We are nearing the end of 2024 and as people prepare to travel for their year-end holidays and adventures, it is important to note how travel has undergone remarkable change in the last 12 months. In addition to experiencing a revival and reinvention, the travel and tourism sector saw explorers embracing new experiences, deviating from jam-packed itineraries and traditional rules of travel. In short, 2024 was a year of meaningful experiences and bold new practices for travellers. Here are some travel trends that prevailed this year. (Representational Images: iStock/Pexels/Pixabay/AFP)
Updated On: 2024-12-11 12:41 PM IST
Compiled by : Raaina Jain
Gig tripping
Whether it is Taylor Swift, Coldplay or Indian artistes, music stars were touring the globe this year, and it comes as no surprise that fans were hopping on flights to see their favourite artistes perform. The allure of experiencing live music in iconic venues and connecting with fellow fans from around the world fuelled a surge in gig-related travel. An emerging trend, gig tripping involves planning trips around attending concerts, festivals or other live music events.
Read More: Mid-Day Specials | Gig tripping: This travel trend is your ticket to musical adventures
Set jetting
Emily in Paris might have brought this into limelight but travellers have for long been influenced by movies and TV shows to travel. From Manali in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani to Paris in Queen, screen-inspired travel has often shaped itineraries. This trend underwent a drastic resurgence in 2024 with people curating itineraries to step into their favourite characters’ shoes and experience places like they do.
Sleep tourism
With growing conversation around work-life balance, need for relaxing and unwinding, and the importance of getting enough sleep, a new travel and wellness trend was born in 2024. Not only were people opting for wellness experiences like yoga and spa treatments that facilitate better sleep but also choosing accommodations with extra sleep-related facilities like sound-proof rooms, special pillows, sleep kit, etc.
Read More: What is sleep tourism? Decoding this wellness and travel trend
Spiritual tourism
Spiritual tourism saw a significant rise in India in 2024. Searches for destinations like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Tirupati and Puri increased as travellers sought immersive, spiritual and cultural experiences.
Read More: Ayodhya, Varanasi, Amarnath Yatra: What’s fuelling the rise of spiritual tourism in India?
Rawdogging
If you are a social media enthusiast, you might have come across this travel trend in 2024 that involves spending the entire journey on a flight without doing anything – no entertainment, music, books, food, water, work, etc.
Read More: Have you heard of the travel trend 'Rawdogging'? Health experts highlight why it is dangerous
Dark tourism
Dark tourism is the practice of visiting places that are associated with death, tragedy, or those that indicate human suffering. In 2024, Guna Caves was a frequently visited destination after the release of the movie ‘Manjummel Boys’, in addition to Wayanad, which witnessed the devastating landslide.
Overtourism
As travel and tourism revived to pre-pandemic levels, many popular tourist destinations fell victim to overtourism or irresponsible tourism practices. While some places saw locals protesting against the influx of tourists, others implemented strict measures to curb overtourism.
Read More: To travel or not? Decoding the overtourism and irresponsible tourism catastrophe
AI-planned vacations
In 2024, artificial intelligence permeated different aspects of life, travel being one of them. People increasingly used AI not only for destination suggestions but also to plan their itineraries.
Read More: World Tourism Day: Will AI plan your vacations now?
