American World Traveler Winter 2017-18 Issue

56
Where to Adventure in 2018
From destinations on the rebound, to
places where events and investments
are making it more exciting
or accessible to visit, the adventure pros at
G Adventures have been combing through
their list of trip destinations to forecast the
hot spots and new spots for adventure in
2018. The result is a mix of destinations
that blend some of the tourism industry’s
perennial favourites, with up-and-coming
contenders for the all-valuable tourist dollar.
“We looked at factors such as trending
sales data, operational improvements, new
flight routes, social buzz and upcoming
events around the globe to develop this
look-ahead for adventure seekers in
2018,” says G Adventures Canadian
Marketing Director Aizaz Sheikh. “Some of
it is gut instinct. Adventure, after all, is
about putting yourself out there.”
The small-group tour operator founded by
social entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip in 1990
offers more than 700 ethical, immersive,
comfort-zone busting itineraries in 100+
countries on all seven continents with a
focus on transformational travel and local
good. G Adventures’ ten top destinations
for the Canadian adventure traveller in
2018 are as follows:
1. EGYPT – 2018 is poised to be an exciting
year for Egypt as its new Grand
Egyptian Museum prepares to open in late
2018 as the world’s largest archaeological
museum. The attraction will host treasures
from King ‘Tut’s unearthed tomb and is
expected to be a significant lure that should
contribute to Egypt’s tourism comeback. Its
tourism revenues jumped by 170 per cent
in the first half of 2017 to $3.5 billion,
while G Adventures’ bookings to the country
also grew some 24 per cent. See it
before the crowds return on one of the
company’s 2018 tours.
2. PORTUGAL – The west European nation
had a record-breaking year in 2017 as
travellers sought destinations with fewer
crowds, good food and travel security, and
Portugal has emerged from Spain’s neighbouring
shadow. Tourism from North
American travellers is growing fast and
showing no signs of slowing. To welcome
this increase in demand, G Adventures has
added a new seven-day itinerary for 2018,
dedicated to the sights, sounds and tastes
of Portugal.
3. SRI LANKA – The ‘pearl of the Indian
Ocean’ is also having its moment in the
sun. Sri Lanka aims to double the number
of tourists to five million by 2020 as part of
its development strategy and efforts are
paying off: earnings from tourism
increased to $2.1 million dollars during the
first half of 2017. G Adventures is driving
some of that increased interest, with a
tripling of global demand for trips booked
to Sri Lanka in the past year. Its new sevenday
‘Sri Lanka Sailing’ embarks in
February, making it a novel and exotic winter
escape that can also be combined with
a land-based itinerary to create a 14-day
Sri Lanka Land and Sea.
4. COLOMBIA – A high-profile, 12-year
peace treaty, a Nobel Peace Prize for its
President, and national investments in marketing
the country overseas have all combined
to boost the Pacific-Caribbean country’s
reputation as a great place to vacation.
Meantime the Colombian government
more than doubled the area officially designated
as protected since 2010 to encourage
adventure travel and ecotourism. G
Adventures’ bookings to Colombia soared
232 per cent during the past two years, and