Rediscovering Zimbabwe after years of political instability, exploring India beyond the Golden Triangle or visiting Canada in the coolest season to avoid large crowds are all part of Kuoni’s latest Travel Forecast that looks at trends for the year ahead.

The premium operator has based the forecast on destinations that have significant new hotel openings over the next 12 months; places that are benefiting from new direct flight routes; and parts of the world which are investing in new tourism infrastructure and marketing to attract luxury travellers.

Exploring countries beyond the well-trodden tourist trails is a key theme for 2020 and the destination experts at Kuoni have created more travel options to places including India, Africa, Canada, the USA and Italy for people who want to see the world’s natural wonders in lesser-known regions, national parks and states.

Destinations tipped for increased bookings in the 2020 forecast include:

• India, beyond the Golden Triangle
• Zimbabwe, back after years of political instability
• USA, direct flight to Charleston and Portland increase demand for fly-drives
• The Indian Ocean, 16 new hotels added for 2020
• Greece, luxury credentials on the up
• Colombia added to the escorted touring programme
• Japan, the buzz continues for Olympic Year
• The Caribbean, new hotel openings
• Canada, escape the crowds in Winter
• Italy, slow travel in Puglia and Basilicata

Colombia features for the first time in Kuoni’s escorted touring collection with a 12-night tour taking in the country’s coffee-growing region and UNESCO-listed old town of Cartagena.

In the USA, direct flights to alternative gateways such as Charleston for the Carolinas and Portland for the Pacific North West are already increasing demand for fly-drives.

Hotel openings in Antigua raise the bar for luxury with Hammock Cove and its collection of ultra-modern pool villas due to open in December; and five-star family-friendly Royalton’s debut property offering plenty of activities for all ages.

In Mauritius, the brand new adults-only Lagoon Attitude has a strong sustainable ethos working as much as possible with local planters that provide them with fresh fruits and vegetables and an innovative approach with different zones for different vibes.

Luxury credentials in Greece are on the up for 2020 with the Angsana in Corfu a notable addition – an offshoot of the Banyan Tree brand, it is cool and contemporary and mimics a classic Greek hilltop village.

Read the full travel forecast from Kuoni here.