“The luxury side of the travel industry is still alive and well,” said Daniel Finch, chief executive officer of Expedia Group, at the launch of Expedia’s 2024 Travel Trends report.
“This year it felt like every Australian who could had gone to Europe. Next year, we expect a slowdown on long-haul; I have the impression that people will make shorter trips, closer to home.
Taipei’s famous Sakura Garden. Getty
Mr Finch said “destination duping” – the practice of swapping crowded, overly popular and expensive cities and regions for slightly lesser known and often cheaper places with similar landscapes or experiences – would then continue. that people were looking to spend more on their vacations.
Another strong trend is set jetting, where popular location-based shows like Emilie in Paris, Stranger And White Lotus drive consumer behavior. Expedia found that more than 40 percent of travelers surveyed said they researched or booked travel to a destination after seeing it on a TV show or movie.
National Geographic Traveler has just named the Albanian Alps as its world pick for the next 12 months. The small Balkan nation of 2.83 million people is revered for its wild landscapes, proud cultural heritage and adrenaline-pumping activities – from hiking to white-water rafting and skiing.
Theth Church, nestled in the Albanian Alps. Getty
From wild adventure to urban trails: the global publishing giant based in London Timeout took a different approach by looking at the “coolest neighborhoods in the world,” which Laureles of Medellín, Colombia, dominated.
“Laureles took first place this year for its authentic balance of laid-back vibe and some of the best nightlife in the city, while still maintaining a traditional Colombian atmosphere,” says Timeoutadding that travelers should head to “the famous nightlife area of La 70 and Estadio Atanasio Girardot,” as well as enjoy the many parks and cafes.
The Smithfield area of Dublin comes second, followed by Carabanchel in Madrid.
La Pelosa beach in northern Sardinia. Getty
American Forbes the magazine has secured a place forever in the hearts of the Sardinians after naming the island as the first of 24 global destinations – due to the beauty of its beaches, its gastronomy, its archeology, as well as other tourist activities on offer.
As one local luxury hotel site noted online: Forbes placed Sardinia “above esteemed destinations in Japan, Mexico, Greece and French Polynesia”. But in reality, we could say that Forbes was playing catch-up with Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, which named Sardinia the number one island in Europe, ahead of Mykonos and Ibiza.
CN TravelerThe list of “24 Best Places to Go in 2024” – one of countless lists that CN will publish on the subject in the coming months – is led by Budapest in Hungary, the Cyclades in Greece, then Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. United.
So many lists, so little time. Forget the trip itself. Just stay home and try to figure out where the hell you should go.
For The Australian Financial Reviewconsidering travel in 2024, check out our Top 50 Hot List of new things in life & Leisure supplement.