Travel planning is evolving—especially for Gen Z and Millennial travelers. 

Their trips start online, fueled by digital behaviors. According to DIGITAL 2025: GLOBAL OVERVIEW REPORT, nearly 56% of online adults make purchases online every week, representing an estimated 1.7 billion people globally. These digital-first behaviors have reshaped not just retail, but also the travel business.

In fact, American Express Travel reports that 80% of young travelers rely on social media and mobile apps to plan their trips. For this generation, booking is no longer just a transaction,it's part of the travel experience itself.

This shift offers businesses a unique opportunity to digitally deliver personalized experiences that drive engagement and growth.

Immersive Sports, Moments We Can Join

Recently, activities like mini golf, darts, and water sports have gained rapid popularity among Gen Z and Millennial travelers. These experiences are highly interactive and visually engaging—making them ideal for social media content. Their shareable nature encourages young travelers to not only participate but also capture, post, and spread the experience online, turning every outing into both entertainment and exposure.

For example, SeaBunny Scubacations in the Celebes Sea offers immersive water activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, and mermaid-style exploration. These visually striking and shareable experiences combine challenge and fun—making them especially appealing to young travelers eager to create unforgettable memories.

For young travelers, unique and shareable experiences are what stand out most.

Film Locations, Stories You Can Step Into

According to The State of Social Media in Travel 2025, approximately four out of five Millennials use social media for travel inspiration. Platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok often showcase cinematic or story-driven content that resonates with younger generations. They don’t just want to see the highlights—they want to step into the story, feel the atmosphere, and immerse themselves in the emotion of the scene.

For example, Be a SAMURAI offers customers the chance to wear traditional armor and step into scenes inspired by historical film footage. Visitors can role-play as samurai characters and participate in a re-enactment that feels like a scene from a period drama.

For young travelers, meaningful travel is a deep, immersive experience—one that lets them step into the story.

Bucket-List Adventures,The Dreams They Chase 

The most exciting adventures are the most meaningful ones. According to Booking.com survey data, up to 68% of Gen Z travelers say they prioritize unique, adventurous experiences—such as hot air balloon rides or skydiving. These activities offer more than just thrills; they create unforgettable, emotional memories that define what meaningful travel means to them.

For example, Balloon Adventure Thailand offers a sunrise flight over Chiang Mai, an unforgettable, dream-list experience for many young travelers.

For young travelers, the most meaningful adventures are unforgettable and dream-worthy.

Hyperlocal Travel, Real Cultural Connection

Experience comes first when choosing a travel destination in the younger generation. Safety and distance are no longer top priorities. According to McKinsey & Company’s report The evolving role of experiences in travel, the desire to connect with local culture has become one of the leading reasons people choose where to go. Emotion-driven, personal travel is on the rise, and local experiences are now seen as essential.

For example, Elephant Inwild Sanctuary in Thailand, visitors can feed, bathe, and care for elephants in their natural habitat. This hands-on experience, which includes a traditional mud spa activity, lets travelers connect deeply with local values and create lasting emotional memories.

For young travelers,cultural connection is what makes a journey meaningful.

Take-Home Culture, Lasting Travel Memories

The meaning of souvenirs is changing for today’s travelers. According to the 2025 Global Travel Trends Report, up to 82% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers are looking for unique items that represent their travel experiences. This trend reflects a growing preference for hands-on, culturally rooted activities that let them create meaningful, personalized memories.

For example, Cookinn Taiwan, travelers get hands-on with local traditions—making their own souvenirs while learning to make delicious food like a local.

For young travelers, it’s this kind of creative, take-home experience that turns a trip into something personal and unforgettable.

Experience Travel, Digitally Delivered by rezio

Embracing the experience tourism trend, most experience providers mentioned in this article have completed their digital transformation through rezio's online booking system, creating more valuable booking experiences and customer relationships in the rapidly evolving travel market.

Facing the redefined travel preferences of young travelers, tourism operators need seamlessly integrated digital solutions. These five trends reveal that the new generation of travelers focuses on every cultural interaction they can personally participate in - from local experiences and adventure activities to memorable personal journeys - pursuing unforgettable memories at every touchpoint.

rezio is a system designed to help experienced providers and local businesses embrace digital transformation.  It offers key features such as booking page builders, online payments, real-time inventory, a channel manager, e-vouchers, and QR code check-ins. With everything in one place, rezio makes it easy to manage orders and customer data, helping you run your business more smoothly and efficiently.

Curious to see how rezio can help you build a strong brand and improve operational efficiency during your digital transformation? 

Schedule a 1-1 consultation with our expert team today and discover how our system can optimize your business.

Enjoyed this article? You might also like our related blog posts:

🔖KKday or rezio? Which Online Business Solution is Right for Travel Businesses?

🔖Why Travel? For Food, Adventure, or Instagram-Worthy Moments? Discover the Real Reasons!

🔖2025 Top Travel Destinations—and Why Every Tour Operator Needs a Reliable Booking System