Emirates is the world’s first Autism Certified airline
• TRENDS
principles, from sustainability and diversity to community benefit. In an increasingly automated ecosystem, empathy becomes a strategic advantage. As Trip.com CEO Jane Sun has observed, AI may streamline logistics, but human warmth and meaningful connection drive loyalty. By 2040, destinations that combine digital efficiency with emotional intelligence will stand apart. TOP TIP: Invest equally in staff training and digital capability to ensure technology enhances – rather than replaces – human connection. 10 RESILIENCE BECOMES STRUCTURAL, NOT REACTIVE The World Economic Forum and Kearney’s future travel scenarios underline a persistent reality: systemic shocks are now part of the operating environment. Climate disruption, geopolitical volatility and supply chain strain are recurring variables rather than exceptional events. Leading destinations are responding structurally. Tourism authorities in the UAE are embedding predictive analytics into visitor management, while cities such as Osaka are using multilingual AI systems to maintain service continuity during disruption. Insurance models, infrastructure design and destination marketing strategies are increasingly incorporating climate risk assessments. By 2040, resilience will be integrated into financing, infrastructure planning, workforce development and governance frameworks. It will no longer sit in a standalone sustainability strategy but will inform core business and national tourism policy decisions. TOP TIP: Embed scenario planning, diversified source- market strategies and climate risk modelling into long-term strategic and investment frameworks. THE UPSHOT? 2040 IS A SYSTEMS TEST The next 15 years will test whether the industry can handle unprecedented scale responsibly. The forces driving travel toward 2040 – economic growth, technological acceleration, demographic change and environmental urgency – are converging. The destinations and businesses that act now, investing in clean mobility, regenerative economics, digital maturity and inclusive design, will be the ones best prepared for a world of 3 billion journeys a year.
innovation accelerated and knowledge transferred. Hybrid formats are no longer transitional; they are structural. AI-driven matchmaking tools are pairing delegates based on shared goals, while immersive XR presentations and real-time sustainability dashboards are becoming standard expectations. The integration of wellness programming, local cultural immersion and ‘bleisure’ extensions reflects how business and leisure travel have merged. The Middle East’s projected double-digit MICE growth, including strong expansion in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, reflects deliberate positioning as a global convening hub, supported by next-generation venues, aviation connectivity and visa facilitation. TOP TIP: Design events around measurable collaboration and post-event impact, integrating digital tools that extend engagement beyond the physical venue. 9 INCLUSION AND EMPATHY BECOME DIFFERENTIATORS By 2040, more than two billion travellers will be aged 60-plus, fundamentally altering demand patterns. Accessibility, affordability and authenticity are already mainstream expectations, according to McKinsey’s Future of Travel research. Destinations such as Singapore, through its Enabling Masterplan 2030, and Dubai, via system-wide accessibility and Certified Autism initiatives demonstrate how inclusive design can be embedded across transport, hospitality and public space. Emirates, recognised as the world’s first Autism Certified airline, is rolling out services for neurodiverse customers in airports worldwide. At the same time, younger generations are placing greater emphasis on social values, representation and cultural integrity. They expect brands to align with their
Expedition cruising is one of the fastest- growing cruise segments
polar expeditions with scientific access, deep- ocean exploration, remote cultural immersion and early-stage space tourism ventures. Near-space experiences, once experimental, are steadily moving toward commercial viability, signalling how prestige travel continues to expand the boundaries of possibility. Technology will heighten personalisation, from AI concierges anticipating preferences to biometric privacy and hyper-secure booking ecosystems, but human expertise will remain central. Expedition leaders, historians, wellness practitioners and cultural interpreters will define value in a market where storytelling and substance matter more than spectacle. TOP TIP: Anchor premium offerings in authenticity, measurable impact and expert-led storytelling rather than relying solely on design or exclusivity. 8 BUSINESS EVENTS WILL The global MICE sector is projected to grow from $782.8 billion in 2023 to $1.34 trillion by 2033, expanding at around 5-6% annually. But by 2040, success in business events will be measured less by attendance figures and more by tangible outcomes; partnerships formed, BECOME OUTCOME-DRIVEN ECOSYSTEMS
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