Newly ‘opened’ destinations

Five other locations etching their way onto the travel map…

1 North Korea

state The intrigues world’s many; most secretive and with new areas now opening up to tourism, travellers aren’t being put off by Trump-fuelled headlines. However, visits are still strictly only via tours.

2 Pakistan

As the country’s army cracks down on militias and insurgents, visitors have responded to Pakistan’s growing safety levels in droves – numbers have tripled since 2013 to 1.75m from 565,000.

3 Hong Kong, China

In 2012, the first phase in opening up Hong Kong’s Frontier Closed Area – a 28 sq km buffer zone separating the mainland – began, although access to some of its wetlands still requires a permit.

4 Nagorno-karabakh & Abkhazia

Travellers love a breakaway state, and these two are slowly opening up their wilds to visitors – despite the ongoing political tensions that rumble away in the background.

5 West Africa

The spectre of 2014’s ebola outbreak has long since passed from Sierra Leone and Senegal, and the travel world is slowly starting to rediscover its remarkable coast and wildlife-packed deltas.

Would you travel to Saudi Arabia in the future?

9% I’m undecided 7% It depends on the visa! 22% Yes, I’m intrigued 62% No, I’m not interested