Travel is back, and in a big way: according to a recent report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the tourism agency of the United Nations, international tourism hit a new record in 2014, with over 1.1 billion travelers traversing the globe. And while conventional wisdom says the world is getting smaller, the list of potential destinations for passionate travelers continues to grow. While a quick Google Google search reveals the list of recommendations is seemingly endless, here are the three top places on my 2015 travel wish list. While the selection process was relatively unscientific, there are a host of compelling reasons to visit them in the year ahead, not the least of which is that they remain largely undiscoveredbut not for long.
Montenegro is fast emerging as one of the most picturesque and luxurious destinations in Europe.
Montenegro: Long overshadowed by Croatia, its captivating neighbor to the west, Montenegro is poised to become a world-class luxury travel destination thanks to its idyllic, 180-mile-plus coastline and rugged interior dotted with river canyons, glacial lakes and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the singularly spectacular Durmitor National Park. Already home to the stunning Aman Sveti Stefan resort, which hosted the wedding of Novak Djokovic in July, the Balkan country is luring other top-tier operators, including the esteemed One&Only chain, which will open its first European propert in Kumbor on Tivat Bay in 2016. Meanwhile, on the UNESCO-protected Bay of Kotor, Porto Montenegro, whose chief investor is Barrick Gold founder Peter Munk, is vying for the title of Europes leading marina, with berths up to 180 meters to accommodate superyachts; tax and duty-free fuel at 45% discount versus countries within the EU is another incentive sure to lureuber-wealthy mariners.
Namibias conservation initiatives have made it a model for the African continent. (Photo: Namibia tourism)
Namibia: Celebrating its 25th anniversary as an independent nation this year, Namibia is arguably the jewel of Africa, and an example to the continentand the worldof the power of sustainable development. It was the first African country to incorporate protection of the environment into its constitution; the government has reinforced conservation efforts by giving its communities the opportunity and rights to manage their wildlife through communal conservancies. Today, over 43% of Namibias surface area is under conservation management, and the program has facilitated a remarkable recovery of wildlife: Namibia now boasts the largest population of black rhinos and cheetahs in the world and is the only country with an expanding population of free-roaming lions, leading some to call Namibias conservation efforts the greatest African wildlife recovery story ever told. The country is also home to the largest sand dune in the world, Soussusvlei, and Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa.
The old town of Vilnius in Lithuania is one of the largest and most dazzling in Eastern Europe.
Lithuania: This former Soviet Republic, located east of Sweden and Denmark, will become a card-carrying member of the Eurozone starting January 1, 2015which means traveling there is about to become a whole lot easier (think lots of ATMs, easier electronic payments, and a familiar currency). Its also home to three UNECO World Heritage sites, including the old town of capital city Vilnius, a Baroque masterpiece and one of the largest old towns in Central and Eastern Europe; and the Curonian Spit, a 60-mile peninsula of spectacular beaches stretching south into Russias Kaliningrad exclave. Once heavily forested, its now the pride of the country and backed by Europes largest moving sand dune.
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