Seven Places You Should Go in 2020
“Everybody wants to be a diamond, but very few are willing to get cut.”
The year 2020 is upon us….and with only a few months left to go in 2019, it is time to start looking into some must-see destinations for next year. Where to go, what to do, why you should go and beyond. These destinations are hitting our list, but they should be on yours, too. Regardless of what’s next on your bucket list, these destinations are TRENDING upwards in terms of tourism and it’s best to get to these places before they get jam-packed, expensive, and all booked up.
Anyways, let’s get to some of the top seven! FYI, these are in no particular order but do have some relation to some various travel trends we as a team at VoyEdge RX have been seeing on the interwebs, through social and more.
Let’s get to it!
7) Egypt
Egypt has been our list for a while, and ever since I’ve been looking into it, it appears as though tourism is on the upswing. With many Europeans heading there than ever before, Egypt is once again proving itself to be a premier destination for those seeking to see some of the seven wonders of the world. And after a rough two decades of turmoil, Egypt seems to have things under control - knowing that a strong Egyptian economy is going to be tied directly to tourism as one of its main pillars.
There is also really no bad time to visit Turkey other than the June, July, and August where it is hottest. Egypt, after all, is in the desert but proves to be a pretty mild place for the other nine months out of the year. Egypt also has several booming cities, and although every city has its problems, Egypt has found several ways to start building a 21st-century infrastructure that is going to support global tourism to a much larger scale than we’ve ever seen before. It is following in the footsteps of areas like Dubai, Qatar and more and as long as they can stay away from their tumultuous political past, Egypt is primed to be an up and coming place over the next few years.
Either way, the time to go is NOW. Better start looking into flights, tours, and more.
6) Turkey
Turkey has also been on our list of places to go over the past few years, but its turbulent times over the past decade have made this Eastern European bridge to Asia a tough place to pick over other international gems. That all seems to be changing though, and despite the recent almost coup of the country, Turkey has settled down quite a bit. Knowing that Turkey could be a key tourist destination for Europeans and a cultural mecca of east and west visitors, the country has really found an even keel for who they want to be and seems to be heading in the right direction.
While Istanbul remains a top spot to check out, the country itself is massive and is home to some areas like Cappadoccia and Izmir, as well as a number of incredible islands to go and see. While Ankara is also a hot spot, Turkey shares a lot of its cultural identity with both European nations and parts of the Middle East, making it a perfect welcoming blend of tourism in the big cities. It should be a prime spot for you to check out, as long as you are up to date on some of the cultural differences of the country.
I wouldn’t make Turkey your first place to go if you are traveling outside the country for the first time, but for seasoned travelers who can deal with a bit of culture shock, rising infrastructure, and a few bumps along the way, Turkey should be on your list for 2020. If the country can hold itself together over the next few years, I have no doubt that tourism will continue to be the main staple of this amazing country that connects the East and West.
5) Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been on the rise for the better half of the last decade and continues to be the #1 trending country in Latin America to visit. The white-sand beaches, perfect waves, luscious jungles, eco-friendly tourism, and big emphasis on protecting its nature, Costa Rica is definitely a place to be envious of.
With amazing access to both the Caribbean and the Pacific, Costa Rica has a lot of different types of places to visit as well. You’ve got mountains, beaches, jungles, volcanoes and a decadent variety of wildlife (like Sloths, jaguars, a bazillion butterflies, monkeys, snakes, lizards and more) that are simply calling your name. Not to mention the country has just figured out how to be completely self-sustainable with its energy. The rise of solar, wind and water generated power has brought on the ability to be completely self-sufficient on renewable energy. And that is a worlds first….
As it is, a lot of foreign investment has also been flowing into Costa Rica from countries like China, Japan, and Korea. Many of the roads, bridges and more are currently being rebuilt, which means an influx of tourism, money and 21st-century infrastructure are coming.
All in all, those white sand beaches, luscious jungles, and incredible eco-lodges may just be getting a little more packed over the next few years. Meaning, the time to go to Costa Rica (and invest) are now. Maybe you’ve been before, too, but one side of the country is completely different than the other, which should give you more than a few reasons to go back time and time again.
4) Seychelles
The Seychelles are an archipelago of 115 separate islands off of the Eastern Coast of Africa and is its own country. It’s a quite elusive place that I keep hearing more and more about. Apparently, it has some of the most secluded (and best) beaches in the world and a naturally protected wildlife refuge on all of the islands. Obviously, being an island country with 115 different islands, the natural diversity of the wildlife appears to be quite expansive, meaning there is a lot to see. You could literally spend a lifetime here and still not be able to see it all.
Anyway, it is one of the countries where the elite have been traveling to for decades, but really, only as of late, has the images of some of the Seychelles been coming out. And it looks incredible. Also, all 115 of the islands only have a total population of about 95,000 people, most of whom live in the capital city of, Victoria. The Seychelles also has one of the longest, most intact coral reeds in the world, as well as giant Aldabra tortoises, among some other rare animals.
Along with the nature preserves of the Seychelles, some five-star resorts like the Four Seasons have been popping up here, along with an increase in tourism. Since the founding of the country by the French East India Company, the islands have been known to many as being a ‘Paradise on Earth,’ and has mostly been an elite safe haven, or honeymoon destination for those traveling from Europe and the South Pacific. Turns out the best months to visit are April, May, October, and November, as it is mostly a transition time between the hotter months and cooler ones, as well.
The Seychelles are compared to the Maldives but has an average poverty rate of around 39%, and per capita rate of about $28,000 per household. All in all, the Seychelles are on the rise for tourism and should be on your list of places to go in 2020 for sure.
