TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Townsizing is an increasingly popular trend among young tourists. This travel trend involves people choosing to visit small towns. Compared to visiting popular places, townsizing allows travelers to enjoy simple yet enjoyable activities.
The term townsizing originates from the travel trend report "Where To Next?" 2025, released in October 2024. The results showed that 67 percent of young tourists view vacations as an opportunity to fulfill their dreams in small towns.
"It offers a unique opportunity to still explore, while also unplugging and soaking in a cozy, authentic vibe that only a townsizing destination can offer," said Christina Bennett, a consumer travel trend expert at Priceline, to HuffPost.
The core concept of this type of travel is to leisurely walk and enjoy simple pleasures such as strolling in beautiful places or having dinner. Travel blogger Isabel Leong mentioned that, as daily activities become busier and demands increase, many people opt for vacations as a way to relax.
One of these ways is through townsizing, visiting small towns that are rarely known by tourists, and enjoying their everyday life moments. Isabel mentioned a few small towns that have been visited before, including Bansko, Bulgaria, and Fox Glacier, New Zealand.
Purposes of Townsizing
Stephen Lee, a specialist in European travel at Unforgettable Travel Company, stated that the benefit of townsizing is to escape crowded places, especially in locations currently experiencing excessive tourism, such as Barcelona. "By planning trips to smaller, perhaps lesser-known destinations, travelers are also able to discover more of a taste of everyday life, rather than following a popular or heavily recommended itinerary," he said.
Townsizing enables tourists to forge deeper connections with destinations and locals. Additionally, it offers truly authentic experiences and the opportunity to have relaxed conversations with locals, as well as being more affordable and less crowded.
Shortcomings of Townsizing
However, according to Laura Lindsay, a global travel trend expert at Skyscanner, the drawback of townsizing is accessibility. "Bigger cities are often more popular because they have major airports or multiple airport options, making it easier for travelers to visit. For many small towns, there are limited flights, or the flight option may require multiple transfers," she stated.
Additionally, small towns may have limited accommodations. Some services may only be available seasonally. Katlyn Svendsen, Travel South Dakota's senior director of global public relations, said proper planning can make townsizing trips easier. "Small towns may have fewer accommodations, or perhaps some services only available seasonally, so planning ahead is key," she said.
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