Booking.com has broken out its crystal ball to share its travel predictions for 2025. And according to the travel platform, it's going to be a great year for the children of boomers.
It recently released its travel predictions research, revealing where travellers will be headed in 2025, what kind of adventures they’ll have and who they’re most likely to travel alongside in the year to come.
"Travel plays a central role in bringing people closer together, with our research showing that people are looking to develop deeper connections and a sense of unity through their travels in the year ahead," Ben Harrell, the managing director at Booking.com, says. "The trends we see emerging for 2025 toss conventional travel aside and make room for more non-traditional experiences that accept and embrace uncertainty. Luckily, the travel industry is an economic engine that can break down barriers, renew relationships and proffer personal growth."
One of the biggest trends identified for 2025 is boomers looking to take their younger relatives on big vacations. As the report noted, older relatives are looking to "splash the cash among their families, helping the younger generations through the cost-of-living crisis by paying for their next vacation."
The report added that while the majority of respondents (51%) say their parents had already paid for their vacations or part of their vacations in the past, boomers are even more likely to influence the next family vacation, as 77% of those in the boomer demographic say they'd happily pay for their children. An additional 81% say they'd pay for their grandchildren when booking their next trip, too. So, according to the report, you can "prepare for more multi-generational trips courtesy of the Bank of Mom and Dad or Bank of Grandma and Grandpa."
As for where boomers may be looking to go, the results say that 2025 is all about going big with "SKI" trips; just not in the way you think.
"'SKI' trips will be on the rise — but not on the slopes — as parents and grandparents flip priorities by spending kids' inheritance (SKI) instead of squirreling their savings," the report notes. It adds that 41% of parents say they would rather spend money on a trip of a lifetime in 2025 than leave an inheritance to their children.
And these expensive getaways will be filled with plenty of thrills, with 37% of boomers saying they want to go on trips that involve adventure.
As for other key trends we can all look forward to, the survey results said that "noctourism," (a.k.a. celestial or astro tourism) will be the next frontier, including visits to dark-sky preserves and travels to destinations experiencing solar eclipses and the northern lights. Guys' trips, longevity and health-focused vacations, and vintage shopping-focused getaways will also be in high demand.
This article was written by Stacey Leasca from Travel + Leisure and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
