American Express’ Global Travel Trends Report
for 2023 highlights four global trends inspiring people to travel
this year:
– The Rise of “Set-Jetting”: Popular movies, TV shows and
social media are inspiring people to travel to places they see
onscreen, like Italy, Paris, Yellowstone, and London;
– Delicious
Destinations: From top restaurants to local favorites to cooking
classes, people are choosing their next destination based on what
they’ll eat;
– A Wellness Wave: Restorative vacations are on the rise
as travelers prioritize self-care and mental and physical health;
and
–
Traveling Off the Beaten Path: Travelers want to discover hidden
gems and support the local community when they visit.
The report, based on survey data from travelers
from the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India
and the United Kingdom, found that more than half (52%) of
respondents say they plan to take more trips this year than last
year and 50% of respondents are planning to spend more money on
travel in 2023 than 2022.
84% of Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) and Millennials
(born between 1981 and 1996) surveyed
would rather take a dream vacation than purchase a new luxury
item, and 79% agree that travel is an important budget priority.
The term Gen X refers to those born between 1965 and 1980, while
Boomers refers to people born between 1946 and 1964.
Top insights from American Express Travel’s 2023
Global Travel Trends Report include:
Pop culture and social media are influencing the
rise of “set-jetting”, especially among younger travelers.
– 75% of respondents agree that they have been
inspired to travel to a specific destination by social media;
– 70% of Gen Z and Millennials surveyed agree that
they have been inspired to visit a destination after seeing it
featured in a TV show, news source, or movie; and
– 46% of Gen Z and Millennials surveyed say they
have been inspired to travel to a destination because of Instagram.
From visiting top restaurants and local favorites
to taking a cooking class, food has a huge impact on where people
travel.
– 81% of respondents agree that trying local foods
and cuisines is the part of traveling they look forward to the
most;
– 66% of Gen Z and Millennials surveyed agree that
they get most of their eating-while-traveling inspiration from
social media; and
– Nearly half (47%) of Gen Z and Millennials
surveyed agree that they have planned an entire trip around
visiting a specific restaurant.
Prioritizing self-care is leading to a rise in
restorative vacations.
– 73% of respondents are planning vacations to
better their mental, physical, and emotional health this year; and
– 60% of Gen Z and Millennials surveyed say they
go out of their way to book hotels that offer spa and wellness
services.
Travelers want to discover hidden gems and support
the local communities they visit.
– 85% of respondents want to visit a place where
they can truly experience the local culture; and
– 78% of respondents are interested in going on
vacations that support local communities in 2023.
“Vacations are precious and travelers are
prioritizing personalized itineraries built around their passions,
from planning an entire vacation for a single dinner reservation
to getting the perfect video for TikTok,” said Audrey Hendley,
President of American Express Travel.
The American Express Travel 2023 Global Travel
Trends Report can be viewed in full
here or downloaded as a 3.45MB, 7-page .pdf
here.
