It looks like travelling will be a priority for South African in 2025.
According to research by a new travel trends report by Marriott, six out of 10 South Africans plan to go on vacation in the new year.
The report surveyed more than 2,000 South Africans and 21,374 adults in 10 markets across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
The research found that surveyed South Africans are planning an average of 2.7 domestic holidays, two short-haul holidays (four-hour flight or less), and 1.8 long-haul holidays in 2025.
The study noted that this totalled 6.5 holidays for 2025, equating to more than one every two months.
Where are South Africans seeking to go?
The research found that 27% of respondents wanted to travel in and around South Africa, while 11% wanted to travel to the USA, while Mozambique was another popular destination, with 10% keen to visit the coastal region.
France and Mauritius were also popular spots in the research and both had 10% of respondents expressing interest in travelling to these destinations.
Have you heard of bravecations?
The research highlighted a new emerging travel trend called ‘bravecations.’
This is where travellers are more adventurous on holiday, trying activities they wouldn’t normally attempt at home.
The study found that an impressive 85% of South African travellers say they are braver on vacations, the highest among all markets surveyed.
“This trend is particularly strong among younger travellers, with 87% of 18–24-year-olds and 91% of 25–34-year-olds expressing a willingness to try new and exciting things,” the research said.
The most popular activities among adventurers include scaling elevated structures, with 56% of respondents stating this.
Another activity is engaging in high-adrenaline pursuits such as zip-lining, skydiving, or theme park attractions and sampling exotic cuisine.
How are they paying for it?
The research found that South Africans are keen on getting the best value for their money and this in turn allows them to travel more.
The study found that 62% of respondents said that the main factor that encouraged them to book a holiday was “getting a special price”.
South Africans also take advantage of “shoulder season breaks”.
This is when someone takes advantage of vacations during the months surrounding peak season and are very popular way to make holidays more affordable.
Around 70% of the respondents have considered using this window to book their holidays.
Lastly, the research said that exchange rates were another important factor in South Africans planning their holiday, with 46% of the travellers saying that they consider the exchange rates when planning holidays.
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