Market Trends in Experience-Based Tourism: The Growth of Sharing Economy Accommodation and Niche Tourism in Europe

This study examines key market trends in experience-based tourism in Europe, focusing on the interplay between sharing economy accommodation and niche tourism. Despite extensive research on these areas, existing studies tend to analyze them separately, resulting in a limited understanding of how they jointly shape contemporary tourism development. To address this gap, the study adopts a qualitative research approach based on secondary data, including statistical data from Eurostat and selected industry reports. The analysis combines historical data with forecast-based insights in order to capture both past developments and expected future trends. The findings indicate a strong expansion of sharing economy accommodation, particularly following the post-pandemic recovery, with growth concentrated in major European tourism destinations. At the same time, forecast-based analysis suggests that niche tourism does not follow a uniform development path. Wellness tourism is expected to remain a relatively stable and mature segment, while culinary tourism is projected to experience rapid growth, reflecting increasing demand for authentic and experience-oriented travel. Overall, the results suggest that experience-based tourism in Europe is shaped by the interaction between changing tourist preferences and the growing role of digital platforms. The study contributes to a better understanding of structural transformations in the tourism market and provides insights into the future development of experience-based tourism.