American Express Travel released its 2024 Global Travel Trends Report1 today, highlighting the inspiration and trends driving global travel bookings this year.
The report, based on survey data from travellers in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, found that 84% of respondents plan to spend more or the same amount of money on travel in 2024 compared to last year. Additionally, 77% of respondents care more about having the right travel experience than about the cost of the trip.
The four trends driving booking decisions are:
For the Love of the Game: Sports fans are planning trips around athletic events, whether it involves a favorite sport, a beloved team, or an international multi-sport competitionPlanning Big: Major, expedition-style adventures, like a trip to the Galapagos Islands or trekking with the gorillas, deliver the transformative experiences that travelers are looking forGoing Solo: Travelers are takings trips alone, embracing the ease of planning and ability to tailor itineraries that are a perfect fitOn a Whim: With so much of life being structured and scheduled these days, people are seeking flexibility in their travel plans and leaving room for spontaneity
“Travellers are focused on creating the right itineraries and building memories, whether that means booking a trip to see a favourite sports team compete or taking a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise,” says Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. “Our Global Travel Trends Report sheds light on what is driving global travel bookings and provides inspiration for where to go next. Our American Express Travel Consultants can help, no matter what type of trip you want to take.”
Top insights from American Express Travel’s 2024 Global Travel Trends Report include:
A desire to see sporting events live and to watch favourite teams and beloved players in person are driving where travellers are going and what they are doing when they get there.
67% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents2 (compared to 58% of all respondents) are interested in travelling for sporting events in 202458% of respondents who are travelling for sports in 2024 will do so for soccer, basketball or Formula 1 racingNew York, Miami and Paris are the top destinations respondents are planning to travel to for sporting events this summer
Transformative, once-in-a-lifetime trips, like visiting the Galapagos Islands and hiking in Antarctica, are at the top of many travellers’ wish lists, and younger travellers want an expert to help them plan.