Cross-Generational Travel Has Become the New Trend for Modern Family Vacations

Family Holidays are no longer just ordinary trips. Instead, they have become a space to rebuild quality shared time across generations. Pauline Suharno, Chairperson of the Indonesian Travel Agents Association, stated that the current Travel Trends among Indonesian people are increasingly shifting towards smaller, more personal group travel. 

The old pattern of large group trips using charter buses is slowly being abandoned, replaced by the multi-generation trip concept that offers more intimate and flexible experiences.

"People now prefer travelling in small groups, not the large busloads that were common in the past. There are also huge numbers of multi-generation travellers: parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren all travelling together, as people have come to value shared time far more," Pauline stated in Jakarta on Monday.

This phenomenon is not unique to Indonesia. Over recent years, cross-generational travel has grown into a global trend.

Many families now treat travel as a form of emotional investment, not just another Travel Itinerary to check off.

Pauline explained that this trend began to strengthen during the pandemic period, when families felt a strong need to rebuild closeness after long periods of separation due to social restrictions.

In most cases, these family trips are also financially supported by more established members of the family, usually parents or grandparents.

This shift in travel patterns has also changed holiday styles. Where travel used to be synonymous with packed schedules and Marathon visits hopping from one attraction to another, travellers now seek a slower, more comfortable pace that works for all age groups.

"Older people cannot stay out walking late at night, while children might prefer to wake up later and take things slow. For these families, holidays are no longer the old routine: wake up at 6, breakfast at 7, check out of the hotel by 8, then rush back after dinner. That model is gone. Now, it is all about the personal experience itself," she said.

In the digital age, family travel has been made much easier by technology. Travellers are far more independent thanks to ride-hailing apps, digital navigation, and electronic payment systems, making trips feel seamless.

Destinations such as Singapore and Malaysia are perfect examples of how Indonesian Travellers now feel confident travelling without full assistance from travel agents.

Efficient Public Transport, easily accessible digital information, and language accessibility make travel very practical even for large cross-age family groups.

That said, Pauline notes that travel agents still fill a critical role, especially for destinations with language barriers and different local payment systems.

Countries such as China remain a high-potential market for Indonesian travel agents, as travellers require assistance with local navigation and transactions.

"This is where we offer travel packages: for destinations with language barriers, travel agent services are still required to arrange smooth holiday trips. Take China for example, travellers face language difficulties and often do not understand how local payments work. This is a huge market for Indonesian travel agents," she explained.

Beneath all these shifting trends, one core thing remains unchanged about travel: the fundamental human need to share experiences with the people closest to them.

Whether it is a relaxed city break in a modern metropolis or a family holiday at a cultural destination, cross-generational travel has become a new way to slow down time in an ever-accelerating world.