lost time and take those long-overdue vacations. The surge in demand left planes packed and hotels full again.
By 2023, global tourism had climbed back to nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels, and in 2024 it essentially matched the 2019 peak. This year, however, that momentum seems to be easing. The pent-up demand for travel has faded, the economy is putting budgets under pressure, and travelers are increasingly rethinking how and where they travel. So as the industry moves past its post-pandemic frenzy, what’s next? Here are a few emerging trends that could define the next chapter.
Rediscovering What’s Nearby
Climbing costs of everyday essentials like gas and groceries are making travelers think twice about taking expensive, long-haul trips. At the same time, many people still haven’t fully shaken the stay-at-home habits they developed during the pandemic, and are opting for the comfort and convenience of shorter getaways closer to home.
A recent trend report by Trevolution stated that domestic road trips were up 30% in the spring of 2025, and a survey conducted by GSTV reported that 54% of respondents plan to drive instead of fly to their next vacation due to the increasing cost of airfare. Opting for destinations that are closer to home means the winners could be secondary cities, national parks, and other regional attractions that travelers might have overlooked in the past.
Experience Over Consumption
In 2025, more and more travelers seem to be trading passive downtime on their vacations for activities that are interactive and authentic. Instead of spending the entire trip on a lounge chair, people are booking cooking classes, guided hikes, and creative workshops that give them something to take home besides mass-produced souvenirs. Wellness retreats are also gaining traction, appealing to those who want to return home from vacation restored rather than worn-out.
For the industry, this shift means rising demand for operators who offer hands-on experiences. Standard hotel rooms with cookie-cutter amenities no longer have the automatic pull they once did. Properties that partner with local guides, independent restaurants, or cultural institutions are more appealing, as travelers increasingly measure a trip’s value by the experiences gained — not the number of poolside cocktails ordered or Instagram-worthy photos taken.
Quality Over Quantity
Travel in the 2010s was defined by cheap flights and jam-packed itineraries — four cities in ten days? That was just your average American’s summer vacation in Europe. But post-pandemic, rising costs, climate concerns, and a preference for less chaotic trips are pushing more people to travel to fewer places, but stay longer in each one.
For many travelers, the appeal lies in trading a packed to-do list for something that feels more like a regular routine — finding a favorite café, walking the same streets until they feel familiar, and unpacking a suitcase once instead of every other night. The bragging rights of ticking off how many places you’ve visited is less important, and has given way to a different kind of badge of honor: how well you actually got to know the place you visited.
The Downfall of Luxury
Not long ago, travel often came with a performance element: ordering a champagne tower, posing in front of the infinity pool, or booking the fanciest suite mostly for the photos. It wasn’t just influencers — many everyday travelers felt the pressure to curate trips that would look impressive online. But that show-and-tell trend is losing steam — younger travelers especially recoil at anything that feels staged or done just “for the ’gram.”
What’s taking its place are more authentic experiences that are unfiltered and fun: stumbling into a dive bar with a great band, finding the late-night food stall locals actually eat at, or spending the day somewhere with no obvious photo op. Many people are living back in the moment, enjoying their vacation the right way, rather than staging it for their online audience.
Travel Tech Gets Practical
Some of the changes that companies scrambled to make during the pandemic turned out to be accidental upgrades. Social distancing rules pushed national parks to use reservations which eased overcrowding, airlines expanded self check-in and implemented smoother boarding procedures, and hotels leaned further into digital room keys that allowed guests to skip the front desk altogether. Even restaurants that implemented QR code menus discovered they could update their offerings instantly without having to reprint their menus.
Now, with a few years of breathing room, companies have had the chance to refine these temporary fixes and make the best of them permanent. AI is only further adding to the evolution of the industry, from upgraded translation tech to real-time itinerary adjustments and smarter customer service. The result going forward could be less stressful travel, faster problem-solving when things do go wrong, and more time spent enjoying the destination instead of worrying about the logistics.
Final Thoughts
The frenzy of revenge travel post-pandemic was never sustainable — not for people, and not for the places they descended upon en masse. Moving past this post-pandemic phase could mark the start of a more balanced era of travel. Travelers benefit from less pressure to pack trips with long-haul flights and wait in line for photos, while destinations get a break from the overcrowding that had put a strain on their infrastructure and local communities. This shift may not be as flashy as the post-pandemic surge, but if the next phase of tourism is defined by longer stays, closer-to-home trips, and more authentic experiences, it may prove healthier for both sides of the equation.
Emily is a freelance writer who has been traveling full-time for over five years She has visited dozens of countries but can often be found in Spain and Mexico. In her Substack, Extracurricular Pursuits, she shares personal essays and travel stories that document the quirks, chaos and realities of living abroad.