Despite terrorism, elections and Brexit.
PHOTO Wendy Hung2016 was a chaotic year in regards to terrorism, elections and one little thing called: Brexit (remember?) As we’re well aware, ongoing security fears in countries such as: Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia and France, meant that other travel destinations experienced an influx of visitors this year.
Some were old birds in the game of tourism, some countries are considerably newbies. Ex-hidden gems now discovered by the masses. So where did we all go this year?
Spain
Contributor/Amanda RodriguesSpain has always been a popular getaway. This summer, however, home of bull fights and churros witnessed a record breaking number of travelers. By welcoming more than 70 million visitors this year, Spain’s tourism increased for the sixth year in a row. According to Spain-Holiday.com, the most popular cities with the most international visitors are: Catalonia (5,871,536 visitors,) Canary Islands (5,430,923 visitors,) and Andalusia (3,743,392 visitors.)
Thailand
Southeast Asia has long been a favorite of worldwide jetsetters due to rich culture and its forever summer weather. With gorgeous islands including Krabi and Koh Samui playing a peaceful contrast to other party central islands, Thailand is infinitely welcoming tourists with open arms and limitless good times. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand will exceed this year’s target for visitor numbers and will generate over 2.58 trillion Baht (USD $73.7 billion) from the tourism sector, up 14% over 2015.
United Kingdom
At the start of this year, VisitBritain.org projected that UK would expect 36.7 million visitors in 2016, a 3.8% increase from 2015. Normally, a global metropolis like London is high on every traveler’s radar. Moreover, with Brexit this year, the devaluation of the British Pound encouraged even more travelers to stop by the UK for major shopping trips. Taking “shop ’til you drop” very seriously.
Japan
PHOTO Wendy HungA long-time fan favorite in Asia is definitely Japan, with vibrant cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and the up-and-coming Osaka. In recent years, “the size of Japan’s inbound tourism industry now equals that of its auto parts exports,” according to Japan Times. One contributing factor is the rise of Chinese middle class, who tops the pyramid of international travelers spending in Japan.
Iceland
PHOTO David KurlandWhat’s the secret behind Iceland’s recent success in tourism? According to official data, tourists are expected to outnumber the local population of 330,000 by seven to one in 2017. Travelers from all over the world come to Iceland to chase the Northern Lights, the disappearing glaciers and follow helicopter rides with horseback rides. Since tourism is the most booming industry in Iceland, deals like Wow Air make traveling to Iceland ridiculously affordable. Who would say no?
Croatia
Croatia has been Europe’s hidden gem for a long time, except it’s no longer hidden. Long gone are the summers in Prague. In recent years, jetsetters have been flocking to Croatia when the weather heats up. Boat parties and historical towns make places like Zagreb and Hvar beautifully irresistible. Earlier this year, industry experts already saw the rise of tourists flooding to Croatia. According to The Dubrovnik Times, “the start to 2016, the off-season, has begun very well and according to statistics from the Croatian Statistics Bureau there was almost a twenty percent increase in the number of tourists arriving in Croatia in February.”
Cuba
Instagram/Khloe KardashianWith the improved diplomatic relationship between the US and Cuba, tourism in the Caribbean Island has been booming. So much to the point that it can’t handle all the travelers rushing in. According to Business Insider, “the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba has nearly doubled this year … as the island races to build hotels and expand Havana airport to keep up with booming demand.” Last year, 3.5 million visitors went to Cuba. Clearly, Cuba remains high on most travelers’ bucket lists. And rightfully so.
Singapore
In Singapore, travel trends don’t rely on the number of people but how much they’re spending. According to Straits Times, Singapore continues to captivate high-spending jetsetters who contribute to the success of tourism during the first half of 2016. Singapore Tourism Board analyzed that visitors spent $11.6 billion, a 12% increase from the previous year. Instead of the landmarks and sights, most travelers head to Singapore for food and shopping which ultimately define a luxurious getaway.
