TRAVEL FRONTIER

A fruit vendor in Hoi An, Vietnam corresponds to increased flight routes, the latter of which (Qatar Airways) has just launched. Adding to Ireland’s allure is a host of upcoming developments. This year a $20 million refurbishment of The Old Jameson Distillery reopened in Dublin (whiskey tourism accounts for 600,000 tourists annually) and next year the shipping company headquarters where the Titanic was built will be turned into a multi-million dollar boutique hotel.

Not to be underestimated is Ireland’s rising star as a film location, increasing its appeal to “set-jetting” movie buffs who travel to see these spots. Most recently seen in Star Wars: Episode VIII (Skellig Michael off the coast in County Kerry acted as the Luke Skywalker’s hide-out) Ireland can also lay claim to being the Game of Thrones filming capital of the world. WHERE: Vietnam WHY: Incense-filled, mystical temples, friendly, colourfully-dressed hill tribes, the dramatic limestone stacks of Ha Long Bay, stunning national parks, and street food that will make your head spin — the draw this country has for travellers is immense. And now Australians have even more reason for a sojourn here. Though already known for being easy on the wallet, Expedia reveals that a Vietnam break has never been more affordable.

“Vietnam is 25 per cent cheaper than it was a year ago,” says Expedia travel expert, Lisa Perkovic. “Thanks to more affordable flight and accommodation options it’s a top value-formoney destination.”

The introduction of budget-friendly routes including Jetstar’s new non-stop Ho Chi Minh service from both Sydney and Melbourne in May is no doubt helping. And based on flights and accommodation, Expedia has noted a 90 per cent increase in demand year-on-year for the country’s capital city.

Surprisingly, Aussie families are increasingly making up the numbers. According to Wotif.com July school holidays data, Vietnam is on the rise as a family destination with accommodation demand for Ho Chi Minh City up 195 per cent year-on-year, while Vietnam more broadly is witnessing a 75 per cent increase over the school holidays. Correlating with this, research conducted by Wotif into 2017 travel trends shows 69 per cent of Aussies prefer to travel further afield to experience a different culture and 44 per cent of parents with school-aged children prefer international destinations to give their kids the opportunity to see a different culture.

“There’s so much for kids to see and do in Vietnam,” says Wotif.com travel expert, Amanda Behre. “Hands-on foodie experiences, market tours, outdoor activities — including cycling through rural villages and kayaking — alongside amusement parks and waterparks.” WHERE: Sri Lanka and the Maldives WHY: Sri Lanka’s civil war only ended in 2009, so its transformation from no-go zone to “it” destination has been quick. In eight years, tourist numbers have multiplied eightfold and, according to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Development Authority, the island attracted more than two million visitors last year, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2015. In 2016 almost 75,000 Australians visited, which marked a massive increase from the previous year and this figure is set to rise with direct Sri Lankan Airlines flights from Melbourne to Colombo starting in October.

Blessed with pretty beaches and great surf, eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the world, it has a menagerie of Asian elephants, leopards, wild buffalo, dolphins and other marine life all waiting to be spotted. Add to this a fast-growing roster of luxury hotels (in the last 12 months alone Anantara, Shangri-La and Movenpick have all opened) and it’s little wonder that Sri Lanka now regularly tops the lists of ‘mustvisit’ destinations in the likes of Conde Nast Traveller and Australian Vogue.

“Booking for our 15 Sri Lanka tours is up 48 per cent compared to the previous year,” says Carl Cross, managing director at tailor-made tour company, On The Go Tours. “Aside from the attraction of the beaches and cultural experiences, the popularity of safaris is a huge pull as Sri Lanka is much easier to get to and offers a better price point than traditional safari destinations.”

By proxy, given the location of the Maldives in relation to Sri Lanka (just under an hour and a half flight costing roughly $250 return) it’s a highly attractive bolt on.

Pristine white sand beaches, luxury resorts, and turquoise waters; the world’s overwater villa capital is the stuff that bucket lists are made of.

And Aussie visitors to the paradise archipelago have almost doubled. Partlyfuelled by easier access, and partly by an increasing amount of wanderlust-fuelling snaps cluttering up Instagram feeds, the Australian market has emerged as one of the fastestgrowing according to tourism reports, with an 18 per cent growth reported in the January to July 2016 period.

A posh fly and flop, last year a slew of new hotels opened, including Four Seasons Private Island Voavah and the amazing Soneva Jani. Plus, as coverage on the unpleasant realities of climate change increases, travellers are realising that — as the lowest country on earth — rising sea levels are likely to severely affect the Maldives over the coming years, so, it’s a case of see it now before it’s too late. WHERE: Canada WHY: Neither Trump nor the weakened Australian dollar has deterred us from visiting the US, with more than 12 per cent of all Aussies travelling internationally heading stateside. But Canada is an alternative for a North America fix.

From January to March 2017, Australian arrivals were up 23.7 per cent and Flight Centre noted an 11 per cent rise in their customer base. We’re already the sixth-largest market and accelerated growth in the number of Aussie visitors parallels the ease of getting there. Air Canada recently announced more flights to Vancouver from Melbourne and is launching daily non-stop flights from Brisbane.

Given that Canada is the world’s secondlargest country by total area, there’s plenty to Skellig Island in Ireland Amedee Island, New Caledonia Picture: NEW-CALEDONIA.COM.AU/ MARTIAL DOSDANE explore and an endless range of things to do. “Australians want an experience that will give them bragging rights back home,” says Donna Campbell, managing director, Destination Canada GSA.

“They want unique experiences, whether it’s witnessing the aurora borealis while fat-biking across a frozen lake in the Northwest Territories or watching the gigantic icebergs float by in Newfoundland.”

The increase in Adventure World bookings also reflects this appetite for adventure. “The major drawcard is the diversity of adventure experiences,” says Adventure World managing director, Neil Rodgers. “The growth in Yukon is one to note, in particularly the Northern Lights and polar bear viewings.”

Hailed by The New York Times and Lonely Planet as their top international destination for 2017, the hyperbole is timely given Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation this year. Anantara Kalutara Resort in Sri Lanka