It is that time of year when all travel lovers reveal their predictions for the best tourist destinations of the new year, so Britain's The Independent newspaper has gathered the predictions of travel experts around the world on the places most attractive to British tourists in 2020, and Egypt topped the list, alongside a diverse range of cities and countries from around the world.
Here is the travel experts' list of the tourist destinations Britons will visit next year:
1. Egypt
Tour operator Abercrombie & Kent predicted that with flights resuming to Sharm El-Sheikh, particularly from Britain, and with the number of tourists visiting Egypt reaching 11 million people last year, Egypt appears ready to make a strong comeback in 2020. The company recommended visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, scheduled to open next year as the largest archaeological museum in the world.
2. Pakistan
Tour operator Wild Frontiers believes that this autumn's visit to Pakistan by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife has put the spotlight back on the country, especially as it has become easier to get there thanks to new direct British Airways flights to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, while the company has seen a 20% increase in customers this year compared with 2018.
3. Milwaukee
Airbnb thinks this city in the Midwest of the United States is one of the historic gems on Lake Michigan, with its scenic bike paths, its restaurants and its great cultural attractions, such as the art museum designed by one of Spain's most famous architects.
4. Copenhagen
Preferred Travel expects that Copenhagen's focus on sustainability, in addition to the opening of new hotels next year, puts the Danish capital on Preferred Hotels' list of the best hotels.
5. Kent
Travel company i-escape says it is time to put the United Kingdom on your dream list, especially Kent, with its ancient castles, famous white cliffs and 350 miles of fantastic coastline. There is no better destination to enjoy the great British countryside than the Elmley nature reserve.
6. Chad
Chad made tour operator Wild Frontiers' list for 2020 as it celebrates 60 years of independence. The company said group tours will be offered next year to the Lakes of Ounianga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to some of the oldest rock art in the Sahara, and to the Mars-like rock formations of Ennedi.
7. Peru
Peru's popularity has grown recently, its most famous site being the citadel of Machu Picchu, which suffers from too many tourists. Instead, Exodus advises exploring the Inca trails to avoid overtourism and visiting the ruins of the Inca and pre-Inca empires on the beautiful Altiplano plateau, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, through the villages of the Andes.
8. Sichuan Province, China
If one of your dreams is to see giant pandas, tour operator Black Tomato advises you to visit China's Sichuan province in 2020, especially with China's new initiative to open the first national park for giant pandas, linking 67 reserves across the southwestern province of Sichuan, which is home to more than 80% of all wild pandas.
9. Aberdeen
Airbnb says the Granite City, Scotland's third-largest city, has a lot to offer next year with its stunning landscapes, fine food, galleries and museums, in addition to its coastal scenery and romantic ruins in the countryside.
10. New England
Next September marks one of the biggest anniversary celebrations in American history, 400 years since the British ship Mayflower set off on its historic voyage from Plymouth, and American Sky recommends a visit to New England in 2020, with its events running throughout the year.
11. Bhutan
Bhutan was the most favored country to visit on Lonely Planet, especially with the kingdom's pledge to become the world's first organic country by 2020, in addition to its blend of ancient and modern civilization. Praising it, the site said: “Bhutan is not an ordinary place; it is the last great Himalayan kingdom, filled with mystery, magic and Buddhist culture.”
12. Kyrgyzstan
With Uzbekistan's growing popularity, Original Travel says attention is starting to shift to neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which it has added to its list of tourist destinations for 2020, with its enchanting mountains that make up 95% of its area and the new Issyk Kol lake trails. It is time for adventure and exploration.
13. North Macedonia
Hotels.com thinks North Macedonia will become one of the most visited places next year, with its rich and diverse Greek, Roman and Ottoman heritage, and its renown for cuisine, ancient traditions, nature, distinctive architecture and city beaches, as well as the lake that is among UNESCO's protected sites, and the city of Ohrid.
14. Galway
The coastal city of Galway is known for its cozy restaurants, sumptuous seafood and famous festivals. Rough Guides highlighted it as European Capital of Culture and one of the best cities to visit in 2020, where you will find many bands playing their unique music in the streets.
15. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is back on track this winter after British travel restrictions on it were lifted. Tour operator Scott Dunn says its uncrowded tourist sites, its historic features that have lent enchanting beauty to many tourist spots, its hospitality and its wonderful local cuisine have put it among the most recommended destinations for 2020.
16. Romania
According to Airbnb, bookings to Romania have increased by 298% year on year. The site said its unique hills and old rural villages make it the ideal destination for anyone looking for something unusual, as it has some of the best nature reserves in Europe, and according to the 2018 Environmental Performance Index, it ranks 15th in the world for ecosystem vitality.
17. Vienna
In Vienna, 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, which is why travel and PR agency Hills Balfour named it the top destination to visit next year, as the city will offer a variety of exhibitions, performances and celebratory experiences.
18. Mexico City
Fantastic food is the main factor behind this travel recommendation, as Sunvil Latin America believes that with the growing popularity of Mexican restaurants in London, travel to Mexico City has become inevitable. In addition to street food, visitors can enjoy food-tasting tours, cooking classes and mezcal tastings.
19. Hydra
Despite the popularity of the Greek islands in summer, Hydra, which offers another, authentic side of Greece, has not yet received its due, but Black Tomato recommends visiting it next summer to enjoy a car-free holiday full of artistic creativity, as old slaughterhouses and the local school have been turned into modern, cutting-edge galleries.
20. Tbilisi, Georgia
Rough Guides included Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, in its list of major cities Britons will visit in 2020 after it was reborn from the ashes of the Rose Revolution, with Soviet spaces and abandoned factories disappearing and now turned into luxury hotels, art galleries and music venues, while cutting-edge architecture has appeared in Rike Park.
