Ahead of this year’s Travel Daily Media Global Summit in Bangkok, we did a feature on how younger generations are influencing where their families go on vacation, along with where to stay and what to do.
Since that came out, experts discovered that the influence of younger Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha is actually more far-reaching, actually changing the industry mindset from rigid group tours to more relaxed and meaningful jaunts where travellers can bond with family members.
Especiallly in the Asia Pacific, the preferences of younger travellers have given rise to new trends, including what is being referred to as skip-generation travel, as well as a more tech-forward approach to exploration.
Skip a generation, share your legacy
An October 2025 feature from Branding In Asia cited a Hilton study which revealed a trend wherein grandparents travelled with their grandchildren without the latter’s parents in tow.
Referred to as skip-generation travel or, more simply, skip-gen, these trips redefine the concept of family travel by casting the spotlight on stays and experiences that strengthen bonds between grandparents and their grandchildren whilst making lasting memories through immersive experiences.
The Hilton report specifically pointed out that up to 60 percent of senior citizens within the Asia Pacific have either taken a skip-gen trip or are planning to take their grandkids on one.
The trend is most noticeable in China and India where cross-generational travel has shifted from a novelty into a mainstream trend, and skip-gen trips are gaining popularity, especially in families where both parents are working.
The report also pointed out that skip-gen trips have significant benefits for the well-being of older people, with 89 percent of those surveyed saying that travelling with younger relatives has improved their overall health, both mentally and physically, as their companions kept them engaged and active.
Knowing oneself through travel
Another emerging trend when it comes to generational travel is the way identity-building and emotional wellness have become prime motivators for travel, especially for Millennials and Gen Z.
These two groups, and Gen Z in particular, suffer from incredible pressures in the contemporary workplace which have led them to seek opportunities for escape and self-discovery after stints in highly depersonalising environments.
As such, their trips are more experience-driven: they prefer to immerse themselves into a location, going in with a live like a local mindset to help them reset their minds and bodies while learning about the location and its people in the process.
Furthermore, this also heralds a shift from picture-perfect tours into DIY territory that leads younger travellers on lesser-known paths to find themselves and their life purpose.
Tech matters
In its 2024 regional impact report, Southeast Asian online travel platform Klook declared that digital tools were transforming the way consumers plan and book their trips.
Two years on, this is still true as more than 80 percent of today’s travel bookings are being done online via booking sites on desktops and on mobile apps.
This has been especially true in the Asia Pacific, especially when pandemic recovery began in 2023 and younger travellers began taking charge when it came to family trip planning.
Going digital has been a godsend, especially for the younger generations, as it has enabled them to shop for the best rates for everything from flights and stays to experiences and dining options.
Indeed, we have observed that older generations are happy enough to turn the reins over to the younger folk when it comes to booking to ensure that, in the end, a great time will be had by all.
