Top Trending Destinations for 2020
Wondering which destinations will be buzzing in 2020? Intrepid Travel has analyzed the latest booking trends, reviewed destinations likely to receive a boost from social and political influences and new tourism developments as well as taken into account the increased interest in undiscovered regions to determine the places that will be on travelers’ radar in the year to come.
Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada
Quadra Island is a 120-square-mile island just off of the more well-known Vancouver Island in British Columbia and boasts stunning scenery in addition to remarkable wildlife. It’s one of North America’s premier spots for whale watching. Intrepid Travel’s new eight-day Discovery Islands & Orca Camp Expedition will depart July 7 and September 8, 2020, and bring guests up close to the majestic mammals.
Montenegro
Often overlooked in favor of its Adriatic neighbor Croatia, Montenegro’s tourism industry is gearing up for what promises to be a big year in 2020. In addition to a bundle of exciting new hotel openings, the highly anticipated 60-acre Portonovi marina and waterfront resort in Boka Bay is all but certain to wow visitors.
Benin, West Africa
This hidden gem nestled between Togo and Nigeria in West Africa is perhaps best known as the birthplace of voodoo but travelers flocking to Benin in 2020 will discover a whole lot more. The local government is prioritizing tourism these days and the World Bank has provided $50 million in funding to jumpstart the industry in the historical city of Ouidah.
Chernobyl, Ukraine
This year’s hit HBO miniseries about Chernobyl led to a dramatic increase in tour bookings to the popular dark tourism site infamous for the April 1986 nuclear disaster near Pripyat, Ukraine. Following the series’ debut this past May, Intrepid Travel reported that sales of its Moldova, Ukraine & Romania Explorer trip visiting Chernobyl increased more than 130 percent in the month.
Russia
Right next door to Ukraine, Russia has been at the center of some high-profile political controversies of late and it’s safe to say American travelers have an interest in the transcontinental country. Intrepid Travel’s premium tour group, Peregrine Adventures noted dramatic growth in its Russia bookings following the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
Sometimes referred to as the Canadian Galapagos or the Queen Charlotte Islands, this archipelago located just off of the west coast of British Columbia marks the ancestral home of Canada’s Haida First Nations people. Travelers can hear their stories on Intrepid Travel’s limited-edition Haida Gwaii Islands Expedition departing June 30, 2020. The eight-day tour is available starting at $2,765.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is bouncing back following this year’s deadly Easter attacks. Not only does it have a ton to offer travelers (Lonely Planet named it the top country to visit this year) but a reduction in airfare costs to help jumpstart flight bookings to the South Asian island country should make it even more accessible in 2020.
Glencoe, Scotland
This village of only a few hundred people in the Scottish Highlands is a hit with Harry Potter fans as it served as the setting for background shots throughout 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Recent data released by the International Passenger Survey found that the number of European visitors to Scotland increased by 19 percent in 2018 while the country saw a 10 percent rise in visits from overseas tourists last year.
Israel
Israel is another destination on the rise as the country experienced a sizable 11.3 percent increase in travelers in May 2019 compared to the same period last year. In addition to a $480-million expansion of the Ben Gurion Airport, Israel has significantly augmented its hotel offerings, adding at least six new properties from Jordache Enterprises Group and 11 from Isrotel.
Japan
Tokyo will become the first Asian city to host the Summer Olympics twice when it welcomes the Games in 2020. While that will mean increased demand for Japan next year and thus increased travel costs, getting there might not be quite as expensive as you think with Japan Airlines set to launch low-cost carrier ZIPAIR Tokyo next summer.
Cuba
New restrictions on American travel to Cuba prompted a spike in interest in the Caribbean island nation, with Intrepid Travel reporting a 19 percent rise in web traffic on its Cuba tour pages from Americans. Travelers can still experience Cuba though and one such way is Intrepid Travel’s nine-day Hola Cuba for U.S. Citizens tour.
Washington, DC
All eyes will be on the nation’s capital ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Intrepid Travel reported a whopping 1,350 percent increase in views on its Washington tour pages following President Donald Trump’s upset victory in November 2016 so you can bet travelers will take notice when the spotlight once again shifts to the White House.
