With warnings of a polar freeze hitting the UK at the beginning of this month, many of us are turning to flight centres and travel booking platforms for dreamy escapes. But while last year saw a return to pre-pandemic levels of travel tourism, this year we’re set for more meaningful ways to connect, slow down and positively impact the planet.

These are the six trends setting the course of travel for the upcoming year.

Astrotourism

Starry-eyed travellers are swapping city breaks for remote destinations in the hopes of experiencing the beauty of the galaxies. Seeking out dark skies and cosmic constellations, those wishing to gaze upon infinity and beyond are turning to “astrotourism” for their holiday destination. Home to the northern lights, Norway is one such location and this year is predicted to bring the best auroras in 20 years, with the sun expected to reach “solar maximum”, creating spectacular night skies.

Train travel

The renaissance of rail travel has begun, with trains getting a luxury makeover as demand rises for slower forms of travel. Immersing guests in secluded landscapes, a new wave of rail lines is set to launch in 2024, including Veuve Clicquot’s all-new, once-in-a-lifetime adventures aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Hiram Bingham and the Andean Explorer. Solaire Journeys follow the sun through unforgettable landscapes, from the jungles of Malaysia to the historical terroir of the Champagne region and the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. Enjoy world-class dining, cinematic sunsets and the finest champagne in celebration of 250 years of the iconic champagne house.

Ecotourism

As we mindfully search for green holiday alternatives, sustainable tourism is emerging as a new trend for the eco-conscious traveller. Enter eco-diving. Combining the wonders of the ocean with conservational efforts, eco-dive tourism gives scuba divers a chance to get up close to diverse marine ecosystems, vibrant coral reefs and explore underwater beauty while actively contributing to the protection and restoration of marine environments. From coral replanting programmes in the Caribbean to whale conservation in Baja, Mexico (getting up close and personal from the side of a boat; swimming with them is illegal) for the ecotourist, the ocean is your proverbial oyster.

Cool-cationing

It’s estimated that more than 40 per cent of UK travellers will be looking to visit cooler climes in 2024 due to the rising heat and record-breaking temperatures across the globe. Wild swimming, ice therapy and snowy settings will fill our 2024 vision boards, with flights to cold destinations such as Japan, Canada and Norway on the agenda.

AI guides

For better or worse, AI captured the imagination of the world when ChatGPT broke the record as the fastest-ever growing consumer app early last year. For 2024, Booking.com announced its new AI Trip Planner that will help customers in the planning process by providing tailored destination inspiration. Samsung is also set to launch a live translation feature on its Galaxy devices that translates your voice into another language in live-time when booking restaurants, tourist attractions or events.

Set-jetting

Taking flight in 2023 and dominating 2024, TV tourism will see fans making plans to discover faraway lands made popular by television and film. Think “Hobbiton” in New Zealand, “King’s Landing” in Croatia and the French capital in Emily in Paris, locations that have inspired viewers from the comfort of their sofas. Following on from a surge of post-pandemic travel, this year destinations such as Malta and South Korea will see an uptick in visitors with the release of Gladiator 2 and the new season of Squid Games.