Are these the trend destinations of the future?

Beyond the usual holiday hotspots, many travelers are increasingly drawn to lesser-known landscapes far from the tourist crowds. Experts in the Swiss travel industry are also increasingly focusing on regions that have remained in the shadow of established tourist destinations.

According to travel experts, the following countries could play a more significant role in international travel in the future:

Suriname

«Suriname could prove to be an interesting newcomer in the coming years. Anyone interested in nature, biodiversity, and unspoiled landscapes will find paradise here. This makes the country an exciting travel destination for nature lovers,» says Beatrice Honegger, Manager of Tour Operating at Latino Travel (a brand of the Knecht Travel Group). The country on the northeast coast of South America has much to offer. Over 80 percent of the country consists of untouched, pristine forest – a rarity in a time when rainforests are increasingly disappearing.

The country is also home to beautiful beaches and extraordinary biodiversity: monkeys, sloths, tapirs, jaguars, and dolphins thrive here alongside countless bird species. In the capital, Paramaribo, the architecture, with buildings like Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, is a reminder of the eventful colonial history of this small but surprisingly diverse country.

Uganda

Western Uganda has long been a popular tourist destination thanks to its national parks and gorilla trekking. Lisa Nyffeler, owner of the Africa specialist Bricks Travels, sees great potential in the east of the country as well. «The region is slowly opening up to tourism and offers an exciting mix of nature, culture, and an authentic immersion into the lives of the local people,» she says. Among other things, visitors can look forward to cultural tours with members of the Karamojong ethnic group, walking safaris in the Karamoja region, or a visit to the Pian Upe Nature Reserve.

Then there is Kidepo Valley National Park—raw, remote, and among Africa’s wildest safari destinations. Located in the far northeast of Uganda, bordering South Sudan, it offers the chance to observe herds of buffalo, elephants, lions, patas monkeys, Rothschild's giraffes, as well as a variety of antelopes and nocturnal carnivores.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico remains a blind spot on the map for many travelers. According to industry insiders, this could soon change. Puerto Rico scores points with its Caribbean beaches, US infrastructure, and the opportunity to explore the territory on diverse tours. After all, the US territory, just over a two-hour flight from Miami, offers not only fine sandy beaches but also a wealth of cultural, urban, and scenic experiences. In San Juan, colonial forts bear witness to its Spanish past.

Nature lovers will also find plenty to enjoy, for example in the El Yunque rainforest. In this spectacular landscape with countless waterfalls and convenient hiking trails, you can observe, among other things, coqui frogs and parrots. A particular highlight of the country: the bioluminescent bays, where countless microorganisms make the water glow at night.

São Tomé und Príncipe

Large tourist crowds are nowhere to be found on the island republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.This makes the archipelago a largely undiscovered paradise with strong tourism potential, particularly as it is reachable from Switzerland in around seven hours on a nonstop flight. Thanks to the lack of mass tourism, nature can be experienced all the more intensely.

Travelers can expect dense rainforests and diverse wildlife, including many bird species found nowhere else. São Tomé and Príncipe are also a paradise for divers. Turtles abound around the islands. Historically, São Tomé and Príncipe also has much to offer: Impressive colonial buildings, for example, are reminders of the islands' Portuguese past.

Philippinen

Apart from Boracay, which has become a tourist magnet due to its beach parties and top beaches, there is no sign of mass tourism in the Philippines. With 7,641 islands, there are definitely enough alternatives – and according to Stephan Roemer, CEO of the Asia specialist Tourasia, plenty of potential. «The trend among travelers is away from the crowds: the Philippines doesn't have mass tourism. While the tourist infrastructure is limited, that's precisely what makes this Southeast Asian country so appealing,» he says.

In northern Luzon, millennia-old rice terraces, carved by hand into the mountainsides, are a breathtaking sight and are now a Unesco World Heritage Site. Inland, visitors can explore former sugar baron farms. For divers, the sea offers one of the world's most biodiverse underwater worlds.

Saudi-Arabien

Saudi Arabia is gradually opening up to tourism, investing heavily in the process. The desert nation plans to invest over $500 billion in developing innovative and environmentally friendly travel destinations, thereby reducing its dependence on oil. Saudi Arabia is full of contrasts, ranging from millennia-old desert landscapes to ultramodern cities.

In Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, the transition to modernity can be observed without the loss of cultural roots. Moreover, despite the Rub' al Khali, the world's largest sand desert, there is much more to the region than just sand. Among other things, six UNESCO World Heritage Sites await, along with coral reefs and various diving spots along the Red Sea coast.

Nicaragua

Central America also holds hidden gems of lesser-known travel destinations. Beatrice Honegger of Latino Travel cites Nicaragua as one such destination: «The land of lakes and volcanoes offers a great deal of potential and new territory, especially for repeat visitors.» It's important to note, however, that the infrastructure and hotel capacity here are not yet on par with Costa Rica.

«The demand shows that many travelers to Nicaragua are looking for seclusion and peace – and they find it,» said Honegger.

Panama

Despite its central location between North and South America, Panama remains an outsider on the tourist map – for now. «Panama is politically stable, and the economic situation will also boost tourism. Therefore, Panama could become an increasingly important destination in the coming years,» says Gabriela Stauffer, Managing Director of Dorado Latin Tours. Panama is already considered an up-and-coming destination for travelers, especially those seeking a blend of nature, culture, and modern infrastructure. Among the country's highlights is the famous Panama Canal, one of the largest engineering projects in the world.

Beyond that, the country also has much to offer, with rainforests, beaches, and offshore islands like the San Blas Islands or Bocas del Toro, which is a hidden gem for sailors. Meanwhile, the capital, Panama City, surprises visitors with its blend of modern skyline, colonial old town, and top-notch cuisine.