Overview
- The study analyzes billions of KAYAK searches, TikTok trend data, and an October 2025 survey of more than 14,000 Gen Z and Millennial travelers across nine countries.
- Forty-one percent of respondents say they trust AI recommendations more than friends or social media when planning trips.
- Preferences are shifting toward lesser-known places and small towns, with 69% of Gen Z and 66% of Millennials seeking off‑feed destinations and 84% preferring smaller towns.
- Wellness and slower, shorter itineraries dominate, as over 60% prioritize a mental reset, #slowtravel posts rose nearly 330% on TikTok, and 63% plan multiple nanocations in 2026.
- Ninety-seven percent plan to travel for a major event this year, and KAYAK’s emerging destinations include Cork, Chongqing, Harbin, Zakynthos, Shenzhen, Almaty, Hilo, Noumea, La Romana, and Luxembourg.