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What’s the future of the tourism industry in the next five years?
While many in the tourism industry are asking that question most are already seeing and adapting to the inevitable changes.
Those in the know seem to feel that although there will be a decrease in the overall numbers of people traveling it won’t be as awful as you might assume. The trend so far seems to be that vacationers will still travel, but their tourism plans will be closer to home with traveling long distances being curtailed.
What this means is that vacationing families will plan their trips to be closer to home than in the past and they will combine some of their travel with visiting family at holidays or with business.
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There are many places that I want to visit but there are really five that I consider to be my “must visit” spots. This is my travel bucket list.
First, is the Amalfi Coast of Italy. I have read about and seen movies featuring the Amalfi Coast for years and it is tops on my list.
Positano looks to be the most romantic and scenic spot in the world. Movies like, Only You starring Robert Downey Jr and Marissa Tomei and also Under the Tuscan Sun starring Diane Lane, show highlights of the Amalfi Coast.
It is breathtaking! These towns are built into the cliffs along the sea. Positano is known for the great seaside resort of Le Sirenuse. It is a 5 star delight.
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Any time something happens in the world the first place affected is the travel industry. Travel and entertainment are usually the first things to be cut in times of a financial crisis. People need a roof over their heads and food on the table but going out to dinner and a movie and family vacations are the first to go.
During a financial crisis, like the one the world is in right now, families have to tighten their belts and make their money go further. Many people are unemployed or have had to take paycuts at work and have to stretch their budget so that their essentials are covered.
This leaves little left for the fun things in life. In the past people would plan and look forward to taking one or two vacations each year. Now they have scaled back and if they are still going on vacation they are looking at vacation spots that they can drive to. This eliminates the cost of airfare as well as renting a car.
People start doing more research to try to get the best travel deal they can get. If they are still planning to fly then they are looking at the cheapest options available and sometimes this may mean taking connections or traveling at off peak times.
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While golf may not come under the traditional category of ‘extreme sports’, there are an increasing number of resorts springing up that cater for the thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie.
One of the best places to start is the land down under, and Australia’s World’s Longest Golf Course certainly takes extreme to new levels. Saying exactly what it does on the tin, this resort boasts the world’s longest course, stretching the 1,365 km from Kalgoorie in Western Australia to Ceduna in the South, meaning you will need to leave plenty of time to complete your round. Known as Nullabor Links, the course sports a single hole in each town along its sprawling route, set against the backdrop of the rugged, typically Australian outback highway.
Head over to South Africa and the formidable Crocodile Golf resort is definitely not one for the faint-hearted. Known for its desert-style design, players are faced with a challenging approach to the 13th green – a water hazard like no other – housing a fearsome 38 live crocodiles! Try it if you dare.
If man-eating reptiles don’t appeal, then why not opt for the more rewarding $1million par three, Legend Golf and Safari Resort, another of South Africa’s finest. Not only is each hole uniquely designed by a professional golfer, but the extreme 19th Hole, if made in one, rewards the successful player with a staggering $1million. The bonus hole’s tee is perched, however, on the mammoth Hanglip Mountain, 30m away from the green – challenging to say the least. Reachable only by helicopter, it boasts a vertical drop of 430m.
Dubai’s Sand Golf Country Club, meanwhile, presents golfers with two entirely grass-free courses, known as browns. Made from compacted sand which is frequently brushed to remain true, players will also have to contend with various water hazards and bunkers around the A1 Awir and Creek courses. The resort was also home to the Emirate’s first golf course.
Finally, for the most extreme golfing daredevils, Hawaii’s Volcano Golf & Country Club sits bravely on the rim of the Kilauea volcano, the catch being this – it is still active. One of the oldest golf courses in Hawaii, the resort is situated on the brink of Hawaii Volcano Park, lying in the shadow of the Mauna Loa volcano which, from the sea floor, towers at twice the height of Mount Everest. Rumour has it that the heat emanating from the volcano’s core will make your ball fly that bit further.
Further reading
Travel guide Australia
Picture references:
1 – http://www.metro.co.uk/travel/article.html?The_hole_world_in_your_hands&in_article_id=537393
credit: Andries3
The Etosha National Park is one of the main tourist destinations in Namibia. The streets of the park are all dirt but in good condition, and you can drive with a vehicle precisely.
The Etosha, established in 1958, is one of the largest nature reserves in the world with its 22270 sq km. The park itself covers the Etosha Pan (6200 sq. km.) A lake that was formed by the Cunene river.
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The Dome – credit: artonline – Marco Musso
Milan is a city in Lobardy, Northern Italy. This metropolis is famous for its fashion houses and shops (such as along via Montenapoleone) and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo.
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credit: Pluca
The Mekong is one of the world’s major rivers. It is the 12th-longest river in the world, and 7th longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 4,350 km (2,703 mi), and it drains an area of 795,000 km².
From the Tibetan Plateau it runs through China’s Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. All except China and Burma belong to the Mekong River Commission.
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General Description
[Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples - credit: Emilio Giordano]
Italy is in Mediterranean Europe, bordering France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The country, which is a peninsula, is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea, and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian and Ionian Sea in the South, and Adriatic Sea in the East.
Italian is the major language spoken by most of the population, but as you travel throughout the country, you will find there are several distinct dialects corresponding to the region you are in. Italy has a diverse landscape, but can be mainly described as mountainous including the Alps and the Apennines mountain ranges that run through it. Italy has two major islands as part of its country: Sardinia, which is an island off the west coast of Italy, and Sicily, which is at the southern tip of the boot.
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General Description:
credit: Argenberg
Nepal is a landlocked nation in South Asia. It is bordered by the Tibet (Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China) to the northeast and India to the south and west. Bhutan separates it by the Indian state of Sikkim and from Bangladesh by a small strip of the Indian state of West Bengal (known as the “Chicken’s Neck”). The Himalaya mountain range runs across Nepal’s north and western parts, and eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest. Founded and unified by Pranav Sharma in 17th Century.
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After writing on the best adventure spots of Italy, I’ve read a question from Rich that, after reading the list, said:
The title is a little over-the-top, but it did give me some leads on hikes in Italy I had not heard of before.
So I’ve decided to surprise him by posting a more detailed list of the best trails where I live: Sicily
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