Announcement posted by Polkadot Communications 18 Nov 2019
- Bookings by Australians to the tear-drop island of the Philippines has increased by 109% in the last 12 months
- Cultural hubs and picturesque islands dominate the list of destinations
- Aussies say European cities are still popular but it’s off the beaten track destinations that are on the rise
Hostelworld, the global hostel-focused online booking platform has unveiled its Top 20 destinations for 2020 for Australians, based on 2019 booking data. Leading the charge is the Philippines’ home of surfing, Siargao Island, with a significant Year on Year (YoY) growth of 109%. Coron, another Philippine island, is listed at number five, with neighbouring South East Asian destinations Phong Nha and Ninh Binh, in Vietnam, and Canggu and Gili Trawangan, in Indonesia also featuring on the list.
Hostelworld’s Top 20 Destinations for 2020 based on analysis of Hostelworld’s Australian customer booking data between 2018 and 2019 are:
- Siargao Island, Philippines
- La Spezia, Italy
- Phong Nha, Vietnam
- Shkoder, Albania
- Coron, Philippines
- Catania, Italy
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Tirana, Albania
- Ericeira, Portugal
- Palmero, Italy
- Ninh Binh, Vietnam
- Canggu, Indonesia
- Jasper, Canada
- Taromina, Italy
- Ibiza, Spain
- Corfu, Greece
- Verona, Italy
- Turin, Italy
- Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
- Broome, Australia
Unique experiences and destinations are paramount
33% of future travellers are expecting once in a lifetime experiences through travel, as revealed in Hostelworld’s recent Evolution of the Hostel Traveller report. Destinations like Shkoder, the most historic town in Albania (+47%), offer unique experiences such as; exploring Skadar Lake, the largest lake in the Balkans that forms a natural boundary between Albania and Montenegro, or visiting the infamous fortress of Grmozur – Montenegro’s own Alcatraz. Cities such as La Spezia, Italy (57%+) that offer traditional cultural and food experiences are also seeing a significant increase in bookings. With wine and olive oil making up the foundation of the local cuisine in La Spezia, it’s hardly difficult to understand why!
Culture and off the beaten track travel are on the rise
It is widely recognised that there has been a significant increase in off the beaten track travel across the board in recent years, and hostel travellers are no different. In 2018, Sydney was featured in the top 19 destinations for 2019, however, this year Broome has knocked Sydney off the list with a 4% increase in bookings which is predicted to continue well into 2020. The Evolution of the Hostel Traveller report also revealed that Gen Z’s are looking to explore beyond the tradition routes with a 33% decline globally in tried and tested routes.
Established travel destinations are still pushing the boundaries
Whilst a substantial number of the 2020 destinations are unique, off the beaten track and full of culture, there are still Aussies who are looking to stick to what they know. Cities including Canggu, and Gili Trawangan, in Indonesia, and Ibiza in Spain continue to grow in popularity and have seen 10%, 4% and 8% YoY growth respectively.
Hostels available to book via Hostelworld in top five destinations are listed below:
- Hiraya Surf Hostel, Siargao Island, Philippines
- 5 Terre Backpackers City, La Spezia, Italy
- Central Backpackers Hostel, Phong Nha, Vietnam
- The North Hub, Shkoder, Albania
- Dayon Hostel, Coron, Philippines
People looking to travel to any places outlined in this content should check the government website for alerts before travelling: https://smartraveller.gov.au/