Pinterest, the California-based visual-first discovery engine, has revealed the Top Travel Trends for Summer 2024, based on global data collected since winter 2023.
With more than 1 billion travel-related searches and 10 billion travel-oriented saves, the platform is highly accurate at spotting new tendencies.
In 2024, tourists want to unplug from the always-connected world and focus on wellness travel. “Digital detox,” they call it. In the same vein, people seem to be particularly interested in off-the-beaten-path destinations, as well as mysterious places and hidden gems in unexplored and secluded lands.
Let’s explore the most exciting trends for this upcoming summer.
Adventure Trips
With an increase of 45 percent in searches, adrenaline-seekers worldwide actively look to engage in adventure trips that fulfill their desires to both boost their physical and mental wellness and explore world-class destinations.
Most of these travelers have chosen the Philippines for its lush forest and unspoiled nature and Tanzania for its unique safari offerings.
Pinterest data shows that trending searches include scuba diving photography (up 60% year-over-year), water park rides (up 170%), and hiking (up 94%).
These travelers also plan to spend their vacation days at luxury safari lodges (up 110%).
Quiet Life Tourism – Digital Detox
Travelers searching for “quiet life travel” are fed up with stressful city life. Searchers for this type of tourism have increased by a staggering 530 percent over the last year!
According to Pinterest, these users massively look for “quiet places” and “calm places” in forests, secluded beaches and countryside towns where they can stay away from the toxic interconnected digital world.
These travelers’ searches include glamping (up to 260% year-over-year), cabins in the mountains (up 180%), national parks (up 250%), and wellness retreats (up 90%).
They believe they can mostly find these venues in Okinawa, Japan and the English countryside.
Enigmatic
There is a rising fascination for traveling to places considered mysterious or unexplored. Some of these include ancient ruins, caves, hidden gems, and even abandoned locales.
These destinations cater to travelers’ imagination and sense of mystery rather than getting tanned at the beach.
To fulfill their need for mystery, travelers are booking tickets to “places on earth that do not feel real (up to 240% year-over-year),” haunted places (up 155%), abandoned places (up 230%), calming nature (up 340%), and beautiful locations worldwide (up 150%).
The top mysterious destinations for these types of travelers include Machu Picchu, Peru and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Gen Z – Road Trips with Friends
This demographic is definitely not into solo travel. They prefer to spend their holidays strengthening relationships with friends with whom they can split expenses and avoid following a too-structured travel schedule.
They are mostly interested in places they can go by car and enjoy with friends (up to 50% year-over-year).
Their number one destination is Jasper, Canada (up 155%).
Other Summer 2024 Travel Trends
Other travel trends for summer 2024 revealed by travel experts include:
International Destinations
Despite the rising cost of travel, Squaremouth states that three-quarters of summer travelers are choosing international destinations.
The top three include the United Kingdom, Italy, and Canada.
Set-jetting
As per a survey conducted by American Express Travel, 70 percent of Gen Z and Millennials are drawn to destinations featured in movies. A clear example is Emily in Paris, a Netflix series that has sparked viewers’ interest in France.
Culture Connoisseur Travel
According to Four Season Magazine, travelers are actively planning their holidays around sporting events, international festivals or concerts such as those featuring the superstar Taylor Swift.