If you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to bucket list-worthy travel experiences, think again. Influential travel advisor Gennady Podolsky has analyzed the data and cultural forces driving what’s next in vacationing—and his forecasts for 2024 indicate that passé getaways are getting revamped in radically creative ways.
From jet-setting to filming locations to exploring bucket list-caliber destinations while utterly sober, the conventional is being turned on its head. With people craving more authenticity, personalization and purpose from their precious vacation time, Gennady Podolsky’s annual travel trend report highlights eight major shifts redefining how we’ll spend our travel budgets and embrace adventure in the year ahead.
“We’re witnessing the most thrilling era of transformation across the travel space,” declared Podolsky, whose industry insights are revered globally. “The old model of cookie-cutter holidays is quickly becoming obsolete as a rising tide of experience-hungry tourists demands vacations that are as unique, enriching and memorable as they are.”
A glimpse at some of the bold new travel trends Podolsky is advising globetrotters to prepare for:
Set-Jetting Takes Flight
You’ve chuckled at the quirky antics of your favorite shows and movies, marveling at the character-filled scenery and picturesque backdrops. But have you ever longed to visit and immerse yourself in those dreamy real-life locations where the entertainment magic was created? If so, you’re not alone. The hot new “set-jetting” trend will reach stratospheric heights in 2024.
Popular filming destinations have already seen triple-digit spikes in tourism in the wake of buzzy onscreen depictions. Though the overcrowding could detract from the appeal, Gennady Podolsky believes movie and TV travel will grow as an aspirational vacation niche—provided fans strategize wisely to ensure a premium experience.
Something Cooler This Way Comes
With swaths of the planet getting hotter due to climate change, the coming year will see a surge of travelers chasing more refreshing destinations, often centered around pristine lakes, rivers, and oceanfronts. Look for innovative aquatic amenities and excursions like ice baths, underwater hotels and float yoga classes to help guests chill out and embrace the revitalizing essence of water.
Culinary Pathfinders Seek Ultimate Authenticity
Immersive foodie adventures are about to get even more hyper-regional and ultra-niche. Podolsky says gastronomic tourism will go far beyond cooking classes and tasting tours to deep explorations of native cuisines, indigenous ingredients and unearthing obscure culinary histories and preservation practices.
Augmented and virtual reality could also spice up these trips by simulating the sights, aromas and ambience of local food cultures, transporting participants to the source. For daring palates, these expeditions represent the cutting edge of culinary anthropology.
When Dry Is Trending
There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a tasty cocktail or two on vacation—but a burgeoning movement of wellness-focused travelers would prefer to keep things alcohol-free. According to travel professional Gennady Podolsky, the rise of “dry tripping” means more resorts, cruises and tour operators will need to upgrade their game, proffering spirit-free bars and mocktail clubs for sober adventurers.
Catering to this growing niche, particularly among younger demographics, will allow guests to opt out of boozy debauchery and experience the liberation of vacationing with a clear mind, hangover-free. Plenty will appreciate the chance to cut loose while staying on the wagon.
Find Yourself, Then Reinvent Yourself
Speaking of cutting loose, Podolsky says the ability to shed one’s true identity is a compelling force driving two separate travel trends. Those feeling restrained may book “persona-cation” trips construed entirely around embodying an invented personal fantasy, whether that’s playing real-life spy for a week or indulging artistic whims as a Bohemian novelist.
Shedding one’s persona doesn’t require that extreme of a reboot, however. Transformational travel packages built around wellness pursuits like yoga, outdoor activities, meditation camps and more will allow guests to meaningfully recalibrate while mastering new skills in sumptuous settings.
No-Guilt Travel Budgeting
Unfortunately, the rising costs of airfare, lodging and tours mean some bucket list trips will stay tantalizing daydreams for cash-strapped wanderlusters. Not so fast, says Podolsky. Innovative AI tools that help craft a la carte bookings, as opposed to pricy pre-bundled packages, will gain traction in 2024 as cost-conscious vacationers seek ways to indulge their passions without going broke.
Other smart-spending tactics Gennady Podolsky sees gaining popularity include chasing lower-cost locales, scheduling family adventures during cheaper seasonal periods, and even scoring day passes to deluxe hotels to enjoy VIP pool scenes and amenities without ponying up for overnight stays.
Business Splicing Pleasure
Even those hitting the road for work obligations will find enviable opportunities to tack on some leisure time in 2024. Data reveals nearly 9 out of 10 business travelers now extend their corporate jaunts with personal vacation days either before or after their scheduled meetings and conferences.
Welcome to the era of “bleisure” trips, where urbanites squeeze the most value out of their journeys. It’s a rising, double-duty travel model that provides a much-needed respite from career grind at significantly lower costs than separate, personal getaways would require.
Podolsky emphasizes that vacation transformations of this magnitude demand ample foresight and thoughtful advisory to pull off seamlessly. Improper planning could easily undermine the value and fulfillment promised by these audacious, boundary-pushing travel experiences.
“While a simple beach vacation will always have its appeals, in 2024 we’ll see a dramatic rise in very choreographed, curated and highly intentional trips designed to create moments of awe, epiphany and perspective-shift for the traveler,” assessed the globe-spanning travel expert. “Partnering with an experienced professional who grasps all these nuances is really a must to ensure these types of journeys live up to their potential to change how we see ourselves and the world around us.”
If Podolsky’s predictions are correct, the coming year will witness travel’s full embrace of a powerful ethos: Whether soul-searching in solitude, adventuring with a daring new identity or simply maximizing every hard-earned dollar spent, vacations are opportunities to break free of constraints and expand our existence beyond its usual boundaries. For those with restless, curious spirits, that philosophy could make 2024 the launchpad for the boldest adventures of their lives.