Things change fast in the world of travel, and destinations that were less travelled in 2015 are expected to rank at the top of the ‘must-visit’ charts in 2016. Here’s what Flight Centre predicts.
Flight Centre has pulled out its crystal ball, tuned in, and distilled its visions of the travel future in a top 10 list – with the help of previous years’ booking data, what customers are enquiring about and what the travel industry is set to offer in the new year, of course.
Here’s the list:
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Bali
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Greece
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Tasmania
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Vanuatu
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NT and the Top End
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Brazil
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Portugal
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Hong Kong
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New Caledonia
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New Zealand
Interestingly, a number of the destinations that made the cut were the ones that performed poorly this year (we’re thinking of you, Greece), and it just goes to show you that travel is as unpredictable as ever.
As always, Aussie favourites Bali, Vanuatu and New Zealand made the list. More travel is also expected in our own backyard in 2016, with Tassie and the NT slated to become mighty popular holidaying destinations come next year.
According to Flight Centre, event-based travel is becoming increasingly popular as a trend, with Brazil’s hosting of the Olympic Games next year expected to boost outbound travel to the country.
But it’s the up-and-coming destinations that are particularly exciting for 2016, giving travellers the chance to explore relatively unchartered waters and injecting national economies with much-needed tourist dollar.
Portugal, for example, is the oft-overlooked Iberian nation that’s set to become THE river cruising destination in 2016, according to Flight Centre. Most travellers have already cruised the major rivers of Europe, including the Rhine and Danube, making Portugal’s Douro River a less travelled alternative that is high on the wish list. Scenic, Uniworld and Viking are already muscling in on the action, presenting travellers with a high-standard cruising option.
Another up-and-coming destination is New Caledonia. It’s perched on one of the world’s largest lagoons, surrounded by the clearest and cleanest water you’ve probably ever seen. But act fast, because in 2016, it is set to be one of the hottest travel destinations, period.
This French-speaking Pacific nation is deemed one of the most overlooked beach destinations in the world. (Check out some of these videos that showcase its stunning natural beauty.) And we would know: earlier this year we gave the country a visit on an industry famil, and left smiling, tanned and wanting more!
2015 data shows that bookings have increased 178 per cent this year to New Caledonia, with ever more people saying bonjour to this beautiful part of the world – Aussie travel to the country has increased some 30 per cent. Only a short two-hour flight from Brisbane and less than three hours from Sydney, Flight Centre is predicting that the archipelago will be HOT HOT HOT in 2016. Do you agree?
