1. Sri Lanka
Cut-price paradise back on the map
Best for: Culture, off the beaten track, value for money
Battered tragically by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and wracked by
civil war from 1983 to 2009, many areas of the country have remained off
limits to even the most intrepid traveller. Now the bitter conflict is
over, investment is fuelling the tourism industry, and visitor numbers
are steadily increasing. Prices are affordable, and with low-cost
flights from the convenient travel hub of Bangkok, Sri Lanka is emerging as one of the planet’s best-value destinations.
2. Montenegro
Emerging superstar with wild beauty
Best for: Activities, adventure, off the beaten track
Nature has been prolific and creative in Montenegro,
producing such iconic draws as the bewitching Bay of Kotor and the
buzzy beaches along its Riviera. But be sure to pack a pair of hiking
boots along with your swimsuit, for Montenegro’s beauty is no less
intense in the wild and rugged interior. A new – and steadily growing –
network of hiking and biking trails and improved infrastructure is
making this glorious quilt of nature ever more accessible, while
creating new employment for locals.
3. South Korea
Geared up for the Great Outdoors
Best for: Activities, events, off the beaten track
Without fanfare, South Korea
has quietly developed into an outdoor recreation destination with
untapped potential in golfing, hiking and fishing. Though not quite
undiscovered, few people outside the country know about it. That
anonymity will likely fade away in 2013 as it bursts onto the world
stage hosting a series of major sporting events.
4. Ecuador
Reborn railways open up rainforest
Best for: Food, off the beaten track, activities
Ecuador's railway
network is scheduled to radically revamp in 2013 with new lines linking
increasingly cosmopolitan Quito and the coastal port of Guayaquil.
Tracks will also connect Ecuador’s famed 5900m-high volcano Cotopaxi and
the Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose), claiming the steepest (and most
hair-raising) stretch of railway in the western world. Developers
believe the gamble will pay off and pull in unprecedented tourist
numbers.
5. Slovakia
Makeover for cultured corner of Europe
Best for: Culture, adventure, off the beaten track
Two decades on from the Velvet Revolution, Slovakia
has galvanised to form one of the continent’s fastest-growing
economies, joined the EU and ranks right up there in Google searches for
bargain ski packages and stag weekends. Now the tourism industry is
keen to distance the nation from being all cheap pistes and piss-ups.
The image overhaul has been overdue but it’s here, and in time for the
inevitable party in 2013.
6. Solomon Islands
South Pacific as it used to be
Best for: Adventure, off the beaten track, activities
Forget what travelling the Pacific used to be like – around the Solomon Islands
it’s still that way. Forget mass-market or luxury retreats; think
engaging eco-resorts, village homestays and some of the best scuba
diving anywhere. In the past limited flights, difficult internal
transport, a lack of infrastructure, a civil war and some particularly
exotic strains of malaria all put travellers off. Today travel is much
easier, the civil strife is off the radar and lately even the mosquitoes
aren’t so threatening.
7. Iceland
Strange land inspires devotion
Best for: Activities, off the beaten track, value for money
Ask any tourist during your trip to Iceland
and you’ll quickly see that everyone develops an unconditional love for
the little island nation, whether it’s for the mind-bending scenery,
the platefuls of delicious lamb and fish dishes, or the sincere local
hospitality. The currency crash – which effectively devalued the króna
by 75% – also helped make a trip much more favourable to the wallet. As
the global economy starts to heal, prices are climbing once more. The
spoils of Iceland are no longer a secret, but they’re still yours for
the taking – and in 2013 you’ll still be well ahead of the curve.
8. Turkey
Step off the beaten path
Best for: Off the beaten path, culture, food
New low-cost airlines are opening up the southeast of Turkey,
and excellent bus services make getting around easy. Explore the
historic old towns of Mardin and Midyat, feast on fantastic food in
Gaziantep and see the recently uncovered ruins of Göbekli Tepe near
Sanliurfa. Experience the Turkish section of the recently inaugurated
Abraham’s Path walking trail, where accommodation is in simple Kurdish
homestays, a long way from the tourist buzz of the coast or Istanbul’s
Old Town.
9. Dominican Republic
The Caribbean's 'Next Big Thing'
Best for: Activities, value for money, events
In the first quarter of 2012 the Dominican Republic
saw an 8.4% increase in tourism. With more airlines offering stops to
the country’s eight international airports, as well as cruise ships
adding the DR as a major port of call, more people are escaping to the
land of sun, sand, and surf comparable to anywhere else in the
Caribbean.
10. Madagascar
Noah's Ark rides out the storm
Best for: Activities, adventure, off the beaten track
After years of political instability and uncertainty, which has hampered tourism development, Madagascar
might finally be the verge of recovery. Presidential elections are
scheduled for 2013, which could herald a move towards greater democracy
(although they have been repeatedly postponed). For visitors, the time
to go is now, before the country reappears in travel agents’ windows. Be
prepared to be overwhelmed: in both fauna and landscapes, the world’s
fourth-biggest island is otherworldly. To those seeking a place out of
the ordinary, Madagascar cannot fail to delight.
