Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to analyze key market trends in experience-based tourism in Europe, with particular emphasis on sharing economy accommodation and niche tourism. The study adopts a qualitative research approach based on secondary data derived from Eurostat and selected industry reports. The analysis combines historical data and forecast-based insights in order to identify both observed developments and future directions in the tourism market. The results indicate a dynamic growth of sharing economy accommodation, characterized by strong post-pandemic recovery and increasing importance in major tourism destinations. At the same time, niche tourism, particularly culinary and wellness tourism, demonstrates significant expansion potential, driven by changing tourist preferences and increasing demand for experience-oriented travel. The findings highlight that experience-based tourism is shaped both by demand-side factors, such as the growing importance of personalized experiences, and supply-side transformations associated with the expansion of platform-based accommodation. The study contributes to a better understanding of structural changes in the tourism market and offers valuable insights into the evolving role of experience-based tourism industry in Europe.