There’s nothing we love more on a Friday morning than a list of travel trends.

Except maybe a box of doughnuts or a trip to the dog park.

But travel listicles come in a hard third, so we’re pretty chuffed to announce that G Adventures just released their picks for next year’s hottest destinations!

From destinations on the rebound, to places where events and political changes are making it more exciting or accessible to visit, the adventure travel company have mined their data and married it with customer insights, as well as topical world events, to forecast the 10 hottest spots to travel to in 2019.

1. Japan

Another country only increasing in popularity is Japan, which has been warming up for its moment in the rising sun. In 2019, Japan plays host to the Rugby World Cup, and hot on its heels is the summer Olympics in 2020.

2. Uzbekistan

In 2018, Uzbekistan relaxed its visa entry requirements by introducing an e-visa for 51 countries. Interest in the ‘Stans shows no sign of slowing down, with G Adventures seeing a 72 per cent increase in travellers to Uzbekistan over the past five years.

3. Senegal

West Africa is slowly recovering from a lapse in tourism following the Ebola breakout of 2014, and G Adventures is leading the way by introducing land-based trips in Senegal (and The Gambia) for the first time.

Senegal is currently hoping to stimulate tourism, with a new airport near Dakar opening up.

4. Taiwan

Another new destination for G Adventures in 2019 is Taiwan, which is one of the lesser-visited and most underrated countries in Asia.

As food and travel become increasingly codependent, Taiwan has a growing reputation with travelling foodies, and the New York Times recently proclaimed it as ‘Asia’s most food-obsessed country’.

5. Northern Sri Lanka

With sales up 58 per cent year-on-year for G Adventures, Sri Lanka shows no sign of slowing down. G Adventures first launched sailing trips last year in the south and introduced an eastern itinerary after the first trip sold out in a number of weeks.

This lesser-travelled region was cut off from tourism for decades due to civil war, but it’s now open for business.

6. Jordan

With year-on-year growth of 71 per cent for G Adventures, it’s safe to say Jordan’s tourism is back, mainly as a result of stability in neighbouring Egypt.

In recognition, G Adventures has introduced a new tour for 2019, as well as two new ‘G for Good’ social enterprise projects; the Jia Community Restaurant which supports local women in Souf, and the Al Numeira Environmental Cafe helping water conservation near the Dead Sea.

7. Iceland

The final season of Game of Thrones will again throw its filming locations into the spotlight and Iceland is no exception. G Adventures continues to see growth in tourism, with trip sales up 127 per cent in the past two years. While many tourists stick to the main tourist sites, G Adventures takes its low-impact, small group tours further afield, ensuring the spread of tourism dollars.

8. Ethiopia

Another African nation sneaking increasingly on to travellers’ wishlists is Ethiopia, with G Adventures seeing a 98 per cent increase over the past 12 months.

It’s also been in the headlines for all the right reasons, with the prime minister announcing half the country’s cabinet will be female, and the recent announcement of a new peace accord between Ethiopia and its neighbour, Eritrea.

9. Italy

On May 2, 2019, Italy will celebrate the 500th anniversary of artist Leonardo da Vinci’s death, and there will be a host of celebrations taking place throughout the country.

Despite some of its main sites being tarnished with the overtourism brush, there are still plenty of places to explore outside the major cities, such as on G Adventures’ new Local Living Coastal Tuscany trip, where travellers will be hosted at a former G Adventures’ chief experience officers’ family home in Capalbio.

10. Patagonia (Argentina)

Demand for G Adventures’ trips to Argentina have been steadily rising over the past five years, with sales up 15 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017.

Visitors to parts of Argentina in July will be treated to a solar eclipse on the 2nd of the month, and from October G Adventures’ will offer a new trip in its Wellness travel style, featuring morning yoga sessions and afternoon excursions in Patagonia.