A Look Back at Megatrends 2023

A marked rebound after being hard-hit by the health crisis, confirming the resilience of the destination, which meets the current trends and expectations of travellers looking to unwind and recharge while enjoying authentic and memorable experiences.

How best to rejuvenate? Many opt for doing less: loafing, lounging, luxuriating. The problem with this is that modern life is lived mostly in the mind. Even if you don’t have a job that requires control of an inbox, the exhausting PR project of modern social interaction is inescapable. If you simply stop working, the same processes still whir on, even if in the background. By contrast, actively doing something entirely different, something requiring energy and devotion, draws voltage away from tired wires, lets them cool. That’s why I chose to do the GR20, the path that travels the length of Corsica. People call it the hardest trek in Europe, and that’s what I wanted: to descend from brain into body and restore myself through physical effort.

Travel is a journey that connects people, which is what makes it so exciting. But after experiencing massive crippling crowds at popular overtouristed destinations this year–consider Italy, for example–where good behavior was in short supply, global travelers have become increasingly aware of the negative impact tourism can have on local communities.

As we welcome in the new year, it’s the perfect time to set ambitious professional resolutions and chart a course for success. One transformative way to kickstart your year is by attending Skift Megatrends, our most popular event that forecasts the themes shaping the travel industry in the year ahead. Taking place both in New York City and online on January 9th, as well as in London on January 11th, this event promises (and continues) to be a game-changer for professionals seeking to stay ahead of the curve.

For me, travel is about meeting people, being a lifelong learner and seeing the world through different perspectives.

What is the future of travel? Answering that is Skift’s editorial mission, and the release of our annual Megatrends is core to that mission.

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While many reports this time of year are focused on looking at what lies ahead, Skyscanner is taking a different approach.The global travel marketplace has crunched its voluminous booking data from the past 12 months to provide an insider's review of the “Year in Travel” for 2023. All of the Skyscanner number crunching resulted in insights surrounding the most popular travel destinations of the past year among U.S. travelers, cheapest flights, biggest hotel bargains, and even the most budget-friendly car rental destinations. Let’s start with the most popular travel destinations, shall we?Drumroll please….Sin City aka Las Vegas, Nevada nabbed the top spot in the hearts of American travelers in 2023, attracting more visitors than any other location.“From visiting one of the many world-famous casinos or checking out world-renowned restaurants and shops on the Las Vegas strip, US travelers loved to visit and feel the vibes of Sin City,” says the Skyscanner report.  Coming in second place among Americans was the eternal favorite, London.

Six travel startups have announced fundraises of nearly $104 million this week.

Destinations worldwide are courting Indian travelers, including countries throughout Africa. Authorities in several African nations are ramping up their efforts to attract visitors from the rapidly growing market. 

As we head into the holidays, air travelers know all too well what to expect—the usual toxic brew of overcrowded airports, understaffed check-in counters, and clogged security lanes.

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