Skift Trends Report: The Rise of Transformative Travel

Travelers today are increasingly drawn to travel as a form of self-actualization and personal transformation and growth. They want more than a simple visit to a new destination or days spent relaxing on a beach. Instead, the travel they’re seeking is an experience of the world that goes deep — one that changes them in ways they may not even be aware of. With personal growth now a central goal of many travel experiences, brands, companies, and destinations operating in the travel and tourism space can thrive by helping travelers enrich their inner lives as they explore outwardly.

Skift identified travel focused on personal fulfillment as one of its 2018 Megatrends, “Personal Fulfillment Is the New Ultimate Luxury.” According to the Megatrend, the evolving wants and needs to travelers in the luxury sect are undergoing a tangible shift. While memorable, bespoke experiences are still important to these travelers — which we’ve seen through the focus on experiential travel over the last decade or so — they’re no longer enough. For luxury travelers, the personal fulfillment and self improvement one gains from an experience now takes precedence.

The trend began in the adventure-travel sector and has since become correlated with the luxury segment. But like experiential travel, which is now readily available to travelers outside of the luxury category, the focus on personal fulfillment is also gaining wider traction among travelers in general.