Travel trends 2025: Accessibility and Gen Alpha shaping luxury
A new report by Globetrender in association with Costa Navarino, Greece, has outlined the key trends shaping the future of high-end, responsible travel.
The report, titled Travel Trends 2025: A Blueprint for Better Tourism suggests today’s travellers are looking for places that align with their values, offering cultural enrichment and holistic wellbeing.
“Symbiotic Uplift” refers to when responsible resorts and destinations actively contribute to local economies by supporting the communities and ecosystems where they operate. This creates a mutually beneficial, sustainable relationship which merges excellent hospitality with community development and biodiversity conservation.
From blockbuster films like Gladiator II to Netflix’s Kaos, ancient history is making a big comeback. Travellers are swapping passive sightseeing for hands-on historical exploration, reflecting a desire for meaningful engagement with history, philosophy and classical literature.
With sports tourism projected to expand at a rate of 17.5% annually, travellers are no longer content with just being spectators – they also want to train like champions, a shift that reflects a deeper desire for active participation. Being fit is the ultimate flex in modern luxury travel with travellers looking for Olympic-standard training facilities in sports such as tennis and golf.
Innovation in accessibility is gaining momentum across the hospitality industry, with inclusivity built into guest experiences rather than treated as an afterthought. The sector is increasingly recognising that true luxury means creating spaces for all guests, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. This shift reflects both evolving social values and the growing awareness that diversity strengthens the travel experience for everyone.
Move over Gen Z — Gen Alpha is shaping the future of family tourism. With an estimated two billion Gen Alpha kids (born between 2010 and 2024) worldwide, their preferences are influencing the rise of high-tech, immersive experiences.
A food revolution is sweeping through luxury hospitality as hotels move beyond lavish menus to create culinary experiences that celebrate local recipes while optimising health. Referred to as “longevity cuisine,” this movement represents a rebellion against ultra-processed foods, with resorts and destinations turning to traditional, nutrient-dense ingredients to underpin the future of fine dining.
Jenny Southan, Founder and CEO of Globetrender, said: “At Globetrender, we believe the future of travel lies in purposeful innovation – where luxury is measured not just by opulence, but by impact.
“This trend report in association with Costa Navarino highlights how tourism can become a force for good, from championing biodiversity and cultural heritage to creating more inclusive and enriching experiences for all.”.
