Travel planning in 2026 looks different from previous years, with reading lists now influencing flight searches and hotel bookings as much as traditional guidebooks. Book clubs have moved beyond living rooms and libraries, finding a new home on social media platforms where readers share recommendations, reactions, and travel inspiration. BookTok, the literary corner of TikTok, has become one of the strongest drivers of this shift, turning novels into cultural events and, increasingly, into travel blueprints.
This growing connection between books and tourism is not just anecdotal. A recent Skyscanner study shows that 55 percent of travelers have already booked or would consider booking a trip inspired by literature. For many readers, stepping into the settings of a beloved story adds a tangible layer to the reading experience. Cities, coastlines, and cafés once imagined on the page are now destinations to explore in person.
As this trend gains momentum, travel companies are responding with structured itineraries that remove the guesswork from planning a book-themed trip. Among the newest offerings is a Croatia tour inspired by the bestselling novel People We Meet on Vacation, a title that has found a dedicated following on BookTok and beyond.
How Social Media Turned Reading Into a Travel Trend
BookTok has reshaped the publishing industry over the past few years, but its influence now stretches well outside bookstores. Short videos highlighting emotional moments, scenic settings, and character-driven journeys often spark curiosity about the real-world places tied to these stories. For readers, travel becomes a way to extend the narrative beyond the final page.
Unlike traditional literary tourism, which often centers on classic authors or historical landmarks, BookTok-driven travel focuses on contemporary fiction and personal connection. Many of these novels are rooted in emotional journeys that unfold alongside physical movement, making travel an essential part of the story. This alignment has made modern romance, fantasy, and coming-of-age novels especially suitable for tourism experiences.
The appeal is broad. Some travelers are long-time fans eager to see a setting they already love, while others are curious newcomers drawn in by the promise of community and shared interests. In both cases, the book acts as a starting point rather than a script, offering a theme rather than a rigid itinerary.
A Croatia Itinerary Inspired by a Modern Bestseller
One of the most talked-about new literary tours is a multi-city journey along the Croatian coast inspired by People We Meet on Vacation. The novel follows two friends whose relationship evolves over years of shared trips, with Croatia playing a pivotal role in their story. The country’s mix of historic cities, island scenery, and relaxed coastal culture made it a natural choice for a travel experience rooted in exploration and connection.
The tour traces a route through seven Croatian destinations, many of them coastal, linked together by time on the water. Travelers move between ports aboard a private boat, creating a rhythm that mirrors the novel’s focus on shared experiences and unplanned moments. Instead of rushing from landmark to landmark, the itinerary allows time for wandering old towns, swimming in clear waters, and experiencing local life at a slower pace.
Dubrovnik features prominently, with its well-preserved old town and winding streets offering a backdrop familiar to readers. Other stops highlight island life, where stone villages, harbors, and beaches provide contrast to the busier mainland. While the novel itself explores complicated emotions tied to travel, the tour is designed to offer a fresh perspective on these locations, emphasizing discovery and enjoyment.
Turning Fictional Journeys Into Real Experiences
Creating a book-inspired tour requires more than matching locations to plot points. Travel companies developing these itineraries start with existing routes and adapt them to reflect the tone and themes of the story. In the case of the Croatia trip, the focus is on movement, friendship, and shared adventure rather than reenacting specific scenes.
Research plays a central role in shaping these experiences. Development teams study author interviews, reader discussions, and fan interpretations to understand which places resonate most strongly with the book’s audience. This approach helps ensure that the tour feels authentic to readers while remaining accessible to travelers who may not know every detail of the story.
The result is an itinerary that works on multiple levels. Fans recognize settings and themes that connect back to the novel, while other travelers can enjoy a well-designed coastal journey through one of Europe’s most popular summer destinations. This balance has proven essential to the success of book-based travel products.
A Broader Collection of BookTok-Inspired Trips
The Croatia tour is part of a wider lineup of BookTok-inspired travel experiences launching in 2026. These trips span different genres and regions, reflecting the diversity of popular titles on the platform. Childhood favorites sit alongside recent fantasy and romance bestsellers, offering something for readers at every stage of life.
Some itineraries are rooted in cities long associated with literary worlds, such as Scotland and England, where streets and landscapes have inspired generations of writers. Others reinterpret existing tours through a new lens, adding themed activities or location-specific experiences tied to a particular book. A standard highlights tour can become something entirely different when filtered through a fantasy series or a contemporary novel.
