A few years ago, it felt like everyone I knew was going to Iceland. I mean everyone – like that random girl from high school who you weren’t really friends with but for some reason still facebook friends type of everyone.
Iceland’s influx of U.S. tourists inspired me to start predicting the next big destinations. These predictions are based on where I’ve seen people travel lately and other trends in the industry. I did research some statistics to back up my assumptions, but this is really just for fun. And in case Slovenia does become the next hit destination I can say I told you so because I’m very humble.
Slovenia
Yes, I did just visit Slovenia, but hear me out. Slovenia borders Croatia to the north. United States tourists have been flocking to Croatia recently. due to the popularity of a show called Game of Thrones. You may have heard of it. From January 2019 to August 2019, the number of overnight stays by U.S. tourists increased by 11.4% to 1.3 million in Croatia. I couldn’t figure out how to read this Slovenian excel spreadsheet, but it looks like the U.S. tourist overnight stays slightly increased in 2019.
Slovenia is an outdoors people’s dream. The country is full of campsites for tents and vans. Triglav National Park is breathtaking. I can’t stop raving about Slovenia. Go see it for yourself!
Jordan
Jordan makes the list because influencers have been taking pictures in Petra like crazy. And life intimates art or more recently social media. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. While definitely the most popular destination in Jordan, the tourism board encourages visitors to seek out other experiences and places that Jordan has to offer. Their website also gives tips on local customs. You will need a visa to visit Jordan.
Georgia
I admittedly don’t know much about the country of Georgia, but its been popping up on my social media feeds for the past year or so. While in Croatia, I learned they started a special technique for fermenting wine in clay pots. More than 500 varieties of grapes grow in Georgia and they claim it as the birthplace of wine. I’m excited to add Georgia to my bucket list.
U.S. Travel
Ok, this one may be more of a personal reflection. Flights to Europe have been cheap and are looking to stay that way. But Americans have limited vacation days and its quite a long haul. I believe we’ll see an increase in domestic travel. A few U.S. cities having a moment in 2020 including:
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Temecula, California
- Asheville, North Carolina
Estonia
Estonia is branding itself as the place for digital innovation. According to Estonia’s website, Estonian programmers have been behind the creation of digital brands such as Skype, Hotmail, and Transferwise. Barack Obama even gave them props in 2014. “You’ve become a model for how citizens can interact with their government in the 21st century.”
They’ve also launched an e-residency program enabling digital entrepreneurs to start and manage an EU-based company online. It gives entrepreneurs access to the Estonian government’s digital e-services. For the techies and remote workers, Estonia is a must visit.