1. Malta

As a key filming location for two upcoming high-profile blockbusters – Gladiator II and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two – Malta is poised to attract set-jetters in 2025. Visits from international culture vultures are also likely to increase after the island unveiled its first contemporary art museum, Micas.

2. Madagascar

With about 90% of Madagascar’s animal and plant species found nowhere else on earth, this biodiversity hotspot presents a wilder, more unspoiled alternative to Indian Ocean stalwarts the Maldives and Seychelles, appealing to trailblazing travellers. Emirates’ September-launched flight route from Dubai is opening up the so-called “eighth continent” to foreign visitors.

3. Scottish Highlands

Scotland’s getting a boost from the coolcations travel movement (see Key Stats). Shaking up a hitherto fusty hotel scene, a new wave of eco-friendly self-catering pods – like WildLuing – and chic cabin rentals – such as 57 Nord – are giving rise to what fashion magazine Vogue terms a “Scandi-Scot”

4. India

India’s domestic air travel market is expected to double by 2030 under the increased spending power of its citizens – see Evolving Geographies of Wealth Update – but international traffic is set to grow even faster in the coming years (Reuters, 2024). Meanwhile, Indian wildlife tourism is one sweet spot to watch, witnessing about 15% annual growth (SME Futures, 2024).

5. Italian Dolomites

Italy’s mountain resorts will step into the limelight as anticipation builds for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. But crucially, given climate change causes increasingly less predictable snow conditions (see Solutions for the New Climate Era), this region is positioning itself as a year-round destination, with agents promoting summertime coolcations that take advantage of its impressive wellness retreats and hiking trails.

6. The American West

Another region benefitting from the set-jetting trend are the American Wild West States. British luxury expedition company Pelorus told Stylus that client requests for this region, especially ranch stays or recreational vehicle (RV) road trips, are up by 30%. It attributes this to the success of the Paramount+ drama series Yellowstone.

7. Peru

In the first half of 2024, tourist arrivals in Peru were up by 2% on the previous year and are expected to climb further in 2025. Showing that there’s far more to Peruvian travel than Machu Picchu, forward-thinking brands are entering fresh corners of this South American nation. Targeting intrepid types, UK-headquartered Black Tomato has charted a route across the Urubamba Valley.

8. Rural Japan

Global luxury travel advisers name Japan as one of the largest growth areas, with bookings up by 160% year-on-year in autumn 2024. As key cities and tourist attractions push back against overtourism, in the next year, visitors will branch out into more remote, bucolic areas – like the mountain villages of Niigata – and encounters with traditional artisans.

9. Validations

How have our past predictions played out? We revisit some of our trending destinations from 2023 and 2024 to see what the latest data reveals.