Why Experiential Travel is Booming & How You Can Ride the Wave
When it comes to the latest travel industry trends, experiential travel is taking the lead. More than ever, modern travelers want to connect with local cultures, learn new skills, and collect stories, not just souvenirs. Whether it’s hiking with indigenous guides in Patagonia, foraging in a Swedish forest, or learning traditional ceramics in Japan, today’s explorers seek authenticity, immersion, and meaning.
According to a recent report from Allied Market Research, the global experiential travel market is projected to more than double by 2032, with travelers, especially millennials and Gen Z, prioritizing local, personalized experiences over traditional tours. And it’s not just about bucket lists anymore; it’s about personal growth, deeper connection, and real impact.
“Experiential travelers spend significantly more than traditional tourists—because they’re not buying things, they’re investing in memories.” – U.S. Travel Association
Is experiential travel just a trend?
Various reports emphasize how experiential travel is a global movement. According to Skift Research, bookings for hands‑on, small‑group, and private experiences are growing at twice the rate of traditional packaged tours. The rise of remote work has also led to longer stays and deeper cultural engagement, as noted in Airbnb’s and other travel forecasts. At the same time, sustainability is no longer niche: 76% of travelers want their trips to support local communities, preserve environments, or reflect cultural heritage, according to Booking.com’s 2023 survey. If you’d like to learn more, read our article on the rapidly growing trend of ecotourism.
What makes experiential travel so powerful?
Experiential travel transforms passive sightseeing into emotional storytelling. Instead of rushing through landmarks, travelers slow down and participate in cooking, creating, or even meditating. This emotional payoff translates into higher satisfaction, stronger word-of-mouth, and deeper customer loyalty for your business. In fact, a report by Arival shows that 65% of travelers say experiences play a critical role in choosing where they go, especially among Gen Z and Millennials.
What the rise of experiential travel means for businesses in the travel industry
1. Revenue opportunity
Experiential travelers tend to allocate a larger portion of their budgets to unique, hands-on experiences. According to GetYourGuide’s 2024 Travel Experience Trend Tracker, these travelers represent 60% of all leisure travel spending, indicating a significant preference for immersive activities over traditional travel expenditures.
2. Digital and social relevance
Social media demand is a major driver: 55 % use social platforms to plan trips, and mobile accounts for more than 50 % of bookings. Travel businesses need to adapt and market visually compelling, shareable experiences.
3. Expanding horizons in travel offerings
The global adventure tourism market was valued at approximately $324.9 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $2 Trillion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5%. This growth is driven by increasing demand for unique travel experiences, health-conscious activities, and eco-tourism awareness.
4. Emotional impact and loyalty
Travel has become a memory-making process. Condé Nast Traveler highlights that novel experiences make “life feel longer” and more meaningful.
Let’s bring experiential travel to life together
From building custom itineraries and managing local partners to offering direct guest bookings and upsells, Triparound, the all-in-one guest experience platform, makes it easier than ever to deliver the kind of unforgettable experiences today’s travelers crave.
As demand grows for meaningful, personalized travel, hospitality professionals need tools that go beyond room bookings. Triparound empowers them to create rich, customized activity offerings, from cooking classes and eco-tours to spa rituals and cultural workshops, while centralizing operations in one intuitive dashboard. This means less back-and-forth with guests, more upsell opportunities, and real-time visibility into what travelers truly value.
Whether you’re managing a hotel group, a luxury resort, a vacation rental company, or a residential community, Triparound allows you to effortlessly digitize, personalize, and monetize every part of your guest journey.
Book a free demo and see how Triparound can help you scale curated journeys that guests will talk about long after they return home.
