adventure travel company intrepid travel A new ‘Not Hot’ list has been published, shining a spotlight on overlooked travel spots around the world.
The company’s annual list aims to reduce overtourism by helping travelers “beat the crowd and encourage them to seek out diverse and unique experiences around the world in communities that can truly benefit from travellers.” says Matt Barna, Intrepid’s president of the Americas. Travel told CNBC Travel.
The 2024 list highlights two destinations in Asia, two in Europe and one in Central America.
Corsica, a mountainous island in the Mediterranean Sea and a territorial group of France, calls itselfisland of beauty. ”
Corsica, France.
Source: Intrepid Travel
Unlike Italy’s tourist-saturated Positano, travelers visiting Corsica can “avoid overwhelming crowds and enjoy a more authentic, quiet and immersive experience,” according to a press release from Intrepid Travel. ”.
But the island’s charm extends beyond its coastline. Corsica is also known for its 180 kilometers (112 miles) of hiking trails, the GR20, and its numerous historic buildings, which are a tourist attraction in France. Website showed that.I have a home on the island 6 nature reservesand the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its red volcanic rocks.
According to Intrepid, Corsica’s “unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness and historical significance sets it apart from popular destinations like Positano.” .
Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul will be the three most visited Asian cities in 2023, according to market research firm Euromonitor International.
Seoul, South Korea.
Source: Intrepid Travel
Tokyo welcomes 31.8 million According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of foreign tourists in 2019. same year, 17.5 million According to statistics from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign tourists visited Seoul, South Korea.
Nick Lim, Asia CEO of The Travel Corporation, told CNBC: “Tokyo has long been a popular travel destination, so there’s a wide variety of products available and it’s appealing to a wider audience, especially families. “It’s attracting more mature travelers.”
Bookings for Tokyo from January to November 2023 increased by 234%. However, Seoul’s popularity is growing. Bookings for flights to Seoul this year increased by 191%, doubling the number for 2022, a Trip.com representative told CNBC Travel.
“Young travelers may choose Seoul over Tokyo because it is a city that blends traditional and modern culture,” Lim said. The rise of Korean pop music and dramas is also increasing the city’s appeal, he added.
Despite this, Seoul and Tokyo are still very different. Both cities are “culturally rich cities with authentic and unique experiences…the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and interests,” Mr Lim said.
Panama, a Central American country bordering Costa Rica and Colombia, is home to one of the world’s most sophisticated engineering factories. panama canal.
Panama Canal in Panama, Central America.
Gonzalo Azmendi | Stone | Getty Images
The city has 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Two Ruins, Panama Viejo The three national parks are Casco Antiguo, Coiba National Park, Darién National Park, and La Amistad National Park.
Intrepid Travel recommends Panama to those who “want to immerse themselves in local traditions, folklore, and contemporary art that differ from the Eurocentric cultural landscape,” the press release states.
In addition to historic sites, Panama is home to seven indigenous communities. Two of his Guna and Embera — is open to tourists, according to Panama’s official tourism website.
Greece is known for its beaches, coastal caves, and island hopping.
But, according to Intrepid, the islands from Kefalonia to Corfu, away from Santorini and Mykonos, are “a peaceful haven for travelers looking for a quiet escape.”
Corfu Island, Greece.
David C. Tomlinson | Image Bank | Getty Images
Kefalonia and Corfu Two of the islands are the largest in the Ionian Sea, while 12 others are scattered along Greece’s west coast.
Intrepid Travel’s press release states that the Ionian Islands’ “pristine landscapes and pristine beaches… appeal to travelers seeking a quiet escape, unlike crowded destinations like Split or Dubrovnik in Croatia.” It provides a quiet haven.”
Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia, is divided into three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
Kalimantan, an Indonesian territory, occupies two-thirds of the island, and the Islamic nation of Brunei is located between the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah.
Borneo is an island in Southeast Asia that includes the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, the Indonesian states of Kalimantan, and Brunei.
Source: Intrepid Travel
“While Bali is undoubtedly a stunning destination with beautiful beaches and a rich cultural heritage, Borneo offers an unparalleled and completely different experience in its own right,” the press release states. Masu.
The islands may be close to each other, but they are very different.
While Bali is considered to be an established “drop-and-flop” beach destination where tourists often drop their bags and spend the day on the beach, Borneo naturally lends itself to ecotourism. Lim told CNBC Travel.
“Borneo is definitely not a replacement for Bali… [but] It has everything to become a promising hotspot in the future,” he said.
island, Asia’s largestthe website of travel company Borneo Eco Tours states that it is home to the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and Southeast Asia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu.
Indonesia also plans to move its capital, Jakarta, to Nusantara on the island of Borneo by 2045.