UK holidaymakers would splurge an extra £300 on their holiday if it included an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime sight, according to Kuoni.
The Kuoni Worldwide Trends Report, launched today, found that eight in 10 Britons expressed an interest in escaping the usual tourist traps on their next holiday. They would pay on average £300 extra for the privilege.
Spokeswoman Rachel O’Reilly, said: "Whilst the Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal attract thousands of visitors per year between them and remain high on people’s wish lists, a generation of travellers are now seeking more secluded beauty spots.
"Beyond the main tourist attractions the world has so much to offer and we’re seeing a trend for people looking for alternative places and experiences away from the famous well-trodden hotspots."
Jaffna in the North of Sri Lanka, El Nido Pangulasian Island in the Philippines and the ancient Mayan city of Yaxchilan in Mexico have made it into Kuoni’s top-20 list of the world’s best-kept hidden gems has.
O’Reilly added: "Although many people are happy to visit lesser-known holiday sights based on friends’ recommendations, it seems they’re less likely to tell others about them.
"Six in 10 of our respondents said they’d never share a travel secret with anyone else, suggesting that hidden holiday gems are very personal."
The top-20 best-kept travel secrets in the world, according to Kuoni are:
- Views of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh, India
- The island of Gili Meno, Indonesia
- El Nido Pangulasian Island, Philippines
- Bukchon Village in Seoul, South Korea
- Con Dao Island, Vietnam
- The hike between OIA and Imerovigli, Santorini, Greece
- The island of Bequia, the Grenadines
- Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve, Costa Rica
- The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, Virginia, USA
- Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats), Bolivia
- The town of Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy
- The koalas of Kennet River on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
- Farewell Spit, New Zealand
- Jaffna, north Sri Lanka
- Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
- Omodos Village, Cyprus
- KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa
