Top five travel trends you won’t want to miss in 2025
How many travel plans have you already made for 2025? This is one of our favourite parts of the year when we hunker down in the northern hemisphere’s shorter, darker days and plot for fun times ahead. Inspiration comes in various guises, things we see and read online and in magazines, recommendations from friends, and of course their social media posts. We’ve done a little snooping around to see what experts are predicting will drive our travel desires over the next twelve months and have compiled our top five. Which category will your heart follow?
Set Jetting
What’s it all about?
Also known as screen tourism, the craving to seek out locations that have appeared in TV and films isn’t anything new, but it is increasingly cited as a motivator for travel. (Who hasn’t watched Mamma Mia and immediately wanted to escape to a Greek island?) The latest figures released by VisitBritain suggest that screen tourism influences 1 in 4 global travellers' choice of holiday destinations. It holds so much sway for visitors coming to the UK that the national tourism agency is launching its global marketing campaign under the banner ‘Starring Great Britain’. Media titles from Conde Nast Traveller to House & Garden and The Independent have all sought to address the recent preoccupation with Rivals filming locations.
How to get involved
Films coming to the big screen in 2025 include Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, filmed in London and the Lake District; and Mission Impossible 8, filmed in locations from London to Norway, Malta to South Africa. Even closer to home – for us at El Camino – is The Salt Path. This movie adaptation tells Raynor Winn’s life-affirming tale of becoming homeless and tackling the South West Coast Path with her husband Moth. There was much excitement in the press when Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs were spotted on location in Cornwall, and there’s sure to be renewed interest in hiking the coast path as a result.
JOMO
What’s it all about?
JOMO or the Joy of Missing Out, is the perfect antidote to this digital age of mobile phones and social media. In terms of travel, it means doing less on holiday and opting for cosy accommodation. Also dubbed ‘soft travel’, it prioritises mental wellbeing and simplicity. JOMO advocates will be encouraged to stop scrolling, put away their phones, and ask for directions rather than relying on tech. Travel companies like Unplugged are proving increasingly popular, offering digital detox cabins surrounded by nature.
Another term to look out for is the ‘quietcation’: Using your time off to slow down, seeking out quiet spots and indulging in activities like wild swimming and forest bathing.
How to get involved
Picture the scene: holing up in a cabin by a lake, just you, a loved one or good friend, a book, a log fire, and the stars. There’s no need for a packed itinerary because this trip is all about relaxing, recharging, and getting off-grid. We’re thinking…a converted wagon in the Welsh mountains, a lakeside lodge in Norway, a New Zealand bach, a Scottish bothy or a treehouse in Thailand. We’re in!
Reset Jetters
What’s it all about?
This is a term coined by Skyscanner in their 2025 travel trends report. Not to be confused with set jetting, this is the move towards more holistic, healthier holidays. According to the flight search engine, “This new wellness trend goes beyond yoga and spa breaks to help travellers not only recharge but to increase resilience, purpose and longevity.”
How to get involved
Rather than having a 'treat yourself' mentality on holiday, think about being good to yourself and prioritising your health and wellness. This is a chance to focus on good eating, sleeping, and exercise habits, embracing experiences that ultimately help you live longer.
According to Skyscanner, the top wellness destinations that travellers are searching for in January include Phuket, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; and Male, Maldives, for activities from silent reflection to surf retreats, amidst stunning natural scenery while being nourished with delicious local cuisine.
Swap Overtourism for Undertourism
What’s it all about?
The issue of overtourism has been increasingly in the spotlight, particularly over the past year, with protests in Spain highlighting the growing strain on popular destinations caused by mass tourism. Governments have adopted various measures to try and tackle this, from capping the number of cruise ship calls to imposing tourist tax.
How to get involved
Adopting a more responsible approach to travel can include considerations like visiting the more obvious spots out of peak season. Or even swapping them for lesser-known towns and regions. In Spain, this could mean heading to Bilbao rather than Barcelona. Another practical way to make a positive impact is to support local businesses and tour operators.
Rail Revolution
What’s it all about?
2025 sees the 200th anniversary of the modern railway: The historic milestone marks the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in County Durham in the northeast of England, heralding the dawn of rail transport. This trend feeds into the growing desire for slower, more sustainable travel.
How to get involved
Have you ever felt that sometimes the journey is part of the trip, not simply a means to an end? Rather than being in a rush to get to the destination, train travel can be an enjoyable way to experience scenery and local culture. Why not set your sights on taking one of the world's iconic train journeys like the Rocky Mountaineer in North America, Rovos Rail in Africa, or Switzerland's Glacier Express?