Elevating Tourism Experiences in 2025

Tourism trends are always evolving, and in 2025, travelers are prioritizing elevated experiences beyond just a beautiful backdrop. During the recent NJTIA Tourism Conference, Suasion President Dr. Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt presented seven key tourism trends shaping the future.

Here’s how you can position your destination as a must-visit in 2025:

1. Personalization: It’s in the small details. Personal notes, welcome amenities, curated itineraries, multilingual support, and VIP experiences are just a few ways to make an experience feel personal and exclusive– keys to an elevated feel.
2. Food and Beverage: 52% of U.S. travelers call themselves “foodies,” planning their trips around epic eats and unforgettable culinary experiences. Nearly half of foodie travelers will book a reservation prior to travel, describing food and cuisine as “very or critically important.
3. One-of-a-kind Experiences: Millennials and Gen Z are chasing fresh adventures and unique vibes, ditching the tourist traps for off-the-beaten-path hidden gems, and rare, photo worthy experiences. Think thrift shopping, cultural deep dives, and accommodations that are anything but ordinary.
4. Sustainability and Community: Blending sustainability with style, offering eco-friendly vibes and modern comforts for travelers who want to relax and make a difference. Small towns are also on the rise, with travelers seeking authentic experiences, local connections, and voluntourism, blending traditional travel with an individual, local impact.
5. Smart Destination Management with AI: Utilizing smart tools can help optimize operations, manage guest flow, and predict peak times for resort amenities to avoid overcrowding. Using AI-integrated scheduling with local attractions can achieve a seamless booking experience and analyze guest preferences for better loyalty programs and future marketing.
6. Selfie Tourism & Influencers: Photo-centric tourism is a huge driver of destination choice– people want to take photos on their vacations in addition to having unique experiences. Photo-friendly locations or selfie-friendly zones that cater specifically to social media trends with enhanced lighting or scenic viewpoints can become a draw for tourists and develop built-in, sustainable marketing.
7. Art, Music, Sports, and Festival Events: Per Custom Market Insights, event tourism is a billion dollar industry and is expected to continue rising with the growing demand for mega-festivals and concert tours. It is predicted to reach $13.8 billion by 2032. Not only does including this type of attraction draw tourists in, but after arrival event tourists present a huge boon to local economies.