TOKYO -- A Japanese travel app company has released predictions of domestic traveler trends for 2025 along with a list of trending travel destinations this year, bringing the Thai resort town of Krabi and Cambodia's Siam Reap under the spotlight.

In its Travel Trends report for 2025, Skyscanner Japan Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo's Minato Ward, analyzed reams of its saved search data along with a survey of 20,000 global users including 1,000 Japanese users. The results were divided into seven popular types of trip experiences, and destinations were ranked along lines such having become cheaper to visit or having seen a boom in searches.

According to the report, a key phrase that will represent travel in 2025 is "shared community and group experiences," while the seven types of experiences were divided into sports, relaxation, art, the night sky, western (as in cowboy) culture, nature and games. It was concluded that people were most interested in destinations that affordably offer things such as the beauty of nature or cultural experiences.

Among Japanese travelers, 42% prioritized culture when deciding on their ports of call. "Immersive art" using digital technology was especially popular among the younger crowd, with 31% of those aged 25 to 34 saying they planned to take in such experiences in 2025. The Paris Olympics and Paralympics this past summer also seemed to boost the popularity of sports, with 37% of Japanese users saying they have trips planned to watch a sporting event next year.

2024's "Trending Destinations" were ranked based on increases in flight searches through January to June this year compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, "Best Value Destinations" were ranked in descending order by the percentage their return economy flight tickets dropped in price over the same time frame.

The top trending destination of the year was Cambodia's capital Siam Reap, which saw a 300% increase in searches. Known for the famed Angkor Wat temple, the company said the country is "attractive for those who want to enjoy a unique cultural experience at a reasonable price." Also in the top five were Finland's Rovaniemi, which offers views of the northern lights, in fourth place, and the Spanish city of San Sebastian, known as the home of footballer Takehisa Kubo's Real Sociedad soccer team, at fifth.

The best-value getaway was southern Thailand's Krabi, which saw a year-on-year price drop of 37%. The company explained that the region is "an ideal resort with abundant natural beauty and plenty of activities to enjoy the sea." Despite their image as more expensive destinations, European cities were included in the top 10, including Spain's Madrid at fourth, Italy's Venice in seventh and London, England at ninth.

Amid global inflation, the travel industry is introducing new strategies such as dynamic pricing and AI to achieve a balance with demand. According to Skyscanner Japan, 24% of Japanese travelers wish to use AI when planning their trips next year. The company said that the latest technologies will be used to "continue to help you save time and money."

A global version of the report by Skyscanner Japan's parent company Skyscanner Ltd. is available in English at https://www.skyscanner.net/travel-trends/future

(Japanese original by Yuko Shimada, Business News Department)