Travellers in 2026 are expected to embrace highly personalised trips that reflect their quirks, goals, and passions. Booking.com’s 10th Travel Predictions report highlights 10 trends showing Asia-Pacific travellers seeking experiences that prioritise individuality and technology-driven convenience.
The report shows that 2026 travel will centre on personal expression, combining technology, creativity, and immersive experiences to allow travellers to define their own journeys.
The research, based on responses from over 29,000 travellers across 33 countries and territories, shows that vacations are becoming more experimental, immersive, and unapologetically personal. Asia-Pacific travellers are open to innovative experiences: 86% would consider staying in robotic-enhanced homes, with 48% influenced by cleaning bots, 37% by robotic chefs, and 26% by robots managing sustainability. Road trips are also evolving, with 85% open to carpooling, 63% willing to use apps to connect with fellow travellers, and 72% considering AI to map scenic routes.
Wellness travel is transforming, with 82% interested in glow-cations focused on skin-specific treatments, AI-guided destination choices, hydration stations, smart mirrors, and sleep-enhancing suites. Nostalgia travel is rising, with 75% willing to recreate memories using AI-powered location mapping, while 79% are intrigued by fantasy- and “romantasy”-inspired immersive retreats.
Souvenir trends are also changing, with 74% considering design-led kitchenware and pantry items as cultural keepsakes. Travellers are using trips to test relationships, with 72% open to travel as a compatibility check, and exploring astrology, with 60% considering travel plans based on spiritual guidance. Quiet, nature-focused hobbies will be sought by 46% of travellers, including birdwatching, foraging, and insect spotting, supported by technology for guidance and tracking.
Finally, milestones are being redefined: 66% of travellers book trips without a traditional reason, 75% travel to reward themselves, and others mark achievements such as a promotion (26%), tax refund (14%), breakup closure (14%), new outfit (9%), or health milestones like sobriety or fitness transformations (24%).
Laura Houldsworth, managing director, Asia-Pacific, at Booking.com, shared: “Travel continues to be a top priority for Asia-Pacific travellers, as journeys increasingly reflect their identities and interests. They are eager to pursue their passions and embrace new adventures, from immersive fantasy worlds to technology-enhanced rentals.
The full report can be viewed here.
