From Belize to Tasmania - ABTA launches Destinations to Watch report for 2025
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gwilkinson@abt… Fri, 01/03/2025 - 00:00
Ahead of Sunshine Saturday (4 January 2025), one of the busiest days for travel bookings in the year, ABTA has launched its annual ‘Destinations to Watch’ report.
The report features 10 destinations that ABTA believes will inspire UK travellers looking for their next holiday and aims to offer food for thought as we enter one of the busiest booking periods of the year.
ABTA’s most recent research revealed that 68% of people are planning to go abroad this year and a rising number (45%) are looking to explore a new country for their holiday.
Customers are also increasingly looking for a helping hand when choosing their holidays.
ABTA research has seen a significant year-on-year rise in people – from 34% to 38% - saying they booked with a travel professional in the past year. As such, it’s anticipated that Sunshine Saturday will be very busy for travel agents and tour operators.
ABTA’s Director of Communications, Graeme Buck, said:
“Millions of people are looking to go overseas this year with close to half of them saying that they’re looking to try somewhere new. ‘Destinations to Watch’ gives a flavour of what might await them. Whether short or long haul; city or countryside; adventurous, cultural or simply offering a chance to relax – the report will have something for everyone.
“As ever, we have deliberately not chosen the ‘most popular’ or ‘fastest growing’ destinations, but instead aimed to inspire with some fantastic places, which may not currently be top of mind.”
The 10 Destinations to Watch in alphabetical order are:
Belize
This pocket-sized Central American tropical paradise is a nature lover’s delight with rainforests and idyllic beaches as well as historic Mayan sites.
Denmark
This Scandinavian gem is home to delightful towns, unspoilt countryside, idyllic seascapes and a world class capital city.
Hokkaido
This northern island has some of Japan’s most beautiful countryside and is home to mountains, volcanoes, ancient forests and breathtaking lakes.
Hungary
Beautiful countryside, delicious food and wine, one of the world’s greatest cities, all at prices that won’t break the bank.
The Islands of the Cote d’Azur
The delightful towns, villages, coastline and countryside of the Cote d’Azur in the South of France are world famous, but the lovely unspoilt islands a short ferry ride away are a better kept secret.
Le Marche
Le Marche in central Italy is one of the country’s best kept secrets. Its stunning countryside, dramatic coastline, historic towns and cities are worthy competition for the better-known areas of ‘il bel paese’.
Malawi
This African country packs a great deal into its compact borders. Although landlocked, visitors can still relax on beautiful sandy beaches and idyllic islands on Lake Malawi, bordered by jungle teaming with wildlife.
Oviedo and more
The northern Spanish city of Oviedo is a largely undiscovered gem, a historic city with squares full of bars and restaurants, and capital of the fascinating and alluring province of Asturias.
Quebec
The Canadian province of Quebec offers historic cities, stunning countryside and very much reflects its French heritage, in language, architecture and cuisine.
Tasmania
This Australian island is a spectacularly beautiful island paradise with a vibrant and buzzy capital city, Hobart.
The report can be downloaded at www.abta.com/DestinationsToWatch2025.
-ends-
For further information, contact:
press@abta.co.uk or 0203 117 0596
Out of Hours: contact the duty press officer 020 3693 0183
Web: www.abta.com
X: @ABTAtravel
Notes to editors
About the 10 Destinations to Watch in 2025
The 10 destinations were chosen following input from a range of ABTA travel experts. They are intended to inspire and inform customers’ holiday choices with new and surprising holiday suggestions. The destinations range from Europe to further afield, and offer a range of attractions including spectacular countryside and beaches, impressive towns, cities and historic sites, warm welcoming people, varied cuisines and the opportunity to view wildlife. The report is qualitative and not based on quantitative data such as visitor numbers or bookings.
About ABTA
ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,300 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.
Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.
All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com
Continue reading...
Full Page image
gwilkinson@abt… Fri, 01/03/2025 - 00:00
Ahead of Sunshine Saturday (4 January 2025), one of the busiest days for travel bookings in the year, ABTA has launched its annual ‘Destinations to Watch’ report.
The report features 10 destinations that ABTA believes will inspire UK travellers looking for their next holiday and aims to offer food for thought as we enter one of the busiest booking periods of the year.
ABTA’s most recent research revealed that 68% of people are planning to go abroad this year and a rising number (45%) are looking to explore a new country for their holiday.
Customers are also increasingly looking for a helping hand when choosing their holidays.
ABTA research has seen a significant year-on-year rise in people – from 34% to 38% - saying they booked with a travel professional in the past year. As such, it’s anticipated that Sunshine Saturday will be very busy for travel agents and tour operators.
ABTA’s Director of Communications, Graeme Buck, said:
“Millions of people are looking to go overseas this year with close to half of them saying that they’re looking to try somewhere new. ‘Destinations to Watch’ gives a flavour of what might await them. Whether short or long haul; city or countryside; adventurous, cultural or simply offering a chance to relax – the report will have something for everyone.
“As ever, we have deliberately not chosen the ‘most popular’ or ‘fastest growing’ destinations, but instead aimed to inspire with some fantastic places, which may not currently be top of mind.”
The 10 Destinations to Watch in alphabetical order are:
Belize
This pocket-sized Central American tropical paradise is a nature lover’s delight with rainforests and idyllic beaches as well as historic Mayan sites.
Denmark
This Scandinavian gem is home to delightful towns, unspoilt countryside, idyllic seascapes and a world class capital city.
Hokkaido
This northern island has some of Japan’s most beautiful countryside and is home to mountains, volcanoes, ancient forests and breathtaking lakes.
Hungary
Beautiful countryside, delicious food and wine, one of the world’s greatest cities, all at prices that won’t break the bank.
The Islands of the Cote d’Azur
The delightful towns, villages, coastline and countryside of the Cote d’Azur in the South of France are world famous, but the lovely unspoilt islands a short ferry ride away are a better kept secret.
Le Marche
Le Marche in central Italy is one of the country’s best kept secrets. Its stunning countryside, dramatic coastline, historic towns and cities are worthy competition for the better-known areas of ‘il bel paese’.
Malawi
This African country packs a great deal into its compact borders. Although landlocked, visitors can still relax on beautiful sandy beaches and idyllic islands on Lake Malawi, bordered by jungle teaming with wildlife.
Oviedo and more
The northern Spanish city of Oviedo is a largely undiscovered gem, a historic city with squares full of bars and restaurants, and capital of the fascinating and alluring province of Asturias.
Quebec
The Canadian province of Quebec offers historic cities, stunning countryside and very much reflects its French heritage, in language, architecture and cuisine.
Tasmania
This Australian island is a spectacularly beautiful island paradise with a vibrant and buzzy capital city, Hobart.
The report can be downloaded at www.abta.com/DestinationsToWatch2025.
-ends-
For further information, contact:
press@abta.co.uk or 0203 117 0596
Out of Hours: contact the duty press officer 020 3693 0183
Web: www.abta.com
X: @ABTAtravel
Notes to editors
About the 10 Destinations to Watch in 2025
The 10 destinations were chosen following input from a range of ABTA travel experts. They are intended to inspire and inform customers’ holiday choices with new and surprising holiday suggestions. The destinations range from Europe to further afield, and offer a range of attractions including spectacular countryside and beaches, impressive towns, cities and historic sites, warm welcoming people, varied cuisines and the opportunity to view wildlife. The report is qualitative and not based on quantitative data such as visitor numbers or bookings.
About ABTA
ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,300 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.
Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.
All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com
Continue reading...
