Turns out that Aussie boomers’ travel trends in 2025 are changing.
The stats are in and according to a new report, popular international destinations like the Cook Islands, USA, Switzerland, and Hong Kong are no longer trending and lesser-known regions are taking their place.
The number one trending location is the Maldives with a staggering 257 per cent rise in popularity. Maldives is the smallest nation in Asia. It’s made up of islands in the Indian Ocean, that span across the equator. It’s home to turquoise-blue waters and luxury resorts. It seems to be taking the place of locations like the Cook Islands (which has declined 97 per cent in popularity), Nauru (down 75 per cent), and Tongo (down 84 per cent) in travellers’ minds.
The other destinations rising in popularity include Bangladesh (up 165 per cent), Congo (up 145 per cent), Colombia (up 145 per cent), Scotland (65 per cent), and even North Korea made the list (up 11 per cent).
So, what makes places like the Congo and Colombia, where typical luxury resorts and large tourist populations are in short supply, so appealing to Australians over 55? According to Forward Travel, it’s the opportunity to have unique experiences unlike any other.
“Travellers are drawn to the Congo for its raw wilderness, untouched rainforests and the opportunity to have experiences like trekking with gorillas. Australians in this age group value authentic, immersive encounters, and Congo offers the chance to reconnect with nature, far from the well-trodden tourist paths,” says David Smyth, founder and director of Forward Travel.
“Meanwhile Colombia has escaped its turbulent past and emerged as a rising star for adventurous travellers. It has a certain mystique, along with colonial charm, breathtaking natural beauty [sic] and a thriving cultural scene.”
So, are you going to flex your well-heeled travelling expertise and venture to places unknown in 2025? You can find the full list below.
15 destinations rising in popularity among Australians over 55
| Destination | Rise in popularity (%) |
| 1. Maldives | 257% |
| 2. Bangladesh | 165% |
| 3. Colombia | 145% |
| 4. Congo | 145% |
| 5. Scotland | 65% |
| 6. Saudi Arabia | 65% |
| 7. Kuwait | 58% |
| 8. Kosovo | 58% |
| 9. Grenada | 47% |
| 10. Ethiopia | 46% |
| 11. Turkey | 39% |
| 12. India | 37% |
| 13. Iran | 30% |
| 14. Fiji | 22% |
| 15. North Korea | 11% |
15 destinations losing popularity among Australians over 55
| Destination | Decline in popularity (%) |
| 1. Cook Islands | 97% |
| 2. China | 95% |
| 3. Switzerland | 91% |
| 4. Czechia | 86% |
| 5. Hong Kong | 85% |
| 6. Finland | 85% |
| 7. Tonga | 84% |
| 8. Myanmar | 76% |
| 9. Nauru | 75% |
| 10. Kenya | 74% |
| 11. Sudan | 74% |
| 12. Brunei | 72% |
| 13. USA | 65% |
| 14. Peru | 63% |
| 15. Ireland | 61% |
