Intrepid says off-the-beaten destinations will be tops, while Nat Geo suggests it’s the more cultural & foodie-focused spots and Lonely Planet thinks Canberra is the place to be ???? in 2018.
Tour operators and travel publications have an idea of what’s trending for travel in 2018, but what do agency groups think?
Well, the guys over at Flight Centre reviewed their early bookings and found a few patterns that suggest 2018 hot spots are based on airline capacity, direct routes, unique offerings and their positive impact.
These are the destination Flight Centre is seeing a trend for in the coming 12 months.
Japan
Flight Centre says Japan will be a hit amoung Aussies thanks to more direct services between the two countries than ever before, along with several major sporting events being held in the country throughout the rest of the decade.
“Adventure, culture, food, fashion and a bit of Zen on the side, what’s not to love?”
Mongolia
Perhaps Shark Tank’s Naomi Simson & Crooked Compass’ Lisa Pagotto have something to do with the rising interest in Mongolia, but Flight Centre says travellers will receive a truly one-of-a-kind experience in the destination where locals still live in traditional Ger Camp-style.
Iceland
According to the agency group, bookings for Iceland have skyrocketed by 300 percent over the last three years (thank you Game of Thrones) and is expected to continue climbing in the coming year.
Cuba
Flight Centre says that when the US lifted travel restrictions to Cuba in 2016, it “really opened up the region to a burgeoning tourism market”. Let’s see if the spike continues now that Trump has reversed those travel restrictions.
Sri Lanka
Image: Asantha Abeysooriya/Unsplash
New direct services from Melbourne plus a fascinating tourism industry, it’s no wonder there’s been a 19 percent increase in bookings to Sri Lanka over the last year. Flight Centre believes interest in the untouched destination will continue to grow and anticipates it’ll be popular among those who have already seen Bali and Thailand.
Samoa
It was that cute model on the tourism bureau’s Instagram ad, wasn’t it?! It could be him or it could be those new air services, either way Aussies are looking to get their South Pacific fill in Samoa next year.
According to Flight Centre, “the ‘untouched’ atmosphere of Samoa really resonates with travellers who are more and more inclined to seek out authentic experiences in a land that is yet to really undergo the commercialisation of popular tourist hotspots”.
Hamilton Island
They’ve ticked off Brisbane and the Gold Coast, now Aussies want are looking at experiencing Queensland’s Hamilton Island.
Interest in the family-friendly destination has emerged from the recent refurbishment of Qualia, along with Tourism and Events Queensland’s three-month marketing push over winter, Flight Centre says.
Canada
Image: WikiMedia Commons
With Air Canada’s first year-round service out of Melbourne taking off mid-year and Justin Trudeau (that doesn’t really need more explanation does it?), it’s really no surprise to hear Canada will welcome more Aussies in the coming year.
Austria
And here’s one we haven’t seen in a 2018 list yet (oh sorry, except in Nat Geo’s), but according to Flight Centre, Austria will be hot in 2018 because it marks 100 years since Vienna’s most important protagonists died: Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Otto Wagner and Koloman Moser.
“There will be countless events and tours exploring the music, literature, philosophy and imperial furniture of the Viennese Modernism and Art Nouveau period also, offering wider context.”
READ: 10 places to visit in 2018, as selected by Nat Geo
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