We might be getting more adventurous with out holiday choices, but beach paradise the Maldives still tops the Top 10 Kuoni holiday hotspots.
The Indian Ocean islands with white sugar sands and crystal clear waters remains a favourite, especially with honeymoon couples.
But destinations which don’t make the Top 10, such as Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Kenya and Namibia, are selling well as holidaymakers look for more adventure and cultural experiences.
Vietnam is also rising high and comes in at 12th in the Top 20 best-selling list – it didn’t even make it five years ago. South Africa is on the up too with Dubai and Abu Dhabi down. Cuba has slipped too but that’s mainly because more Americans are visiting and there just aren’t enough hotel rooms etc. The message here is: If you want to see Cuba “before it changes”, book early.
Kuoni MD Derek Jones says: “People want to see and experience the world like never before. They have a wish list and are prepared to invest in making it a reality.
“New direct flights from the UK to places such as Vietnam, Peru and Costa Rica this year means parts of the world are opening up for mainstream tourism, which is changing the landscape of travel.”
The Top 10 Kuoni holiday hotspots are:
- Maldives
- Thailand
- Sri Lanka
- Mauritius
- USA
- Italy
- Antigua
- Cuba
- Indonesia
- Barbados
Top 10 wish list experiences:
- Travel on the Venice-Simpion Orient Express
- Diving in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
- Helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon
- See Great Pyramids of Egypt
- Walk Great Wall of China
- Go whale watching
- Dive with turtles in the Maldives
- See Orangutans in Borneo
- Trek the Inca Trail in Peru
- See gorillas in Rwanda
The Kuoni Worldwide Trends report 2016 says honeymooners are spending an average of £5,902 on their trip, up from £5,743 last year, and there’s a rise in same-sex honeymooners since gay marriage was introduced in 2014.
The Eurozone is doing well thanks to the strong pound against the euro – especially Spain, Greece and Portugal – with bookings up 30 per cent.
But, with the threat of terrorism and now the Zika virus hitting the Caribbean and Americas, could tourism be hit in 2016?
MD Derek Jones says: “No, I don’t think so. Kuoni is equipped for any threat anywhere in the world. If it happens, we deal with it and ensure that our customers are well advised and looked after.”
