Americans break travel records in 2024 – by December. 1 is the busiest day ever at the nation’s airports, according to the TSA.
And we’re clearly on a roll, with destinations around the globe groaning under the weight of over-the-top tourism – some louder than others.
More than 20.2 million U.S. travelers headed to Europe in 2023, according to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office — millions more than before the pandemic, when 17.3 million people boarded the pond in 2019.
What can a fairly small continent do with that kind of attention from a crowd twice the population of, say, Portugal or Switzerland, and, if trends continue, much larger than that in 2025? (And we’re just a fraction of the total numbers the continent sees in a given year.)
Well, if you’re Spain, France or Italy, take drastic measures – like starting to charge for selfies at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, or consider banning Airbnbs in Barcelona.
But if you’re one of the lesser-known countries, you look at the desire of tourists and say, how do we get into this?
There are two European destinations that writer and travel expert Simon Calder thinks are next to the party – fascinating, unattainable places that should be careful what they wish for, because they just might get it.
“All the indications we’ve seen, for example the numbers of people passing through airports and the latest figures from travel companies, show that we have an insatiable appetite for travel. And 2025 will be fantastic to have wider horizons than ever,” Calder told the Daily Express.
The first of his understated 2025 picks? Bulgarian.
First, he points out, all this demand for travel will ensure that we end up paying more – which could perhaps lead more of us to consider less-rated places where inflation hasn’t kept pace.
Reasons to go — Black Sea beach resort towns such as Albena, Golden Sands and Sunny Beach, ski hotspots such as Bansko and Pamporovo, the city of Sofia and a complex history that has seen many different civilizations leave their mark on architecture, culture and landscape.
Above all, you’ll enjoy some of the crowds you’ll find in neighboring Greece and Turkey.
In 2023, Bulgaria saw 8.6 million arrivals for tourism purposes – a 13% increase from 2022, but peanuts compared to the European favourites.
By comparison, Spain estimates 90 million tourist visits this year, Express said – that’s a lot less beach space.
Then it’s on to the Adriatic, where Calder likes a place considered one of Europe’s most affordable travel destinations.
“I also have my money on Albania as a future destination,” Calder revealed.
“Fantastic beaches, friendly people and prices from the 20th century.”
Albania is home to dramatic mountains, beaches that have been dubbed the “Maldives of Europe,” a bustling capital, and gorgeous ruins in various Instagram-ready poverty-stricken states.
Only 10 million foreign visitors entered the country for leisure purposes in 2023. This number is expected to increase.
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Image Source : nypost.com