Cultural drivers are no longer just inspiring travel—it is directly driving booking behavior | News
Cultural drivers are no longer just inspiring travel—it is directly driving booking behavior, with measurable spikes linked to films, series and concerts, according to Civitatis booking trends and recent industry data.
A recent surge in global interest in South Korea following the cultural impact of KPop Demon Hunters reflects a broader structural shift: travelers are increasingly choosing destinations based on what they watch, listen to and engage with digitally.
“We are seeing a clear evolution from inspiration to conversion,” said Andrés Spitzer, CEO of Civitatis. “Cultural trends have become one of the most powerful drivers of travel demand. Content is no longer just influencing where people want to go—it is actively shaping real travel decisions and travel flows.”
He added: “For destinations and travel brands, understanding this relationship between culture and tourism is no longer optional—it is strategic.”
Set-jetting moves from niche to mainstream
The phenomenon of “set-jetting”—travelling to destinations featured in films and TV series—is not new, but it is becoming increasingly mainstream and commercially relevant.
Long-running cultural franchises continue to generate sustained tourism demand:
Gladiator continues to drive visits to Rome’s Colosseum more than two decades after its release.
Outlander has driven a +43% increase in activity bookings in Scotland in 2025, with dedicated tours growing nearly +35% year-on-year.
Game of Thrones continues to support destination demand in Dubrovnik and Belfast, with additional interest expected ahead of new franchise releases such as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Long-standing franchises also play a crucial role in stabilizing tourism interest over time:
Harry Potter continues to be a major demand driver in London, with bookings for the studio tour increasing nearly +15% in 2025 versus the previous year.
Interest is expected to grow further with the 25th anniversary of the first book in 2026 and the launch of the new series this year.
Music tourism becomes a real-time demand accelerator
Among all categories, music is emerging as one of the most immediate and measurable drivers of travel demand, with booking spikes closely aligned to tour announcements and concert dates.
Today, travelers are increasingly designing entire trips around live music experiences, combining concerts with city breaks, cultural activities and extended stays.
Recent examples include:
Coldplay (Europe tour): Concert dates in Budapest generated a +65% increase in activity bookings during the event window. Other cities also saw strong impacts, including Munich (+119% YoY) and Athens (+106% YoY).
Ed Sheeran (Madrid, 2025): Concert dates drove a +23% increase in bookings compared to the same period in 2024.
Bad Bunny (Puerto Rico): The impact of global tours in long-haul destinations is even more pronounced, with bookings increasing +234% in 2025 versus 2024, and a fivefold year-on-year increase in early 2026.
These patterns highlight how quickly destinations can become globally relevant when linked to cultural moments—and how demand often extends beyond the event itself.
From viral moments to structural tourism shifts
According to Civitatis, the growing influence of cultural drivers on travel is no longer limited to iconic filming locations or landmark events. Instead, it is evolving into a broader structural shift in how people discover and experience destinations.
The impact of content-driven travel is also becoming more distributed across destinations and experiences—from gastronomy and wellness to cultural immersion—supporting a more diversified and, potentially, more sustainable tourism model.
“Culture is no longer a peripheral influence,” said Spitzer. “It is becoming a central driver of how and why people travel, reshaping demand patterns across the global tourism ecosystem.”
