It seems that 2026 will be a year when travelers look for something deeper than simple sightseeing. Many of them are expected to chase experiences that feel personal and real and it is called an experiential travel. Things like spending time with local communities or exploring places that haven’t yet become household names.
This shift is already visible in the luxury travel space. Angeline Tang, the Account Manager of Member Relations for North and Southeast Asia at Virtuoso, describes experiential travel as an essential part of luxury travel itself. Virtuoso, known as a leading global network specializing in high-end travel and exclusive experiences, has been monitoring this trend closely.
According to Angeline, families in Indonesia form one of the strongest groups driving this type of travel. She sees more and more families choosing trips that celebrate milestones while giving their children the chance to discover new places and learn something along the way. “The family market in my opinion is quite strong in Indonesia. Many families travel for celebrations, such as taking their children to new places and learning new things,” she said during the Smailing Tour X Virtuoso event in Central Jakarta on Monday (8/12/2025).
She also noted that tourists who look for experiential travel tend to value quality more than quantity. They want trips that feel meaningful rather than packed with too many activities.
This preference fits well with Virtuoso’s predictions for 2026. The company believes next year’s travelers will not simply flock to well-known destinations. Instead, they will choose places based on the experiences offered there and what new insights they can gain. Travelers want something fresh, something that connects them with the essence of a place.
“More experiences, where tourists directly interact with local communities. They feel the experience of traveling to places that are not common, and this gives them meaningful experiences.”
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Angeline explained that luxury travel differs from regular holidays in more ways than just where you go. It is also shaped by what you do and what you take away from the journey. Her own experience in Sri Lanka illustrates this point. “For example, when I visited Sri Lanka, we went to different places. We did what travelers usually do, such as climbing cliffs, but what made it different was that we directly interacted with the local community,” she said.
One of the stops on that trip was a traditional pottery-making site. She recalled how visitors could see the craft up close, learn about the process, and connect with the artisans behind it.
For Angeline, visits like these don’t just enrich the traveler. They can also help introduce unique local attractions to international audiences.
