Maybe I should instead write a glossary of words and phrases I picked up as trends in 2026, but let’s tie the knot for 2025 first. The trends for 2026 also appear in an episode of The traveling podcast soon!
So here’s a list of trends and phrases that were popular in my feeds this past year, some of which are sure to continue into next year. If nothing else, this will be a historic impact in my travel bubble to refer to in future explorations! This is what the travel jargon looks like at the time of writing on November 6, 2025.
Reselingo: a glossary of 12 trends and expressions in the travel industry in 2025 (and 2026?)
#1. Coolcation
It seems that Coolcation has become a term that is here to stay. A cooler climate, wherever it may be located, simply attracts people eager to get away from the warmer latitudes. Considering how much Visit Sweden is driving the trend (and how much Swedes like to travel to the heat), the biggest target group within Sweden’s borders seems to be our foreign tourists – especially the Dutch and French. according to Visit Sweden. I personally tried to lobby for the Faroe Islands, Scotland or Spitsbergen for the family’s summer holiday in 2025. However, the rest of the family seemed completely confused. “Um, then you’ll probably have to go alone – the rest of us want the warmth!That’s what it sounded like, which ultimately led to us booking a trip to Greece in early June.
Read more: Trend scouting, gossip and reflections on travel (summer 2025)
#2. I-moon
‘It is expected that solo travel will increase in the future’this was said at a travel fair I attended in 2018. The term Me-moon was presented for a number of years. Forget the honeymoon, now we’re talking about a completely separate month with Me, Myself and I. I don’t really know if ‘Me-moon’ will catch on as an accepted term – but we can say that it is, is and will remain popular for traveling alone.
Read more: About traveling in different constellations (and with the ‘right’ company)
#3. Night tourism
Possibly already, in the third point of this blog post, I’m getting a little bored with all the Americanized concepts filtering in from far and wide. Nocturnal tourism is therefore a combination of “Night Tourism” – or right and left “nattlig tourism” for Prata Svenska.
But I don’t know. Night tourism? Tendency? Get an unsought view of the Three Wise Men who invented the whole concept when they spied a new star lighting up a rather famous stable – and then galloped off with camels, gold and myrrh in search of the perfect travel experience in Bethlehem.
Read more: Travel in 2025 – about travel trends, gossip and destinations
#4. Sleep Katie
Last summer I was interviewed by Göteborgsposten about the Sleepcation phenomenonwhich was apparently a travel trend this year. The journalist had found one of my blog posts from 2023 in which I wrote about wanting to check into a hotel to… just sleep. Tendency? No. Ask any parent of young children since hotels were invented and I can guarantee they’ve dreamed of a sleepover like this at some point.
Read more: Sleeping holiday – 3 Swedish hotels where I like to check in for a “sleepcation”
#5. Slow travel / Slowcation
When Lonely Planet and National Geographic published their annual ‘Best of the World’ lists Slow Travel was highlighted as a concept/phenomenon in 2025. In a world of constant connectivity, perhaps this is more desirable than ever!?
This is where I have to take off Visit Örebro as an actor at the forefront, they already created a “Slowcation” campaign in the city in 2018, where Lisa and I had the honor of representing the Att resa podcast during such a campaign. Good scout Örebro!
Read more: Delay in Örebro – a winning concept
#6. “Phygital food experiences”
According to A visit to Sweden is said to provide “phygital” dining experiences and culinary experiences generally attract travelers by 2025. In this case, the ‘phygital’ means that you combine local food with technology.
In 2019, the Costa Brava marketed itself with such a combination when they hit the road Tastemotion Costa Brava Girona World Tour 2019 together with a Michelin chef. I had the opportunity to be part of the Stockholm stop and have never participated in anything like it since. During the dinner in question, films were projected on both the walls and screens, while presentations and appropriate music flowed from a sound system as the meals in question were served. It was truly an experience for all the senses! A blog colleague filmed one of the events during the tour here.
For example, here in Sweden I know that Kolmården has followed the trend Pooh’s Magical Food Adventure. During 1.5 hours of sitting, guests receive a total experience: “At the table, a magical portal opens to Bamse’s world. We use a combination of visual effects, sound and interactive elements so that every dish tells a story.(Age limit 3 years).
#7. Regenerative tourism
There has been a lot of talk about regenerative tourism this year! One of those who often brings up the concept is my blog colleague Linda Vismer, who, among other things, participated in Nyhetsmorgon about the concept. Here you can see the fragment on TV4. What does regency tourism mean? In short, it’s about creating value for the place you visit and giving back to the place you visit.
Listen more in (episode 126) of the Att resa podcast: Att resa 2025
#8. Operation
At this point, the concept of Workation can almost be canonized as “Oldie but goldie”. Maybe workations don’t deserve a place on this list, but on the other hand, they are talked about marketing context still about Workation that one “a trend that is growing”. I myself have to thank Linda Hoornfeldt And Sara Ronne for the first Workation of my life in Åre 2017.
Read more: Traveling and working at Landsort on Friday
#9. Season stretches
More and more often I hear travel agents talk about ‘season stretching’, that is, trying to extend the seasons as far as possible. Swedish destinations deal with this challenge a lot, here I’ve heard “out of season” as the Swedish equivalent of the English term. Or should I call them opportunities instead of challenges?
But honestly – as travel experts give TRAVEL DURING THE LOW SEASON!!! As his best travel tip, I find this tip a bit… provocative? (Sorry in advance if I gave that tip myself.) Not only can everyone draw whenever and however they want, but they also have different obligations, restrictions, and specific weeks to deal with. What are the designated weeks? Good. You know the ones, where a hotel room and airline tickets are fifty-one times more expensive than in the low season. Hurrah!
#10. Shoulder season
There is also a lot of talk about the shoulder season, that is, just before or after the high season when the weather is still good, prices are lower and there are fewer tourists. Hopefully not all stores have had time to close for the season.
#11. Gentle adventure
I am transferring trend scouting from Sara Rönne here Soft adventure: research & outdoor trends 2026. That trend has certainly – like almost everything above – been discussed before. When my podcast colleague Lisa and I first heard about the term, it was from a kayaking guide in terms of gentler and friendlier vacation experiences than extreme varieties. Relaxed cycling instead of “Red Bull” descending steep slopes, hanging out on the electric light track with a thermos of coffee on your back instead of running extreme races and so on.
Read more: Gentle adventure – my summer with just the right amount of heart rate booster
In summary, we can say that most trends come, disappear and come back again. And so it is with most trends in most sectors (with the exception of the technology and digitalization industry. AI is a completely different discussion). If I had told my mother that her terrifying ’80s glasses were recently in fashion, she might have turned in her grave. Everything comes back. Over and over again!
Now I want to hear if you’ve picked up some of the above concepts, trends and expressions from the past year? Is there even one of the points that appeals to you just a little more than the others? (or certainly bothers you more than the others)?
On You can find me on Instagram during Travel Friday. I hope to see you there!
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