Amadeus reveals anticipated Travel Trends for 2025

Amadeus has released its Travel Trends for 2025, giving a glimpse into the future of global travel.

Partnering with travel trends forecasting agency Globetrender and drawing on Amadeus’ proprietary and other leading industry data, the Amadeus 2025 Travel Trends report highlights five key trends promising to reshape the travel landscape in the coming year: 

  • New Heydays: Change-weary travellers are longing for simpler, happier vacations driven by past experiences and a phenomenon known as “rosy retrospection.”
  • Personalised Flying: Advances in AI, 5G mobile connectivity, and VR will converge to create highly personalised, connected, and immersive experiences for air passengers.
  • Trailblazer Hotels: Hotels are increasingly becoming destinations in their own right, as travellers plan trips around iconic, “calling card” properties with unique identities.
  • Asia Uplift: Asia is gearing up for a travel renewal, aiming to reclaim its position as a key player in the global tourism industry. 
  • Connections IRL: As digital dating burnout rises, travel will become a new avenue for real-world relationships, from holiday romances to lasting friendships.

“After a year where change has become the backdrop to daily life, travellers are seeking a deeper connection to people and places more than ever,” said Daniel Batchelor, vice president, global corporate marketing and communications at Amadeus.

He continued: “We’ll see a blend of old favourites and new immersive experiences, with one-of-a-kind stays putting destinations on the map.

“Asia is set for a tourism revival, while we are also seeing a rise in spontaneous solo travel, as people seek more off-screen, authentic experiences.”

New Heydays

Nostalgia is fuelling the rise of ‘new heydays,’ with the past taking centre stage.

From the comeback of 90s films and CDs to Gen Z’s love for digital cameras, culture is embracing the retro everywhere you look.

As millennials enter middle age, we will see the revival of the classic caravan and camping holiday.

Eurocamp is seeing a huge rise in bookings, with 2024 shaping up to be its best year in five decades. In the United States,, adult summer camps are also booming, with Club Getaway reporting a nine per cent jump in revenue from its adult segments in 2024 compared to 2023.

Personalised Flying

In 2025, air travel will reach new heights of personalisation, blending smart tech with customised in-flight experiences.

Although many passengers consume content on their own devices, airlines are upping the ante by combining algorithmic entertainment with hyper-personalised in-flight systems that deliver box-fresh content – from movies and TV series to adverts and things to buy – that are tailored to the individual flyer, based on their historic preferences [as loyalty scheme members].

With high-speed Wi-Fi from providers like SpaceX’s Starlink now available, passengers can stream their favourite content mid-flight just as effortlessly as they would at home.

Trailblazer Hotels

In 2025, hotels will make headlines by increasingly becoming destinations in their own right – they will immerse guests in the local culture, history, and natural beauty of their surroundings.

For example, guests will be enamoured by the charm of restored Mozambiquan Dhows at Jannah Lamu in Kenya or leaning into the old-world charm of the Maryhill Estate in Sweden.

Asia Uplift

After years of restricted travel, travellers are excited to rediscover Asia’s cultural treasures. China is opening its doors to millions by expanding visa-free travel, while Thailand’s new digital nomad visas and broader visa-free program for 93 countries are set to attract a global audience.

Pop culture is also driving interest, with the upcoming season of the White Lotus set in Thailand, Squid Game season two expected to boost travel to South Korea, and renewed curiosity about Japan’s history inspired by the TV series Shōgun.

Adding to this momentum, Iberia has recently launched direct flights between Madrid and Tokyo, making it easier than ever for travellers to explore Japan.

Connections IRL

Facing digital fatigue, travellers are closing their apps and opening their passports, using travel to make new friends and even find romance in real life.

According to Amadeus booking data, solo leisure travel soared by 15.6 per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year, with a further 9.2 per cent rise so far in 2024.

Jenny Southan, founder, Globetrender, added: “It is important to predict the changing ways people are exploring the world, and the forces of influence that are determining their decisions.

“Partnering with Amadeus in producing this 2025 Travel Trends report means that together we can help businesses successfully anticipate the needs and demands of tomorrow’s travellers.

“For consumers themselves, who are under pressure to keep finding joy in a volatile world, it is no surprise to see people looking to the ‘good old days’ when life was simpler, and turning to traditional means of making human connections, in spite of the ascent of artificial intelligence and other sci-fi technology.”

Source: Breaking Travel News

Aviation stakeholders urge MPs to reject proposed tax on air travel services

Stakeholders in Kenya’s aviation sector have opposed the proposed introduction of a 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on several services within the industry, urging Members of Parliament to reconsider the move.

The proposed VAT would affect a wide range of services, including aircraft services, spare parts, air ticketing, and certain tourism-related activities, raising concerns about its potential negative impact on domestic travel and the broader tourism sector.

Among the services set to be taxed are aircraft with an unladen weight exceeding 2,000kgs but not exceeding 15,000kgs, direction-finding compasses, aircraft appliances, and spare parts imported by aircraft operators.

Additionally, services related to the leasing and chartering of aircraft (excluding helicopters), as well as air ticketing services provided by travel agents, would also face the new tax.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has strongly advocated for the retention of the current VAT exemptions, arguing that the proposed changes could undermine the growth of domestic and regional travel.

Significant investment risks

During their presentation before the National Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, IATA officials noted that the high cost of acquiring aircraft already adds significant investment risks, discouraging potential investors.

“If all aircraft remain exempt from VAT, we can expect an increase in domestic travel volumes, which will lead to higher collections from air passenger service charges. Additionally, VAT earnings from hotels, meals, and accommodation services will see a sustainable increase, benefitting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA),” IATA representatives stated.

Similarly, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) voiced its opposition, stressing that the VAT proposal could disrupt the entire tourism value chain.

KATA warned that increasing the cost of both domestic and international travel would reduce the affordability of trips for tourists, diminishing Kenya’s competitiveness in the regional market.

“This will significantly raise operating costs for the air travel sector and, by extension, the cost of travel within Kenya and abroad,” KATA representatives said.

The association also pointed out that many businesses in the tourism industry rely heavily on air travel services, which are often facilitated by local travel agencies. These agencies play a crucial role in the broader tourism ecosystem, supporting various stakeholders in the industry.

In addition, KATA highlighted that Kenya is already facing stiff competition from other safari destinations like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Tanzania, which have adopted more favourable tax and fee structures for intra-Africa travel.

Both IATA and KATA have urged MPs to reconsider the proposed VAT imposition, arguing that it would undermine the Kenyan tourism sector’s growth and the aviation industry’s ability to thrive.

They further noted that many other African countries have created legislative frameworks designed to reduce travel and tourism costs, thus promoting a competitive advantage in the region.

Source: Eastleigh voice   

Experience Luxury and Elevated Comfort as You Fly to London with Kenya Airways On The Airbus A330-300

This holiday season we want you to experience comfort and style as you travel to/from London. From 1st December 2024 to 15th January 2025, Kenya Airways will operate the Airbus A330-300 on the London route. This introduction aims to give our guests an elevated travel experience by combining style and luxury aboard the Airbus A330-300. Combined with the renowned Kenya Airways world-class hospitality, guests can unwind on the fully flat beds in Business Class, or enjoy elevated comfort in our Economy Class.

The aircraft has a capacity of 46 business class seats for those who prefer to indulge in luxury and 203 spacious economy class seats.

Ready for your next adventure to London? Book today!