The 2025 Travel Trends are all about transformative experiences, hidden gems, and the growing influence of social media inspiration. Australians are looking to explore detour destinations, reconnect with loved ones through restful travel, and embrace the latest travel trends shaping the future. Here’s where you’ll be going this year—and why.
What Are the Top 2025 Travel Trends?
Five leading travel industry experts shared their insights into the future of travel at TravMedia’s 2025 Travel Media Summit. This dynamic, day-long event brings together travel media and tourism professionals to exchange ideas, gain valuable knowledge, and foster meaningful industry connections. With more than 400 travel and tourism PR professionals, editors, writers, and content creators in attendance, the summit is a key platform for exploring emerging trends.
The Travel Trends and Industry Insights session, moderated by Darren Karshagen, Senior Director of Expedia Group Oceania, featured an impressive panel of experts: Doug Bourgeois, Assistant Secretary of Tourism for Explore Louisiana; James Kavanagh, Global Leisure CEO for Flight Centre Travel Group; Jo McCauley, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Cross Travel Insurance; and Wendy Wu, Founder and Managing Director of Wendy Wu Tours.
Here are their predictions for 2025 travel trends –
- Immersive Travel Experiences: Hands-on cultural activities like traditional crafts and cooking classes.
- Hidden Gems: Detour destinations such as Zhangjiajie for adventure and breathtaking scenery.
- Restful Travel: Reconnecting with loved ones through relaxation and slower-paced itineraries.
- Set Jetting: Visiting destinations popularised by social media and TV.
- Off-Season Travel: Affordable, quieter options during less busy months.
- AI and Social Media: Tools shaping how travellers plan and experience trips.
RELATED POST – Top Australian Food Trends 2025 – What’s Next on Your Plate?
Plan Your Next Trip
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Top Travel Destinations for 2025
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Japan: A Timeless Favourite
Japan has cemented its place as a top destination, blending ancient traditions with immersive experiences. Wendy Wu shared how travellers are drawn to unique activities like washi paper-making. “When travellers scoop the paper mixture themselves, they light up with joy. These immersive moments create lasting connections.” Japan’s mix of culture, cuisine, and scenery ensures it remains a must-visit for immersive travel in 2025.
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Detour Destinations: Escape the Crowds
Australians are prioritising hidden gems and crowd-free experiences. Darren Karshagen said “Over 70 per cent of Aussies are looking to explore somewhere different—places beyond the traditional Paris or Bali.”
One such hidden gem is Zhangjiajie in China, the inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. Wendy Wu explains “We were the first Western tour company to bring travellers to Zhangjiajie years ago. Back then, it took four hours to reach this magical place, but now it’s an iconic destination. Zhangjiajie offers more than the stunning mountains—visitors can walk across the world’s highest glass bridge, do cliffside walks, or take the fastest elevator in the world from the bottom of the mountain to the top in just 60 seconds.” Zhangjiajie is perfect for those seeking adventure and awe-inspiring landscapes, away from the traditional tourist crowds.
RELATED POST: 9 Incredible Things to Do in Zhangjiajie – China’s Avatar Mountains
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Australia’s Close-to-Home Escapes
Domestic travel continues to thrive, with close-to-home cruising offering short breaks that are restful and affordable. James Kavanagh said, “Australia remains the top destination for domestic travellers, showing the growing need to rest and recharge without going far.”
- RELATED POST: Where to stay, eat and explore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2025
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Set Jetting: Where Social Media Takes You
Social media and streaming platforms are shaping travel choices. James Kavanagh shared: “Entire itineraries are now curated by Instagram and shows like Emily in Paris or White Lotus.” Destinations such as Sicily and Paris are booming as travellers chase Instagram-worthy set-jetting moments.
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Off-Season and Shoulder-Season Adventures
As affordability and overtourism influence travel decisions, off-peak travel is becoming a top choice. “September and October now rival July and August for UK travel,” Kavanagh explained, “as people seek better deals and quieter experiences.”
Why You’ll Travel: Key Trends for 2025
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Restful Travel to Reconnect
In 2025, Australians are prioritising restful travel to escape busy, connected lives. “People want to disconnect, escape information overload, and focus on meaningful connections. This is shaping global travel preferences,” said Kavanagh.
RELATED POST: Counting my blessings in Thailand – a Thai Monk Blessing Ceremony
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Immersive Experiences Take Centre Stage
Travellers want more than sightseeing—they crave deep connections to the places they visit. Wendy Wu said “Our travellers love experiences like cooking classes in Vietnam or Christmas on the Great Wall of China. These immersive activities are transformative and memorable.” Wu highlighted the allure of Zhangjiajie’s thrilling activities. “Not everyone will dare to bungee jump from the glass bridge, but those who do leave with stories they’ll tell for a lifetime. It’s about creating unforgettable memories.”
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Climate-Conscious Travel Choices
Off-season travel and sustainable practices are now key considerations as the impact of climate change shapes how Australians plan trips. Jo McCauley explained “We’ve seen a 100 per cent increase in claims related to heat and turbulence in the past six years. Travellers are increasingly conscious of their timing and destinations.”
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Remote Work Meets Wanderlust
The ability to work from anywhere is changing how younger Australians travel with destinations like Canada and Spain leading the charge for this growing trend. “We’re seeing significant interest in remote working holidays, with up to three months spent abroad,” said McCauley.
What’s Next?
The year ahead is defined by thoughtful, transformative travel. Australians are embracing hidden gems, immersive experiences, and smarter planning tools like AI to create meaningful journeys.
Wendy Wu predicted, “Ocean cruises combined with storytelling will be the next big thing. Our launch of these tours has been the most successful in our company history.”
Whether you’re planning an escape to Japan, a road trip through Louisiana, or chasing the Northern Lights, 2025 offers endless possibilities for travel that transforms and inspires. As Darren Karshagen summed up “Travel isn’t slowing down. It’s just being done differently.”
About TravMedia
TravMedia is the leading global media network for the travel industry. Established in 1999 by former travel editor Nick Wayland, it was created to streamline travel news research and reporting. Today, it serves as the go-to platform for travel PR professionals and journalists to connect, share press releases, exchange story ideas, and build lasting relationships.
With a dynamic online community, TravMedia delivers global travel newsfeeds and facilitates collaboration between more than 25,000 travel media professionals and over 20,000 travel brand PRs. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including an online newsroom, press release distribution, industry events, Journalist Alerts, and daily updates.
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