Travel changes things, whether the traveler’s understanding of the places visited, or the impact that travel has on emerging destinations and countries on the rebound, or where global events are making excitement. G Adventures, a major adventure travel supplier, has visited its data and come up with a prediction for top 2020 destinations.
Not surprisingly, the company has also made plans to get travelers there with accommodations, education and experiences on hand. Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, says that “In a world that’s becoming increasingly divided, travel can be a vehicle and force for good to unite us as a global community… our mission is to change people’s lives through travel, going beyond the lives of our travelers to the locals we visit, particularly people who are marginalized. When we return from a transformative travel experience, we can then bring back what we learnt to make a difference in our own communities.”
The company’s list of 12 top destinations for 2020:
- Nepal 2020 marks five years since the April 2015 earthquake; the country has been busy rebuilding and has pushing its ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign, which aims to attract two million visitors.
- Georgia has had a 44% increase in tourism in the past three years and will host this year’s UN World Tourism Organization board meeting.
- Madagascar, off the coast of southern Africa, has a new Planeterra community tourism project aiding reforestation of the habitat around Ranohira for native species, such as the endangered lemurs. G Adventures is a partner of Planeterra
- Sri Lanka After a meteoric rise to become 2019’s hottest travel destination, the country saw a 71% dropoff after the Easter terror attacks; it’s looking for a comeback.
- Ireland Always a popular choice, with a plus: Galway has been named as a European Capital of Culture for 2020.
- Nicaragua had a period of unrest that left itsbeaches, world-class surf and stunning classic colonial architecture with far fewer visitors; the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism reports hopes for a big comeback.
- Brazil With political unrest and major issues in the Amazon, Brazil may be a tough choice for some, but Rio de Janeiro has been named UNESCO’s 2020 Capital of Architecture.
- St Vincent and the Grenadines The ultimate instagrammable Caribbean vacation, with few tourists to photobomb pictures.
- Laos Often overlooked, but for many travelers a good choice. Many arrive not by air, but by boat, sailing down the Mekong River.
- Japan For those who are ready to put up with the rush, excitement and much more, this is the year Japan hosts the Summer Olympics.
- South Africa It’ll be 30 years next year since Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and majority rule came to South Africa.
- Greenland Denmark isn’t selling it to Donald Trump, but this country at the forefront of climate change is selling itself to increasing numbers of visitors.
