Each year, ABTA releases its trends and predictions for the coming year, using research from its annual Holiday Habits survey. A cross section of UK adults are asked how they have travelled in the previous 12 months, and what their plans are for the coming year.
The report shows that despite financial pressures, holidays remain a priority for most, with more than two-thirds (68%) planning to travel abroad in the next 12 months and the vast majority (84%) planning to spend either just as much or more on their holidays next year as they did this year. A couple of ABTA’s trends in particular support this desire to prioritise spending on travel, with long-haul holidays and five-star stays set to be big in the year ahead.
ABTA unveiled five key trends shaping the future of travel for 2025:
Loving Long-Haul: Travellers are broadening their horizons! Although South America has the smallest percentage of UK travellers, it’s up 1.4% on 2023 numbers to a 4.7% share of travellers..
Five-Star Fans: Five-star stays abroad have jumped 35%, driven by Gen Z and Millennials who are embracing high-end travel like never before.
Bae-cations Are Back: Romance is in the air, with an expected rise in couples-only breaks next year, and the 25–34 age group leading the charge.
Experiencing Winter: Winter escapes are evolving. City breaks and sunny retreats remain favourites, but festive experiences—like Christmas markets and Northern Lights trips—are stealing the show.
Inspiration Polarisation: Traditional sources of holiday inspiration such as brochures remain remarkably resilient. Roughly a quarter (27%) of people said they refer to holiday or destination brochures when searching for inspiration, which breaks down to 30% of both Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation, 27% of Gen Z, 26% of Gen X and 25% of Millennials. Unsurprisingly, Gen Z is ahead of the curve when it comes using technology for holiday ideas, with 10% using AI for inspiration.