The 15 Travel Trends That Will Define 2023

After two years of near paralysis amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 marked the worldwide return of travel. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the past 12 months have been all about recovery with international tourist arrivals nearly tripling between January and July of 2022—up 172 percent compared to the same period for 2021.

Translation: the travel industry has recovered almost 60 percent of its pre-pandemic levels, according to the UNWTO.

And while 2022 was the year of recovery, 2023 is poised to be the year of reinvention. A separate report, this one from from Booking.com, predicts the coming 12 months will be a time of “creatively reimagining” travel amid all of the chaos the world is facing.

What will reimagined travel look like exactly?

We asked some of the leading voices in the industry to share their predictions for 2023 and the answers ranged from exciting and intriguing to truly inspiring. From transformational adventures and new age wellness retreats to immersive slow travel, the year ahead promises to be full of dynamic offerings. Here are 15 of the most interesting trends to watch for in 2023.