Could Neurodivergent Travellers Be Accidentally Predicting Tourism Trends?

Solo travel up 36%. Silent retreats doubled. Sleep tourism booming. These trends all appeared in neurodivergent communities years before going mainstream. Coincidence, or something more interesting?

The recognition revolution

Neurodivergent recognition is soaring. NHS England reports autism assessment referrals increased 195% (2019-2023). The ADHD Foundation notes 400% more UK adults seeking assessment (2020-2023). In the US, autism prevalence rose from 1 in 150 children (2000) to 1 in 36 (2023).

We’re not seeing more neurodivergent people; we’re recognising those always there. This reveals something intriguing: could travel solutions developed by neurodivergent individuals predict what everyone eventually needs?

The hypothesis

Neurodivergent travellers face intensely what eventually affects everyone: sensory overload, social exhaustion, decision fatigue. Their coping strategies might become mainstream solutions when broader populations experience similar stress.

The evidence is suggestive:

Solo travel (36% increase, Booking.com 2022-2023) eliminates coordination challenges that 70% of autistic adults report as travel anxiety triggers. When pandemic stress hit everyone, solo bookings soared.

Wellness tourism ($639 billion, growing 6.5% annually) mirrors sensory regulation needs. Up to 95% of autistic individuals experience sensory processing differences. Now everyone wants “sensory rooms” and “silent spaces.”

Quiet travel (searches doubled 2020-2024) reflects what neurodivergent travellers always sought. Eurostar’s accessibility quiet coaches now command premium prices. What started as accommodation became aspiration.

Modern life creates unprecedented stress: thousands of daily marketing messages, 20% increase in noise complaints (WHO), 7+ hours screen time. Research shows chronic stress causes increased sensory sensitivity, reduced executive function, and decreased social capacity—mirroring daily neurodivergent experiences.

Could rising stress make neurotypical travellers temporarily need what neurodivergent travellers always required? Rather like everyone suddenly discovering they need glasses after years of squinting.

• Observable patterns
• Several trends support investigation:
• Sensory goes premium: Hotels market “sensory rooms” as luxury. Airlines charge extra for quiet zones. Silence became posh.
• Predictability as luxury: All-inclusive resorts thrive. “Surprise travel” companies now offer “controlled surprises.” We want adventure, just not too much.
• Micro over mega: 57% of Gen Z/Millennials prefer multiple short trips (Expedia)—a strategy ADHD communities have long used for managing stimulation.

What this could mean

If confirmed, this hypothesis suggests:

• Early trend indicators exist in overlooked communities
• Accessibility features become tomorrow’s premium offerings
• Cognitive diversity provides competitive intelligence
• Different perspectives offer universal insights

The speculation needs testing through longitudinal studies, geographic analysis, and qualitative research. But the parallels are striking enough to warrant investigation.

The strategic question

The tourism industry spends millions on trend forecasting whilst potentially missing patterns hiding in plain sight. Those navigating intensity daily might be unconsciously designing solutions for everyone’s increasingly intense world.

This isn’t about whether neurodivergent travellers deserve better service (they do). It’s about whether their lived experience reveals where travel is heading for everyone.

That’s worth testing, preferably before your competitor does.

Speculation based on observable patterns, not established fact. But if true, cognitive diversity isn’t just ethical; it’s strategic. What patterns might we be missing whilst studying the same focus groups?