5 Travel & Tourism Trends to Motivate You in 2023

Compass Sneak Peek

After the excitement and positive momentum of the past year, we are thrilled to see what 2023 will bring for the tours and activities industry. 

Both distant vacations and local experiences continue to evolve as travelers creatively embrace trip planning this year. Individuals are willing to spend more on what matters to them, and they want to experience something new or different along the way. 

Here are five trends to take advantage of in 2023. 

1. Travelers who want to splurge on experiences

If 2022 was considered the return of travel, then 2023 is poised to see the return of travel spending. Simply getting out of the house isn’t enough—this year travelers are itching to experience once-in-a-lifetime adventures like luxury trips, package tours, and activities that take them far from traditional “tourist traps.”

Travel sales are on track to be 47% higher in 2023 than in 2019 (Virtuoso, global travel agency). 

Encouragingly, almost three quarters of Virtuoso travelers say that creating a travel experience that fits their desires is more important to them than price. 

2. Upscale experiences that offer fun and relaxation

Luxury travel is shaping up to be popular in 2023. After all, everyone deserves to treat themselves! The upscale travel trend will include exclusive settings, private activities, custom itineraries, and thoughtful details like upgrades and add-ons. 

Upscale experiences are all about people embracing what they love to do. Whether they’re spending a bit more on a high-adrenaline heli-skiing tour or setting aside time to splurge on a private cooking class, luxury means something unique to everyone.

3. Trips that venture further from home

Bookers are looking for unique experiences like backpacking, multi-day hikes and excursions, and glamping or sightseeing adventures that take them slightly out of their comfort zones. 

From tasting exotic foods to learning a new language or activity, nothing is off limits. 

Package experiences offer the perfect opportunity to embrace this kind of travel. A full-day activity that combines multiple tours lets the whole family try something new and make the most of their time in your location.

Quick Tip: If you do not offer package tours or multi-day activities, consider using your platform to compile and share a resource with your guests and other travelers. Write a blog post that shares the most unique places to visit in your area and how they can get started with their planning—with a stop at your business of course!

4. A renewed focus on health and wellness vacations

Wellbeing trips will be a popular travel choice in 2023. We all deserve to unwind, in mind, body and spirit. For some, this could look like a yoga retreat, guided meditation or healing journey, like a visit to Colorado’s hot springs.

There are even more subtle ways tour operators can embrace wellness, like offering healthy choices for food options and promoting other local, health-conscious businesses.

5. In-destination and last-minute bookings are here to stay

As we heard from Josh Halperin, FareHarbor’s Managing Director (Americas), at Spark Las Vegas, tour operators are experiencing an uptick in last-minute, in-destination bookings. Travelers are booking on the fly, deciding what they want to do when they are already at their destination. 

How can you capitalize on this trend? For last-minute bookers, you can make the best impression by optimizing your online presence and mobile friendliness. Making sure your Google Business Profile is up to date and your website is easy to navigate on mobile are the top two tasks to help secure in-destination bookings.  

2023 is going to be an inspiring year for travel! As we progress in the coming weeks and months, we look forward to embracing the new trends and booking patterns that emerge. 

Have any predictions of your own? Tell us on the FareHarbor Community Facebook page.