Tourist Destinations That are on the Rise

Every year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) releases its annual report on global travel and tourism. This analyses the latest tourism trends from across the globe, whilst also appraising the health of the market and its underlying growth rate.

In total, international tourism arrivals grew to just over 1.3 billion in 2017, with this representing a 6.8% increase from 2016. This was the largest single-year percentage since 2009, prior to the global financial crash.

This report also highlights which countries and regions are enjoying the fastest rates of growth, in terms of demand and the overall number of visitors. So, here are three of the fastest rising tourist destinations:

Egypt

Egypt has always been a strategically important country politically, both in terms of its political influence and its location between northeast Africa and the Middle East.

Not only is Egypt an important conduit for trade between these two regions, but it also dates back to the time of the pharaohs and is home to a number of fascinating landmarks.

These include the iconic and still-fertile Nile River Valley, along with Giza’s colossal Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. The Valley of the Kings tomb is also a popular attraction and one that draws visitors from across the globe.

Egypt also saw a whopping 55.1% year-on-year increase in the number of visitors during 2017, making it the fastest-growing country for travel and tourism in the world.

Togo

The West African nation of Togo has seen its popularity rise steadily over the course of the last few years, whilst 2017 saw a 46.7% hike in the number of annual visitors.

There’s no doubt that Togo provides an affordable and exotic holiday destination for explorers, whilst its fusion of traditional African culture and contemporary amenities makes for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.

Perhaps the most fascinating attraction here is the labyrinthine Grand Marche, which is a huge and colourful entity that includes everything from a local market to winding hike trails.

You can even enjoy a five-day Guided Cultural and Voodoo Tour of the area, and this is great for anyone with a genuine sense of adventure.

Vietnam

We close with Vietnam, which saw a 29.1% uptick in the number of visitors who flocked there during 2017.

This may come as a surprise to some, but Vietnam is actually a bustling tourist destination and one that offers access to different types of holiday.

This Southeast Asian country boasts everything from golden beaches and sun-kissed rivers to Buddhist pagodas and busy cities, whilst resources such as City Base Apartments enable you to locate flexible and serviced accommodation for both short and long stays.

Ultimately, Vietnam is likely to see its popularity grow at an even faster rate over the next few years, as it continues to challenge the misconceptions that surround it and shrug off its unfortunate history.

Northern Ireland

With the popular TV series Game of Thrones filming locations in the area, it’s no wonder Northern Ireland is reporting a tourism boom and predicted to top £1 Billion by 2020 with upward trends reported since 2013. The Giants Causeway remains the most visited spot, home of the legend of Irish Mythology Finn McCool. With the weak sterling since Brexit, the most common visitors are from the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.