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2023 was the first full year of unrestricted travel since the health crisis ended.
Suddenly, border restrictions were lifted, discriminatory measures abolished and normality restored – across much of the world – leading to an unsurprising rise in holiday bookings.
As the year draws to a close, we’ve seen demand for cultural activities, ‘do nothing’ beach holidays, ‘workcations’ and wellness retreats increase across the board, and all of these sub-categories focused on continuing to gain momentum next year.
It is therefore not surprising that this series three iconic sunny countries is about to become an even trendier place to travel in 2024:
Greece
According to the latest report issued by Testing forwardAccording to the travel trends for ’24, Greece is one of the three countries travelers are likely to visit in the coming year.
This year, Greece exploded in popularity as Europe eased travel restrictions and a surge of interest in cultural expeditions brought its ancient heritage back to the fore.
The birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization, Greece has an abundance of man-made wonders:
When visiting the Hellenic Republic, tourists will definitely visit the Athenian Acropolis Hill as it concentrates a number of structures that contributed to the formation of the Greek nation, such as the Parthenon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Temple of Athena. .
Outside Athens, still on the Greek mainland, their eyes are on world-famous sites such as Delphi, a ruined city on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, home to the Oracle of Ancient Greece, the hanging Meteora Monasteries, the medieval White Tower of Thessaloniki, among others.
Those island hopping in the Aegean Sea, which is largely made up of Greek islands, are expected to make landfall in Santorini, drawn by the whitewashed houses and rugged nature, Mykonos, the party island of Europe, or even lesser known places like Milos and Paros, where crystal clear waters await them.
The Dominican Republic
The second most visited country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic (DR), continues to perform top in 2024, with warm temperatures all year round. ultra-modern resortsand an inestimable cultural wealth.
It is home to Punta Cana, a major resort destination on the Caribbean coastline, and a seasonal favorite for Americans who want to relax, enjoy as many hours of winter sun as they can get, and enjoy award-winning service.
Other popular destinations in the DR, which cover the eastern part of the historic island of Hispaniola, include La Romana, an up-and-coming beach resort where soft, golden sand is fringed by tall palm trees, and Puerto Plata, a relaxed port city with a picturesque colonial core.
Although historically overlooked by visitors, who flock to the DR mainly for beaches and relaxation, the national capital of Santo Domingo has recently experienced a rise in visitor numbers, due to the popularization of ‘colonial tourism’.
This category of travel usually involves visiting cities founded or re-inhabited by Europeans, either for history or merely for sightseeing. Santo Domigno is not only filled with Spanish-era sights, but it is also a… the eldest European built settlement in America.
Santo Domingo’s Old Town is characterized by its 16th-century walls and castle, colonial mansions and charming streets lined with colorful city buildings.
Soon, tourists will be able to travel by train from Punta Cana to the historic capital of the DR.
Mexico
Number one on the list is Mexico right now the world’s trendiest tourist destinationwith as many as 66 million passengers landing or transferring through Mexican airports in 2022 only.
Further growth is expected in 2023, already a record year for Mexican tourism, and next year will be no different.
Mexico’s greatest strength is its unequivocally varied offering.
From resort-filled coastal areas like the Riviera Maya, which lays claim to Cancun, Tulum, Playa Del Carmen and many more trendy Caribbean towns, to the breathtaking nature of the Pacific states and every stunning colonial state capital in between, Mexico is making a appeal to everyone.
Cancun’s hotel zone is easy the country’s main attractionwith its mega-resorts along the Caribbean Sea, great infrastructure and world-renowned hospitality, although lesser-known spots such as Merida on the wider Yucatan Peninsula and Lake Bacalar have also risen to prominence in recent times.
This winter, Mexico will launch its first-ever long-distance tourist train in the Yucatan, connecting as many as five states located wholly or partly on the peninsula, including Quintana Roo.
This will make it much easier for visitors in Cancun to explore the region and its Mayan heritage.
In addition to the airport, Mexico has opened a brand new airport serving Tulum, the second busiest destination on the Mayan coast, and this will further increase demand for travel, and therefore air traffic.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
