We can connect, be inspired, and even change as a result of travel. How wonderful the world may be is demonstrated by looking over the edge of a tumbling waterfall in Newfoundland and climbing sawtooth spires in the Italian Dolomites. Although travel ought to be a positive thing, the past year has shown us that it can also overburden and even damage the places we love. As a result, several countries are now enacting new regulations in an effort to combat the negative consequences of excessive tourism.
We wanted to draw attention to the locations that are seeing the opposite phenomenon in the BBC's first guide to the top tourist destinations this year. In addition to greeting tourists and providing amazing travel experiences, each of these 25 locations uses tourism to uplift local economies, save the environment, or conserve their distinctive cultural heritage. Some of the top authority on sustainable travel worldwide, including the World Travel & Tourism Council, Sustainable Travel International, the Black Travel Alliance, and the United Nations World Travel Organization, as well as BBC Travel journalists, contributed to the list's creation.
Traveling mindfully requires thinking about how your journey might benefit a greater good, especially when tourism in many areas is surging above pre-pandemic levels and extreme weather and climate change highlight the fleeting nature of many dream destinations.
Your next big adventure awaits you, whether it's trekking through a moonlike terrain in Bolivia or glamping in the Arctic on the largest island in the world, Greenland.
1. Dominica
Have you ever wished to swim with sperm whales? As part of the Caribbean island's historic dedication to regenerative tourism and marine conservation, Dominica now provides the opportunity to do so in a morally and environmentally responsible manner. In an effort to conserve its resident giants, the island government just created the first sperm whale reserve in history. A limited number of whale swim permits guarantee close, considerate interactions, giving tourists a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go in the water with these amazing cetaceans while supporting research and generating sustainable tourism opportunities for locals.
Expanded systems and infrastructure are expected to welcome tourists in 2025. These include the creation of a cable-car system that will transport passengers from Roseau Valley to Boiling Lake, one of the biggest hot springs in the world, and computerized immigration forms that will make arriving easier. It has never been simpler to get to the island thanks to United Airlines' direct flights from Newark beginning on February 15th, which will supplement American Airlines' current flights from Miami. In 2025, a number of new hotels will open, including the six-star Hilton Tranquility Beach Resort and Spa in Salisbury, which will add around 500 rooms and a 25% increase in inventory. Alternatively, go with a tried-and-true classic like Secret Bay, a posh eco-property that regularly ranks at the top of sustainability lists.
Project CETI, a ground-breaking global endeavor headed by National Geographic Explorer David Gruber to interpret whale language, clicks, and codas, is also based in Dominica. In other places, tourists can discover secret caverns, imposing waterfalls, and savor regional fare at distinctive restaurants like the farm-to-table Lacou. Dominica is more than just a travel destination; it's a movement to promote a new ecotourism model that strikes a balance between economic development and biodiversity preservation, guaranteeing that your trip contributes to the preservation of this natural paradise for future generations. Pier Nirandara
2. Japan's Naoshima
The Japanese island of Naoshima, which is home to one of Yayoi Kusama's famous yellow, polka-dotted Pumpkin sculptures, has grown to be a must-visit location for lovers of modern architecture and art. Benesse Art Site Naoshima, which has contributed to the establishment of significant museums and site-specific artworks in the picturesque (and drastically declining) Seto Inland Sea, situated between Japan's main island of Honshu and Shikoku, has helped transform the island, which was once known (if at all) for its highly polluting copper smelting industry.