This approach allows travel companies to build on established logistics while offering something new. It also makes these trips appealing to travelers who want structure without sacrificing creativity. The book theme provides a unifying idea, helping groups bond quickly over shared interests.
Why Demand Is Outpacing Availability
Many of the newly announced book-inspired tours are already seeing strong demand, with several dates selling out well in advance. This rapid uptake reflects both the popularity of the books themselves and the limited number of departures available. Smaller group sizes, private transportation, and curated experiences all contribute to capacity constraints.
Another factor driving demand is the sense of community these trips offer. Traveling with others who share an enthusiasm for the same book creates an instant connection, reducing the social barriers that can sometimes come with group travel. For solo travelers in particular, this shared interest can make the experience more comfortable and engaging.
Timing also plays a role. With 2026 widely described as the year of the book club, many readers are actively seeking ways to deepen their engagement with stories they love. A themed trip offers a clear and memorable way to do so, combining leisure, culture, and conversation.
Literary Tourism Beyond Traditional Tours
Book-inspired travel is not limited to multi-day group itineraries. Across the industry, a range of formats is emerging to meet different traveler preferences. Short walking tours, reading retreats, and themed cruises are all gaining traction, each offering a distinct way to connect literature with place.
Vacation rentals are also adapting to this trend. Properties designed for reading-focused getaways, sometimes called readaways, emphasize quiet settings, comfortable spaces, and proximity to literary landmarks. These stays appeal to travelers who want flexibility and solitude rather than a structured schedule.
Cruise lines have entered the space as well, hosting literary festivals at sea that combine author talks, workshops, and destination visits. These events blend traditional travel with intellectual enrichment, attracting guests who see reading as a central part of their leisure time.
Economic Benefits for Destinations
The rise of literary tourism has tangible effects on local economies. Book-inspired trips often bring visitors to destinations outside peak travel seasons or encourage longer stays, spreading economic benefits more evenly throughout the year. Smaller towns and lesser-known islands can gain visibility through their association with popular stories.
In Croatia, coastal tourism is already well established, but themed travel adds a new dimension. Visitors drawn by a book may engage more deeply with local culture, seeking out independent cafés, bookstores, and guided experiences rather than sticking solely to major attractions. This type of tourism tends to support small businesses and create opportunities for specialized guides and services.
Destinations associated with literature also benefit from long-term recognition. Once a place becomes linked with a beloved story, it often remains part of readers’ imaginations, encouraging repeat visits and word-of-mouth promotion.
The Craft Behind Designing Book-Based Travel
Developing a successful literary tour involves careful coordination between creative and practical considerations. Planners must ensure that the itinerary reflects the spirit of the book while remaining realistic in terms of travel time, accessibility, and cost. This often means making selective choices about which elements to highlight and which to leave to the imagination.
Flexibility is another key factor. Readers bring different interpretations and emotional connections to the same story, so tours are designed to allow personal discovery rather than dictating a single narrative. Free time, optional activities, and open-ended exploration help travelers create their own memories within the framework of the book.
This approach also future-proofs the experience. Even as trends shift and new titles gain popularity, the core itinerary remains appealing as a standalone trip, ensuring longevity beyond the initial surge of interest.
A Growing Intersection of Reading and Travel
The popularity of book-inspired tours reflects a broader cultural shift toward experience-driven travel. Many travelers now prioritize meaning and personal connection over simply checking destinations off a list. Literature offers a ready-made lens through which to view a place, adding emotional depth to the journey.
For publishers and authors, this trend opens new avenues for engagement. A novel that inspires travel extends its life beyond the bookstore, becoming part of readers’ real-world experiences. For the travel industry, books provide a rich source of storytelling that can differentiate offerings in a competitive market.
As more companies experiment with literary themes, the range of options is likely to expand further. From contemporary fiction to memoirs and genre series, almost any story with a strong sense of place has the potential to become a travel experience.
From Screen to Shore in 2026
With People We Meet on Vacation also set to reach new audiences through its upcoming screen adaptation, interest in its settings is expected to grow. For fans eager to move beyond the page or the screen, the Croatia tour offers a way to engage with the story in a physical, social setting.
This type of travel does not require deep knowledge of the book to be enjoyable, but for those familiar with the story, it adds an extra layer of resonance. Walking through historic streets, sailing between islands, and sharing the experience with fellow readers transforms fiction into something lived rather than imagined.
As literary tourism continues to evolve, 2026 stands out as a year when reading and travel are more closely linked than ever. For BookTok fans and curious travelers alike, the path from favorite novel to next destination has never been clearer.
