Tag Archives: travel trends

Global leisure travel spending is projected to reach $15 trillion in 2040, up from $5 trillion in 2024. With an anticipated 7% annual uptick in leisure spending, the Middle East is expected to outperform all markets except Asia Pacific during the next five years. Destinations, airlines, hotels and industry stakeholders from around the world will gather to explore these unprecedented opportunities at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 4-7 May. Under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology’, the event will explore the factors and trends redefining the global travel landscape. Leisure travel will form a key part of the programme at ATM, where the event will spotlight the changing behaviours of leisure travellers globally, and the Middle East’s ever-growing status as a destination of choice for international tourists. The ATM Travel Trends Report, developed in collaboration with Tourism Economics, forecasts that international tourism nights in the Middle East will reach 1.5 billion by 2030, representing a 90% surge from 2024. Approximately 15% of these nights are expected to be among leisure travellers from outside of the region. According to the report, European source markets currently account for 50% of leisure travel into the Middle East, although faster growth is expected for African and Asia Pacific markets in the next five years. For exhibitors and buyers at ATM 2026, these projections underscore the strong growth potential of the leisure segment. With more than 2,600 exhibitors from 161 countries and over 47,000 attendees expected, the event will provide a comprehensive platform for the travel industry to leverage this rising demand. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, …

From literature escapes to supermarket tourism and skincare-fuelled itineraries, travelers are planning to curate trips based on their hobbies and passions for 2026, according to Skyscanner data and global consumer research. * The Skyscanner Travel Trends report for 2026 has unveiled the seven biggest trends in travel, showing that the year will become “personal” for travellers in the UAE. The seven trends shaping travel for 2026 are:  Destination Check-in – In 2026, accommodation will increasingly hot shaping where and why people travel, with where hotelsthey stay becoming the destination Data shows that 76% of travellers have picked a destination based purely on accommodation. Glowmads – Statistics show more than half (55%) of adults in the UAE have bought beauty or skincare products on previous international trips while 45% plan to visit beauty stores and get skincare/beauty treatments in 2026. Therefore, beauty rituals have the potential to shape how, not just where, beauty lovers travel. Furthermore, 37% said beauty-related activities are cheaper abroad than home. Shelf Discovery – Travellers are searching for the most authentic bites in the food aisles with 83% saying they often or always explore the local supermarkets or grocery stores on their trips, while 57% say they learn more about local culture in food aisles. Furthermore, 44% are keen to try local food on holiday. Altitude Shift – Travellers are chasing year-round alpine escapes from snow to stillness. Skyscanner data shows more than three-quarters (92%) are already looking into booking a summer or autumn trip to a mountain destination next year and 31% are planning a hiking trip with 59% saying the clean air and cooler weather makes mountain trips more appealing. Bookbound – Individuals are looking to …