Every year brings new trends and new opportunities for global hoteliers, often changing their fortunes very quickly. Just like clothes, music, and art, certain destinations can go in and out of style – and in again – over time. Travellers discover a new ‘it’ destination or follow gradual societal shifts and all of a sudden some places are more popular than ever while others are wondering why results have dipped.
TripAdvisor always has its finger on the pulse when it comes to traveller behaviour and has identified what the preferences for travellers to Asia will be in 2019. While the following destinations may not receive the highest volume of travellers, they’re the locations TripAdvisor expects will be heavily on the rise next year.
Here’s the top five.
1. Ishigaki, Japan
Ishigaki is the second largest island of the Yaeyama Island group, surrounded by bright blue water and pure white sandy beaches. With an abundance of coral reefs and tropical fish, there’s everything a traveller needs to soothe the soul.
TripAdvisor recommends:
- Tamatorizaki Observatory
- Yonehara Beach
- Kabira Park
2. Takayama, Japan
The high altitude and separation from other areas of Japan has kept the city of Takayama quite isolated, allowing Takayama to develop its own culture over about a 300-year period, being situated in the heart of the Japan Alps. Four distinct seasons result in a wide range of temperatures between them, offering all travellers a chance to enjoy the city.
TripAdvisor recommends:
- Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato)
- Higashiyama Walking Course
- Shinhotaka Ropeway
3. Busan, South Korea
Busan is South Korea’s second largest city and is a port city, making it a thriving hub. Tourists mostly come to the region to hike and to visit the Buddhist Temples located within the region’s mountains. There’s also several amazing museums and historical buildings.
TripAdvisor recommends:
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- Gwangandaegyo Bridge
- Beomeosa Temple
4. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh is the busy capital of Cambodia, sitting at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. Visitors will enjoy the walkable riverfront, parks, restaurants, and bars.
The most attractive thing for travellers is that hotel rooms are often very reasonably priced.
TripAdvisor recommends:
- Choeung Ek Genocidal Center
- Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre
- Royal Palace
5. Nantou, Taiwan
Nantou is a county rather than a city and is the only landlocked county in Taiwan. It’s a picturesque mountainous location that is proving popular with tourists, who also go to see Sun Moon Lake.
Travellers can hike, hop a cable car and whiz through the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, or take a soothing dip in one of the area’s many hot springs.
TripAdvisor recommends:
- Hehuan Mountain (Hehuanshan)
- Wen Wu Temple
- Sakura Festival
For the full list of Asian destinations on the rise, visit TripAdvisor’s 2019 guide here.
If you’re a hotelier in these regions, now is the time to ensure your distribution strategy is optimised to capitalise on the increased traffic from interstate and international travellers. Market on as many online travel agents as you can and run promotions and packages on your website around the most popular attractions and sights.
