25 ways travel has changed this century
The Washington Post • • business
Key Points:
- The travel industry has undergone transformative changes from 2000 to 2025, including the rise of smartphones with GPS, social media's impact on tourism, and the evolution of cruise ships into entertainment hubs.
- Security measures tightened significantly post-9/11, changing the airport experience permanently, while innovations like TSA PreCheck and paid line-skipping services emerged to ease traveler frustrations.
- The proliferation of short-term rentals via platforms like Airbnb reshaped hospitality, contributing to overtourism and housing challenges in popular destinations, especially in Europe.
- The COVID-19 pandemic popularized the "work-cation," allowing people to work remotely from vacation spots, while loyalty programs and points systems became more sophisticated and gamified.
- Climate change is increasingly influencing
