*Source: Destinations seeing increase in flight searches between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024 for travel throughout 2024 compared to the same period in 2023
The rise of cultural adventure of the unexplored
We analysed tens of thousands of data points to understand what’s trending and why. It’s clear that smaller, alternative destinations are growing in popularity with Australian travellers, who are looking to explore beyond the mainstream in Europe and further afield.
01 Siem Reap
Siem Reap in Cambodia is the city to visit if you want to see the renowned Angkor Wat temple. The landmark has remained a popular sight due to the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie.
02 Krabi
Krabi, Thailand, is a beach not far from the Phi Phi Islands and is becoming a popular alternative to busier and more crowded Thai hotspots such as Phuket.
03 Busuanga
Busuanga in the Philippines is a picturesque island boasting clear waters and white sandy beaches. It is becoming an alternative to the popular Boracay islands.
04 Daegu
Seoul, Korea, has recently been making headlines as an up-and-coming destination with Daegu only being approximately 1.5 hours away from Seoul via train. The city boasts a rich cultural experience with plenty of attractions in art and ancient architecture.
05 Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi, Finland, is affectionately known as the ‘home-town’ of Santa Claus for being in a far region of Finland. With a rise in interest in locations where you can experience the Northern Lights, we see this as an enticing location for Aussie travellers.
06 Cusco
Cusco, Peru, is the capital of the Incan empire in Peru and is often regarded as a must-do for people who are travelling to South America. Aussies can see the stunning architecture and experience the rich history.
07 Tromsø
Tromsø, Norway is a popular location and often regarded as one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. There has been a shift in interest for countries that aren’t usual tourist destinations (i.e. Italy, France etc.)
08 Almaty
Kazakhstan is highly regarded as an incredible travel experience but wildly underrated. Almaty offers stunning landscapes, authentic culture and tasty food. Aussies can also enjoy mountains, lakes and ski runs while experiencing untouched Central Asia.
09 Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo is a town on the island of Flores, Indonesia. It is home to the famous pink sand beach and is a popular place for Aussies who are looking to travel to Komodo Island (the home of the Komodo Dragon).
10 Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is a cultural playground where Aussies can experience rich Javanese music, art, puppet shows and food. Yogyakarta is the second most visited destination in Indonesia after Bali.
Trending
Don’t know where to go? Search ‘Everywhere’.
Skyscanner’s Everywhere search inspires travellers to discover somewhere new by ranking worldwide destinations from their chosen airport by price. In fact, for adventurous Aussie travellers, ‘Everywhere’ is one of the top search destinations on Skyscanner this year.
