Tripadvisor names top emerging and trending destinations for 2020

the setting sun turns the cliffs at wangi waterfalls in litchfield national park a brilliant red

Get ready for some serious #travelinspo because Tripadvisor just announced its Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for destinations!

This year, the travel site split the awards between two categories: trending and emerging.

Trending recognises traveller-love destinations that are on the rise, having seen the biggest spikes in positive reviews and ratings over the last year and emerging looks ahead to what’s next – the destinations still ahead of the curve that travel-savvy folk are already saving to their Trips on Tripadvisor.

Taking out the top spot on the trending list was Indian port city, Kochi, where sunset strolls, sampling fresh fish from seaside vendors and boat rides through the islands just offshore are all part of the charm.

While travellers to India may have traditionally prioritised trips to the nation’s mega-cities, those in the know are seeking out the smaller city of Kochi — a destination filled with cool cafes, art centres and stunning historic sites, including beautiful Portuguese-built churches and forts.

Kaliningrad, a tiny sliver of Russia trapped between the Baltic Sea, Poland and Lithuania, was ranked as the top emerging destination, thanks to a simplified e-visa process and breathtaking architecture that blends Eastern Europe and Russia together like nowhere else.

Locally, the Northern Territory’s capital, Darwin, also featured on the emerging destination list, taking out the 24th spot.

Here’s a rundown of the top 10 from each category:

Top 10 Global Trending Destinations- See full descriptions below and Top 25 here.

1. Kochi (Cochin), India
2. Luzon, Philippines
3. Porto, Portugal
4. Porto Seguro, Brazil
5. Gramado, Brazil
6. Lombok, Indonesia
7. Da Nang, Vietnam
8. Zakynthos, Greece
9. Tel Aviv, Israel
10. Krakow, Poland

Global Emerging Destinations – See full descriptions below and Top 25 here.

1. Kaliningrad, Russia
2. Saranda, Albania
3. Beirut, Lebanon
4. Luxor, Egypt
5. Naoussa, Greece
6. Rugen Island, Germany
7. Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
8. Monopoli, Italy
9. La Paz, Mexico
10. Curaçao, Caribbean

Featured image credit: iStock.com/crbellette

Latest News

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Tourism

Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists

TripADeal had the biggest outlay of the more than $153 million spent on travel and tourism advertising in Australia in the first quarter of 2024, followed by Virgin Australia and Flight Centre-owned Ignite Travel, new Nielsen Ad Intel data has revealed. And the industry ad spend enjoyed an increase of 8 per cent on the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]

  • Partner Content

My journey: Before becoming a travel agent I was… a palliative care nurse 

Australind Travel & Cruise, Travellers Choice member Saibra Twigg reveals her life as paediatric nurse then to palliative care before a career leap to travel agent. How did you become a palliative care nurse?  ST I went straight from school in nursing and initially specialised in paediatrics, working at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. […]

Partner Content

by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly
  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]