3) The Azores
The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal in the mid-Atlantic and are often referred to as, ‘The Hawaii of Europe.’ The islands have a dramatic landscape full of various fishing villages, green pastures, and hedgerows of blue and yellow hydrangeas. São Miguel, the largest of the islands has lake-filled calderas and the Gorreana Tea Plantation. Some of the other islands are full of 8,000-foot mountains (such as Mt. Pico) and vineyards protected by boulders, making the Azores one of the most dramatic places in all of Europe.
The Azores gained political autonomy from Portugal in 1976, despite still being owned by them, and is a part of Europe and runs on the Euro currency. That being said, the island is beginning to undergo a transition of which a lot of foreign money is taking hold here. From development projects to road projects, buildings and more, the country is beginning to see a lot of attention from both the US and from Europe, meaning that this place is set to grow quite a bit over the next few years.
Right now, between the lush landscapes, amazing lakes, epic beaches, waterfalls, canyons, and dramatic coastline, there has never been a better time to see the unspoken beauty of the Azores. A lot of cheap flight from Azores Airlines are also taking hold over the eastern U.S. seaboard from places like Boston, New York, and Miami.
Made up of 9 different islands, The Azores can be seen over a lifetime, but with booming industries in fishing and tourism, the government is currently looking to market the islands on a more massive scale. Some of the best times to visit the Azores are from April through October, as the location of the islands bring in the Gulf Stream and typically calm, cooler temperatures throughout the summer, spring, and fall. Either way, with a population of only about 240,000 people, you can really get off the beaten path in the Azores and find yourself amid some pretty epic adventures throughout the islands.
2) Alaska
Alaska has been long time admired as being the ‘Last Frontier’ of the American wilderness, and that seems to be more true with every passing month. 2017 saw the highest number of visitors to Alaska (1.93 million) and compared to its population numbers of 740,000 people in 2018 - that is quite a few people flocking to see Alaska. 2018 projections were even higher and 2019 is expected to surpass that number as well.
All in all, there is a lot to see in the state of Alaska. However, with development of the state increasing (as well as logging) the state seems to be in flux or not being able to figure out how to keep a sustainable environment looking to avoid the effects of climate change, but also being able to keep up with increasing tourism numbers. The effect has been higher and higher prices for premium excursions to Alaska. Wildlife migration patterns have also somewhat been afflicted, causing a myriad of problems through the primary months of tourism season (being May through mid-August).
Either way, the two major cities in Alaska, Juneau, (home to 33,000 residents) and Anchorage (home to 300,000), are obviously growing by the day when cruise ships come into port with thousands of visitors at a time. Because of Anchorage’s ability to absorb more of the effects of tourism, more development projects are being focused in Anchorage, but obviously, with the state being the biggest out of all 50 in the U.S. the number of places to visit are innumerable.
Lastly, if you are planning to visit Alaska, fly into Anchorage, see Denali National Park, and tour the Fjord-riddled coastline. Just be sure to plan at least a week in Alaska, ask the locals for advice, and definitely visit June through August, where the temperatures can be around 65 F during the day. Read this for some ideas on what to see in Alaska.
Visit the Alaska tourism website here for more information, too.
1) Japan
Number one on our list here for 2020, but Japan is the place to visit in 2020 for more than a few reasons. Why you might ask? Well, for starters, Japan is the perfect blend of old and new. Combining the 21st-century world with a classic focus on history, art, and culture, Japan has elegantly blended its island nation into the perfect place of old and new.
Not to mention, some of the sheer sights and places to visit are beyond colorful and could envelop you into spending a lifetime simply touring everything from Japan’s mega-cities to it’s rich and colorful countryside. Full of all the adventure and tech-minded madness you could ask for, the countries economy is in full swing, and its outdoors are inviting as hell. Meaning, there is simply something here for everyone to see and do. So far in 2017, Japan’s tourism stats were at 28.7 million annual visitors to the island country, which is an uptick of 3.0% from the previous year, and although the country is not cheap to visit, or to stay, those numbers are only forecasted to rise sharply in the coming years.
Read more for why tourism is booming in Japan.
Overall, Japan is actually the #1 country in the world for tourism from 2012 to 2017, having the country see a sharp rise of 250% in tourism numbers throughout the half-decade there. Meaning, the time is NOW if you are looking to visit Japan. It certainly doesn’t look like those numbers are going to be diminishing anytime soon.
However, cities like Kyoto and Osaka are seeing what is being called, ‘Tourism Pollution’ and the Japanese Government is trying to figure out ways to dimish the increased expectancy of tourism for the 2020 Olympics, to which the country expects more than 40-million visitors in 2020 alone.
Either way, the country of 126 million people is going to have its hands full for the 2020 Olympics, but with some of the world’s most affluent blends of old and new, Japan is still primed to be the premier destination in the world to visit in 2020.
Read here for the 10 unmissable places to visit in Japan.
All in all, these are just a handful of places we are seeing that are on the rise for 2020. We hope you feel inspired to get out there and travel the world, but feel free to tell us what is on your list for 2020!
We are always on the lookout for cool new places and want to hear what you’re seeing, where you’re looking to go and WHY! If you are looking to travel to one of these places on a group trip, visit our Trip Calendar here!
We’d love to hear from you in a comment down below, or via email to: staff@voyedgerx.com.
See you out there. Thanks for reading! Follow us down below for more awesome stuff on social media and beyond. #WhereToNext?
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