GenZ on vacation: trends that are revolutionizing the travel industry!

GenZ on vacation: trends that are revolutionizing the travel industry!

Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, presents the travel industry with new challenges and opportunities. According to a recent report by austriatourism.com The use of smartphones to plan and book trips is a key feature of this generation. They use these devices not only to organize their trips, but also to share experiences on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Experiences that can be shared are very important to Gen Z. Beautiful views are often viewed as potential “Instagram spots.” The digital world strongly influences what is considered attractive and shapes the desires of these young travelers. Values ​​such as sustainability, authenticity and social responsibility are of essential importance for Gen Z.

Changing travel habits

An exciting finding from the ÖW summer potential study shows that trips for Gen Z are planned more flexibly and spontaneously. This generation tends to take shorter, more frequent trips. Over 60 percent of Gen Z is planning multiple short trips and almost half of 18- to 29-year-olds are thinking about longer vacations lasting longer than five days. In comparison, this group reduced their travel budget by over 14 percent, which also influenced their choice of accommodation - vacation rentals and Airbnb are the trend.

Another aspect that is in the Simon-Kucher Travel Trends Study Highlighted is the fact that Gen Z is up to 8.5 times more likely to travel internationally in the summer than Baby Boomers. Nevertheless, the travel time is the shortest with an average of 6.5 days. The generation seems to place more value on sport, adventure and a good mix of fun, partying and shopping when traveling, which opens up new opportunities for travel providers.

Challenges when planning vacations

Gen Z's vacation plans can sometimes be elusive. Many members of this group may not have specifically considered their travel plans yet. In fact, research shows that Gen Z is booking later than the general population, and fewer of them have already booked vacations. At the same time, holiday nostalgia remains strong: foregoing holiday travel is out of the question for Gen Z.

In summary, it can be said that Generation Z has unique trends and preferences in their travel behavior, which make it easier for tourism professionals to adapt to a dynamic and ambitious clientele. After all, experiences that are both lasting and authentic are what this generation is looking for above all else.