Data & Trends

New Report Reveals Shift in Asia Pacific Luxury Travel Trends

By Newsdesk Jul 1, 2025 4:30pm

A new era of luxury travel is taking shape across Asia Pacific, defined by purpose, personalization and profound lifestyle shifts. According to “The Intentional Traveler” report from the Luxury Group by Marriott International, high-net-worth (HNW) travelers in the region are recalibrating how, where, and why they travel—prioritizing wellbeing, immersive experiences, emotional value and intentional design over volume and extravagance.

The new report surveyed 1,750 of Asia Pacific’s most affluent travelers across Australia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and Thailand from March 14 to April 17, 2025, revealing a luxury travel mindset marked by deeper cultural engagement, increased precision in itinerary planning and rising expectations from brands and experiences.

Wellness takes center stage

In 2025, 90 percent of travelers cite wellness experiences as a key factor in their booking decisions, up from 80 percent the year prior. Beyond spa retreats, luxury travelers are embracing holistic wellness experiences, from forest immersions and nutrition programs to sound healing and sleep therapies. Asia is the top destination for wellness journeys (67 percent), where 26 percent of travelers are planning a wellness or spa retreat.

Spending more, expecting more

Luxury travelers are approaching their journeys with both confidence and discernment, as 72 percent plan to increase their spending on high-end travel in the coming year. This growth is led by travelers in Australia (85 percent), Indonesia (81 percent) and Singapore (80 percent). Among all travel types, family travel stands out as the top priority for spending, with 47 percent of affluent travelers most willing to splurge when journeying with their immediate families. Brand trust is also on the rise—luxury hotel brands now rank higher than independent villas or private retreats, reflecting a desire for consistency, curated experiences and elevated service.

A return to familiarity – plus a new luxury trail

A striking 93 percent of high-net-worth travelers in the region prefer to return to destinations they already love, with 89 percent saying they’re more likely to revisit places where they feel a meaningful connection. These aren’t just repeat trips—they’re purposeful returns, often planned to delve deeper into a destination, reconnect with local communities or relive special moments with family and friends.

At the same time, while many HNW travelers continue to favor familiar destinations, new markets with convenient regional access are rapidly gaining traction: Bangladesh (26 percent), New Zealand (24 percent) and Cambodia (23 percent) are emerging as top choices for 2025, rising alongside established travel favorites, such as Australia, Japan and Mainland China to secure spots in the year’s top 10 most planned destinations.

The rise of the intentional itinerary

Luxury travelers are booking fewer trips but with greater depth and deliberation. The average short stay has increased from three to four nights, and itineraries are meticulously planned, often months in advance. For longer trips, bookings are typically made two to three months ahead, while short trips are locked in one to two months in advance. Ninety-three percent expect a personalized travel experience, while 62 percent plan every detail ahead of time.

Nature, an emerging travel priority

While gastronomy remains the top driver of travel, nature-driven experiences are now an emerging pillar of luxury travel. Countryside getaways are gaining momentum, with 28 percent of high-net-worth travelers planning rural escapes—up from 19 percent last year—while 30 percent are booking wildlife safaris. A remarkable 92 percent say being close to nature is a key travel priority, reflecting a growing desire for immersive outdoor experiences. Further, these travelers are planners at heart, with the majority booking their long trips two to six months in advance, with some booking as far as nine to 12 months out.

Changing travel dynamics: Who we travel with

HNW travelers are redefining traditional travel groups as new dynamics emerge. These include:

Guardian Trailsetters – Once a niche category, solo parents traveling with their kid(s) has grown from 15 percent to 24 percent in just a year. When traveling as a solo parent, they show a preference for enriching itineraries that offer invaluable experiences for their children, including religious events (41 percent), educational trips (38 percent) and safaris or extreme adventures (both at 35 percent).
Impact Explorers – Gen Z travelers are gravitating toward destinations such as Australia, Sri Lanka and Thailand—choices that reflect their strong appetite for nature, culture and adventure. Far from the leisure-seeker stereotype, this generation is driven by purposeful, active experiences: 47 percent prioritize being close to nature, 45 percent are eager to encounter wildlife and 43 percent are drawn to active sporting holidays. Solo travel appeals to 31 percent as a means of independence and self-discovery, though small group trips of fewer than five people remain their preferred way to explore.
Venture Travelist – First introduced in the 2024 “New Luxe Landscapes” report, the Venture Travelist segment has seen significant growth in 2025. Eighty-six percent of HNW travelers now say they explore business or investment opportunities while traveling—up from 69 percent the previous year.