Paula Stanghetta January 16, 2025Calmcations. Noctourism. Coolcations. As you might have guessed, each of these terms refers to some of the travel trends for 2025 that are apparently on the rise.
The month of January is the typical time of year when travel trends pop up. Some of the trends build upon previous years’ trends and others are examples of completely new ways that travel is evolving. Numerous publications, like BBC Travel, CondéNast, and Skift, scour the universe of travel for what they deem to be up-and-coming destinations, styles, and ways of travelling for the year ahead. Add in all the travel writers’, bloggers’, and social media influencers’ ideas, and what we have is a plethora of informed opinions about what could guide our travel dreams for the next 12 months.
Let’s unpack a few of the trends which may help inform your travel plans over the next few months or longer.
NOCTOURISM
The term ‘Noctourism’ as you might surmise, refers to nighttime travel experiences. Do you recall all the Northern Lights sightings in 2024? Science and meteorology experts indicate that solar activity is on the rise for 2025, which means the opportunity for viewing the Aurora Borealis phenomenon will only heighten this year. This trend is not only about nighttime experiences: some say it’s also about connecting with the wider world – indeed the vast universe, as opposed to earth itself. Great places to view this dramatic celestial performance include: Finland, Norway, and Iceland. I would be remiss not to mention Canada as well.
CALMCATIONS
Has anyone felt any stress in the past year or more? I know. Silly question. There are all kinds of ways we experience stress and pretty much every area of life has a potential for stress. However, the key to managing stress is to find ways to deal effectively with it. For some people, travel may be the answer. ‘Calmcations’, are travels focused on creating a sense of tranquility. This is a trend that is not new to 2025 but is gaining steam from past years. That’s no surprise given the tumultuous state of the world.
What may be new is the type of tranquility that Calmcations provide. Examples include elimination of noise pollution (particularly traffic) and reducing technology exposure (social media, smart phones, computer screens). The trend to go ‘off-grid’ is not a new one and may really be gaining ground as life gets busier and more stressful. What Calmcations would you recommend?
COOLCATIONS
Many people seek warm-weather destinations for their holiday time such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean Riviera – think southern hemisphere places for northern hemisphere dwellers to escape winters. An interesting and growing trend for North Americans is the move towards ‘Coolcations’ – travel to cooler-weather destinations.
Not surprisingly, climate change is a big driver when it comes to seeking places with less scorching temperatures. Where in the past, the heat of the summer would wane by the end of the summer, it seems October is now just as warm, especially in the Mediterranean climate zone. This is resulting in increased visits to Nordic countries where temperatures are less hot and humid. Oslo, Norway has created an online ad that has gone viral, mostly for its unconventional approach to advertising. It seems to be trying to convince viewers NOT to travel to Oslo! It’s a clever technique that may inspire the adventurous to take a chance on the city. It also happens to be a cooler-weather destination.
Three additional travel trends that bear mentioning include:
- the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) not only for trip planning, but also for sorting luggage, and biodfeedback in hotels (such as blood pressure and heart monitoring for a more comfortable sleep – is this really a thing?!?!)
- music tourism – of course the Taylor Swift Eras Tour needs no further explanation but think also nostalgic music tourism the likes of Eminem’s and Oasis’ revival tours. Is it possible that there is a music sensation ready to overtake the impact that Swifties made in 2024?
- slower travel, including visiting less places, staying longer in one or two places, and seeking depth over breadth in itineraries
Which Travel Trends for 2025 Are You Thinking About Trying?
While I find travel trend articles informative and sometimes amusing, I’m not usually one to hop on a trend, no matter what it is. Nevertheless, it makes for good reading and keeping a pulse on the big world of travel: Is cemetery tourism a real thing??
For us here at MP TOURS, the trend that we’d like to see gain ground is travel that increases the human connection. By this I mean opportunities to meet like-minded travellers who want to share genuine local experiences. No matter how much we crave our own space, humans are social beings and also crave connection with each other. The key is in creating the right connection for each one of us.
That’s why at MP TOURS we create thoughtful itineraries for small groups that focus on memorable experiences. When you bring together like-minded people, to experience shared passions, in a beautiful setting, with fantastic meals, history, and scenery, the possibilities for connections are endless. At least we think so!
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