Here’s What Younger Travelers See as the Biggest Travel Trends

Experts will tell you that young travelers are setting the top travel trends carrying us into the new year and beyond. 

Marriott International’s Caribbean and Latin America divisions convened a committee called the Travel Younger Advisory Board, comprised of nine young travel professionals, to discuss what’s currently trending and learn how they can attract younger and more diverse clientele. Here’s what the group of Gen Z and Millennial travel gurus said are the top travel trends. 

Traveling for connection 
Young people are traveling to connect with others, whether that means they’re visiting friends or family, attending a festival or concert, or engaging in the local culture of the destination. Rather than spending time in more “tourist-y” cities, younger travelers want to see the cities where the average citizen in a country spends time. 

“Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping the travel landscape, turning to TikTok search as their go-to guide, seeking picturesque locations and immersive experiences,” said Ravi Roth, LGBTQI+ travel expert and content creator, also known as Ravi Round the World. “The trend is moving towards tier 2 destinations, like Curacao, offering authenticity, stunning beaches that are not overcrowded, and a genuine local vibe over mainstream tourist hotspots.” 

Annette Richmond, founder of the fat-positive travel community, Fat Girls Traveling, as well as an award-winning content creator, travel writer, public speaker, and advocate, added that, “Creating a trip based on concerts will continue in 2024. Many people plan on traveling to Las Vegas in 2024 for shows.” 

Shorter, more frequent trips 
Rather than going on one or two long trips in a year, younger people are planning more frequent, short vacations, such as weekend getaways. 

“We are seeing two big trends when it comes to Millennial and Gen Z travel. The first is the traveler that wants to splurge on the once-in-a-lifetime trip, especially after the unknown that was the pandemic,” said Nicole Janoff, senior manager of leisure travel at Magma Global. “The second is: the traveler seeks to travel more often, for a shorter period of time. For these travelers, we are seeing a ton of requests for a few weekend trips per year instead of one large trip per year.” 

Soft travel 
The term “soft travel” encompasses any way of traveling or type of travel that minimizes stress and boosts relaxation. In general, Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to use services that make their lives easier – think food delivery apps. When translated to their travel plans, the younger generations are becoming more likely to use travel advisors to book travel to make their trip as smooth and seamless as possible. 

Soft travel also refers to health and wellness trips, which are also popular among younger travelers. Any type of destination that offers spas, meditation retreats, or any type of fitness and relaxation offerings appeals to young folks. 

Accessibility 
The group also discussed accessibility at length. There is a higher demand than ever before for travel suppliers to make their offerings accessible to disabled individuals. In addition, the young travelers noted that accessibility encompasses making travel accessible for other diverse populations such as the LGBTQ community. 

“Inclusivity and unique experiences define the new age of travel,” Roth said. “Safety is paramount, especially for LGBTQ travelers, who find solace in certified programs at restaurants, hotels, and experiences like IGLTA Accredited, Queer Destinations Certified, and Stonewall Safe Spaces.”