7 big travel trends in 2025, from package trips to ‘set-jetting’ and women travelling solo

Also trending this year: ‘not hot’ destinations, more solo female travel, natural phenomena tourism and holidays with purpose, experts say

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A woman solo traveller enjoys a sightseeing trip on a Thai longtail boat near the Ratchaprapha Dam in Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park. Growth in solo female travel is one of the travel trends foreseen in 2025. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:15am, 13 Jan 2025

The new year has arrived and travellers are busy planning their adventures for 2025. Data from a variety of sources shows that the coming 12 months promise to be especially busy ones for globetrotters.

What will travel look like this year? And, more specifically, what sort of travel trends are likely to define 2025?

Will slow travel continue to emerge as a popular approach to exploring new places? Has the trend of planning holidays based on film and TV locations finally subsided? And what new approaches to travel planning might we expect?

Here is what experts at all levels of the travel industry say is on tap for 2025.

1. Solo female travel

The massive solo female travel trend is being driven by a surge in women seeking independence, safety and deeper cultural connections through structured yet adventurous experiences, says Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas at Australia-based Intrepid Travel.

The solo female travel trend is expected to continue strongly in 2025. Photo: Shutterstock

Globally, women make up 80 per cent of solo travellers, reflecting a growing desire for meaningful travel that fosters empowerment and connection. Barnes adds that women today are embracing freedom, forging connections, and paving the way for a more inclusive and empowering travel industry.