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Turkey is top Trip for 2007 - 4 December 2006

Pamukkale in Turkey has won the top slot in TripAdvisor's annual survey of Hot World Destinations for 2007...

TripAdvisor, the largest travel community in the world, recently announced the results of its annual travel trends survey. The survey, one of the biggest of its kind, examined the habits, opinions and satisfaction ratings among some 4000 travellers globally and looks forward to trends for 2007.

TripAdvisor's number one Hot World Destination for next year is the stunning hot springs resort of Pamukkale in the Denizli province of south west Turkey.  A World Heritage Site, Pamukkale is a series of hill side terraces, where over thousands of years mineral rich spring waters have petrified the stone dazzling white.  Visitors to Pamukkale can either simply wander round, taking in the beauty of the landscape or if they prefer, it's possible to wade and splash around in the warm pools which are said to have therapeutic healing qualities.  Another local tourist draw is the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis with its amphitheatre and Temple of Apollo.

Marc Charron, European Managing Director at TripAdvisor commented, "Our engineers have developed a proprietary algorithm that looks at several criteria including changes in search activity and postings throughout the world’s largest travel community, www.tripadvisor.com.  The tool then predicts the rising stars in travel and the destinations that are losing steam."

Charron continued, "So many of our travellers are talking about Pamukkale, home to one of the most impressive natural phenomenons.  Resembling stretched-cotton, with its hanging white stalactites and white petrified castles, Pamukkale (Turkish for cotton castle) is incredible to not only look at, but also to explore and wade in."  Charron added, “We’ll closely monitor our new algorithm for predicting the hottest travel destinations in the world and we’ll offer updates on the latest travel buzz throughout the year.”

Within the UK, the top destination was Ayr in Scotland.  Lying in the heart of “Burns Country” on the West Coast of Scotland, Ayr looks out on of the Firth of Clyde, with the peaks of Arran in the foreground and the Mull of Kintyre in the background. This picturesque seaside town is close to unspoiled beaches, the Royal Troon golf course and Ayr racecourse.  TripAdvisor is forecasting an influx of visitors from around the world to this Scottish gem next year.

Tourist hotspots which now are definitely losing their sparkle, on the other hand, are led by Miami, Honolulu and Acapulco.

Other key survey findings:

• Airlines: British Airways was voted favourite airline by all international travellers; meanwhile budget airline Ryanair's no frills service received the thumbs down and was voted the world's least favourite airline followed by United Airlines (or Easyjet amongst British travellers).
• Active holidays: Forty three percent of travellers are likely to go hiking, up from 24 percent one year ago, and 39 percent intend to partake in adventure activities up from 29 percent last year; more women than men plan to participate in outdoor activities in 2007 according to the survey.
• Lazy Brits: However, Brits are less likely to engage in an adventure activity (22 percent). Only twenty percent of British travellers said they would go cycling compared with 25 percent of all travellers, 28 percent of Brits would go hiking compared with 40 percent of the rest of the world and we fall behind the rest when it comes to going sailing, skiing, snowboarding, fishing or playing golf on holiday.  The British holidaymaker is not even interested in less energetic activities. We are less likely to go to the theatre, a major sporting event or even take up an educational activity. Only 15 percent of UK travellers said they would learn a skill such as painting or cooking compared with 23 percent of all travellers.
• Relaxing holidays: Fifty nine percent of travellers said they are planning a beach vacation this coming year, up from 52 percetn when TripAdvisor asked travellers in May; fewer travellers (47 percent) intend to visit a spa this year, compared to last year (55 percent).
• Money Matters: Although 86 percent of travellers said budget was an important consideration when making vacation plans last year, 45 percent of respondents said they spent more than they budgeted for travel. 
• Travel Worries: When it comes to concerns about where to go next year people seem to be more worried about the threat of terrorism when choosing their holiday destination with 44 percent of all travellers saying that it was either an extremely or very important factor compared with  natural disasters (28 percent) or bird flu (21 percent).
• Love is in the Air: Six percent of travellers were asked on a date or started a romantic relationship with a perfect stranger while on a flight in the past year, up from four percent last year.

TripAdvisor's Top 10 Hot Destinations

World

1. Pamukkale, Turkey
2. Parga, Greece
3. Ayr, Scotland
4. Campeche, Mexico
5. Marrakech, Morrocco
6. Naxos, Greece
7. Puno, Peru
8. Soller, Spain
9. Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
10. Fez, Morrocco

US

1. Anna Maria Island, Florida
2. Kailua, Hawaii
3. Siesta Key, Florida
4. Macon, Georgia
5. Breckenridge, Colorado
6. Millinocket, Maine
7. Vail, Colorado
8. Bishop, California
9. Franklin, Tennessee
10. Eureka, California

Europe

1. Pamukkale, Turkey
2. Parga, Greece
3. Ayr, Scotland
4. Naxos, Greece
5. Soller, Spain
6. Calella, Spain
7. Praiano, Italy
8. Oia, Greece
9. Bergen, Norway
10. Wroclaw, Poland

 

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