Generation Z crave adventure travel experiences

According to the research from IcelandAir, 59 per cent of the generation – those born between 1997 and 2012 – report that they favour active adventure holidays. Breaking down the data, the research shows that 34 per cent of Gen Zers prefer holidays that balance relaxation with moderate to extreme activities, 15 per cent opt for more high-octane getaways that centre around extreme outdoor activities like scuba diving, and 10 per cent favour trips that involve more moderate activities like wild swimming. Interestingly, only nine per cent of Gen Zers said they favour vacations solely for relaxing.

A habit of trying new activities

Gen Z is always looking for new adventures, it seems, with the research showing that 32 per cent of Gen Z try something new or adventurous at least once a week, eight percentage points more than any other age group, including Millennials, and 63 per cent feel more adventurous when they are on vacation.

An analysis of Gen Z’s favourite holiday activities shows just how strong their taste for adventure is. One in three (34 per cent) like to embrace the outdoors and go hiking; 30 per cent want to try scuba diving; 29 per cent have said they’d like to go skydiving; and 18 per cent showed a keen interest in white-water rafting.

While Gen Z is the most adventurous generation, the research shows that they are also the most safety-conscious. Sixty-nine per cent of the younger generation report that they would like to try more adventurous outdoor activities but are conscious of safety.

This generation of travellers being mindful of safety has good implications from a travel insurance perspective – hopefully, if they are concerned about the potential danger of an activity, they might want to be insured for it!

The survey also found that over a quarter of Gen Zers (26 per cent) said that engaging in adventurous activities abroad allowed them to challenge how they see themselves, and 32 per cent disclosed that it helps them feel less stressed. This is true until they have an accident while white-water rafting! And it’s not just the more ‘mainstream’ types of adventure travel that are becoming more popular – extreme versions of adventure travel are also higher on the agenda, particularly for high-net-worth individuals, as we reported earlier this year.