Remember when planning a vacation meant juggling dozens of browser tabs, comparing flight prices across multiple websites, reading endless hotel reviews and trying to piece together the perfect itinerary? That era is rapidly fading. With artificial intelligence revolutionizing trip planning and remote work enabling people to live anywhere, the entire travel landscape is transforming in ways that once seemed like science fiction.
The AI Planning Revolution
The numbers tell the story. Accenture?s 2025 survey of 18,000 consumers across 14 countries found that roughly 80% of travelers now use AI tools for their journeys and nearly 60% of U.S. travelers are comfortable allowing AI to mostly or fully automate their planning and purchasing. From October 2024 to July 2025, AI usage doubled?from 11% to 24%?in less than a year.
About 40% of travelers globally already utilize AI for itinerary optimization and this adoption rate is expected to exceed 60% soon. Millennials and Gen Z are driving this shift: 62% have used AI for planning, compared to 35% of older generations. In the U.S., 48% of millennials and 42% of Gen Z report feeling more comfortable using AI than they did a year ago.
How People Are Actually Using AI
Travelers are turning to general chatbots (such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Copilot) for brainstorming, with 24% relying on them. Additionally, 36% use airline-specific tools and 22% utilize AI from hotels or OTAs. Beyond inspiration, AI now performs real-time flight and hotel searches, price comparisons, personalized recommendations, destination Q&A, restaurant suggestions and end-to-end booking.
Women are using AI for a broader range of activities than men?74% create detailed itineraries, 68% research general information and 36% select restaurants with AI assistance. Satisfaction remains high across the board, with about 88% of users finding AI useful. International travelers are leading the charge: nearly 30% use AI compared to 20% of U.S. travelers, leveraging technology for visas, language assistance and navigating unfamiliar destinations.
The Trust Factor
Once travelers try AI, they tend to stick with it. Eighty-nine percent of users express a likelihood to use AI again and over 90% plan to incorporate it into their next trip. However, half of respondents prefer a hybrid approach that combines AI with human recommendations, while only 4% desire AI alone?indicating that people seek automation for tedious tasks, not a complete replacement of human judgment.
The Remote Work Revolution
While AI is changing how people plan, remote work is altering where they go. By 2025, 36.2 million Americans?22% of the workforce?will be working remotely, an increase of 87% from pre-COVID levels. Globally, 40 to 80 million people identify as digital nomads, with Americans comprising 18.1 million (44% of the total), marking a 147% increase since 2019. Millennials dominate this demographic at 38%, with the community skewing male at 78% and 79% earning over $50K annually, making them appealing to host nations.
Where Remote Workers Are Going
The 2025 Global Digital Nomad Report ranks 64 jurisdictions, with Europe capturing about 70% of the top destinations?Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Portugal, France, Germany and Malta. The Americas contribute Canada and Uruguay (20%), while the UAE anchors the Middle East and Asia (10%). In Asia, Chiang Mai, Bali and Bangkok remain popular hubs due to their affordability and strong expat networks. Europe?s Lisbon, Barcelona, Porto and Tallinn combine historic charm with modern coworking spaces and flexible visa policies.
Within the U.S., remote workers initially relocate domestically; those venturing abroad often target Japan, Italy and Canada. Gen Z is 77% more likely than older generations to choose Japan as a new home base.
The Infrastructure Behind It
Countries are competing for remote workers by offering digital nomad visas. Taiwan provides a three-year extendable permit, while Colombia, Ecuador, Norway and Montenegro offer two-year options. Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta and others provide renewable one-year visas. These policies view nomads as high-spending, low-dependency residents.
The coworking sector was valued at nearly $15 billion in 2024 and could reach $40 to $46 billion by 2030. By 2024, there were almost 42,000 coworking spaces worldwide and flexible offices could expand from $45 billion in 2025 to $136 billion by 2032.
The ?Slomad? Trend
Travelers are transitioning from ?fast nomadism? (moving between cities weekly) to ?slomadism??staying in one location for months. This approach to slow travel allows for deeper cultural immersion, the establishment of local routines, reduced costs and decreased burnout.
How These Trends Intersect
Remote workers are using AI to research long-term bases, considering factors such as cost of living, internet speeds, visa regulations, healthcare, community and even coworking environments. ?Agentic interfaces? autonomously handle tasks?planning trips, making bookings, managing itineraries and supporting travelers after their arrival.
Major brands are responding to these trends. Expedia?s AI Trip Matching and Booking.com?s intent recognition provide personalized recommendations. Turkish Airlines and others have exposed Modern Context Protocol servers, allowing AI agents to access live airline data.
What This Means for Destinations
Cities are tailoring their offerings to remote workers by bundling long-term lodging with coworking memberships, wellness access, language classes and community events. Infrastructure priorities include reliable internet, private healthcare options, reasonable living costs and social networks. Nomads, aware of their economic impact, are increasingly seeking ways to give back to host communities to alleviate housing and cost-of-living pressures.
Looking Ahead
The AI-in-tourism market, valued at $3.37 billion in 2024, could reach $14 billion by 2030. Expectations for remote work remain high: 92% of employees desire at least one work-from-home day each week. Travel is becoming more personalized (through AI) and more flexible (through remote work). People are not just vacationing?they are temporarily living elsewhere, with AI optimizing neighborhoods, uncovering hidden gems and managing cross-time-zone logistics.
Ultimately, the rigid model of living in one place, working in an office and taking occasional vacations is giving way to fluid lifestyles where AI manages complexity, work can occur anywhere and ?home? is wherever the Wi-Fi is fast enough.
