09
Sri Lanka
A series of new hiking trails
Sri Lanka has announced it will offer free visas for Chinese passports.
The country is set for a tourism boom in 2024 with a series of new hiking trails and new homegrown boutique hotels opening. Among them are the Kayaam House and Ahu Bay hotels managed by homegrown luxury travel specialist Resplendent Ceylon; The Hilton Resort in Yala National Park; The Charleston, an Art Deco-inspired hotel, opened in Galle Fort in December.
Inland, development continues on the nearly 200-mile hiking network Pekoe Trail, which winds through Sri Lanka’s highlands and is a novel way to experience Sri Lanka’s mountains.
10
South Island, New Zealand
The new trail will open soon
In October 2024, The 38-mile Tuatapere Hump Ridge Trail will become New Zealand’s 11th Great Trail, offering panoramic views of the fjords.
In Queenstown, a nine-mile Wharehuanui walkway is set to open in late 2024, linking the 19th century gold mining town of Arrowtown with the suburb of Arthur Point.
On the west coast, the multi-million dollar Pounamu Trail brings Maori history to life.
11
Aalborg, Denmark
Minority, with a World Heritage site
It’s the fourth largest city in Denmark, with around 120,000 inhabitants, and the out-of-the-way city of Alborg might seem an unlikely international tourist hub. But in 2024, thanks to the opening of some international air routes and the Viking Ring Fortress, which was named a World Heritage site by the United Nations, this niche city has received attention.
Aalborg is the gateway to the wider region of North Jutland, with its charming coastline around the town of Skarn, which has long attracted Danish artists, while the Viking Ring Fortress is 2,000 years old.
12
Tallinn, Estonia
2024 European Capital of Culture
As European Capital of Culture 2024, it is fitting to visit Tallinn in 2024.
Tallinn’s walled Old Town is listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations and is one of the best preserved medieval buildings in the world. The Poco Art Museum opened in May and features pop art works by Andy Warhol, Banksy, David Hockney and Jeff Koons. In the Noblessner district, an industrial shipbuilding complex has been turned into a seaside hotspot with cafes, shops, and Estonia’s first two-Michelin star restaurant, Matthias Diethe’s 180°.
13
Türkiye
The recovering shores of the Bosphorus
Fashionable life along the Bosphorus in Turkey is enjoying a resurgence, thanks in part to Galataport, the world’s first underground cruise ship terminal, with a pedestrian street and the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art above it.
Another neighborhood highlight is the newly opened Peninsula Hotel, which boasts a glittering swimming pool facing Hagia Sophia; Then there’s the rooftop Gallada by prodigy chef Fatih Tutak, whose eponymous restaurant was the first in Turkey to earn two Michelin stars.
14
Norse
Big architecture is worth savoring
Long known for its cutting-edge design, Norway has recently doubled down on building large buildings.
On Oslo’s waterfront, the new hotel Sommero is a study in adaptive reuse, housed in a landmark building built in 1930.
In Kristiansand, Kunstsilo is another marvel of repurposing – this former industrial complex will reappear in 2024 as a museum dedicated to Nordic modernist art.
In Bergen, the Hongni Adventure restaurant is a new tasting destination, inside a floating sculpture called the Salmon Eye.
North of the Arctic Circle, the long-awaited Six Senses Svart, a ring-shaped resort at the base of the Swatysen Glacier, aims to be off-grid, carbon neutral and emission-free, with a zero-waste dining program and a “design lab.”
15
Korea
Blending art and technology
The “Seoul Museum of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence,” which will open in late 2024, will showcase science and technology through interactive exhibits such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Robots assist in the construction of the museum and will be involved in its day-to-day operations, including welcoming guests and leading Tours.
At the Busan Art Museum, which showcases modern Korean art, new Spaces and exhibitions await visitors. The renovations will begin in 2024 and will add high-tech features such as an evolving 3D projection.
16
Switzerland
Convenient transportation system
Train travel is growing in popularity as people pay more attention to sustainable travel. Switzerland is the main way for people to travel in Switzerland because of its punctual and convenient transportation system.
With the Swiss Transport Pass, visitors can not only take public transport such as trains, buses and ferries, but also visit the museum and the three mountains for free.
17
Italy
Experience the romance of the Belmond Orient Express
Later in 2024, Belmond Orient Express will launch a “La Dolce Vita” train with luxurious Art Deco carriages, haute cuisine and world-class bartending.
There are eight trips in total, including a Sicilian route from Palermo, via Agrigento and Taormina, and finally to Mount Etna. Other itineraries include a trip from Rome to Sicily (by ferry), and a romantic loop route from Rome to Venice with a stopover in Siena.
18
Canterbury, Australia
Adventure trip
This destination, in northwestern Australia, is home to ancient wonders: dinosaur tracks, striated geological formations that are about 350 million years old, and some Indigenous cultures that have persisted.
Recently, some of the world’s top cruise lines have competed to offer expedition-style itineraries such as helicopter sightseeing flights, boating, scuba diving and more. Silversea Cruises’ Silver Cloud will cruise the region for 10 to 17 days from May to September, and Seabourn’s newest expedition vessel, Seabourn Pursuit, will cruise the region in June, July and August.
19
Kenya
Enjoy the view of Mount Kilimanjaro
Kenya’s Amboseli National Park is a popular destination for wildlife lovers, and the new Angama Amboseli opens in autumn 2023.
Located approximately 45 minutes from Amboseli, the hotel is located in a private wildlife reserve with unparalleled views of the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, offers hunting trips and cultural experiences organized in partnership with the local community.
20
Kwazulu-natal, South Africa
It has two World Heritage sites
This remote South African province, located on the country’s eastern coast, is coming under the spotlight.
Kwazulu-natal has two World Heritage sites – the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the majestic uKhahlamba Drakensberg National Park – known for its beaches, wildlife parks, green hills and mild weather.
21
Tunisia
Pearl of North Africa
At the end of 2023, Tunisia announced the re-introduction of a visa-free policy for Chinese passports for stays of no more than 30 days.
The “Pearl of North Africa” has a rich blend of ancient civilizations, as well as natural geographical advantages such as the Mediterranean and Sahara, as well as distinctive coffee and olive oil culture, unique customs, and will be the choice of people who are more inclined to niche destinations in 2024.
22
Peru
The Classic Trail will have its first all-female hike
All roads in the country seem to lead to spectacular landscapes and historical discoveries.
The first all-female hike will take place on the Salkantay Trail in 2024. The tour is run by women, including guides, porters, drivers, cooks and other staff. The seven-day expedition will include a stay high in the Andes, as well as cultural experiences such as cooking classes and farm visits.
At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, there has been some good news about visa-free international travel.
2024 is a year of endless possibilities as we continue to embrace the world, to explore, to experience. Whether it is tracing the traces of history, feeling the charm of nature, or immersed in the influence of culture, travel will bring us unprecedented spiritual shock.
Let’s look forward to a wonderful year of travel together and feel every beautiful moment on the journey.
