Media Release
01 January 2014
FLIGHT
CENTRE’S TOP 10 INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL SPOTS FOR
2014
Adventure and a touch of the gourmet lifestyle
will shape the holiday plans of travellers in 2014.
Flight
Centre has issued its top 10 inspirational hotspots for
2014. The list, created by Flight Centre’s team of
experts, is compiled according to three factors including
what the company believes to be emerging hotspots, what its
customers are enquiring about and what the travel industry
is offering next year.
Flight Centre New Zealand’s
general manager of retail, Sue Matson, said the majority of
the 2014 inspirational hotspots were selected based on
growing demands from customers wanting more out of their
holiday itinerary.
“Adventure and gourmet travel are
high on the priority list for customers and we expect these
trends to continue to soar,” Ms Matson said.
“Stop
and flop holidays will always be a crowd pleaser, but we are
also noticing our customers want more out of their holiday
and a sense of adventure or a touch of gourmet are two ways
of achieving this.”
1. BRAZIL
Travellers
will score big time exploring Brazil in 2014 as the country
celebrates its status as host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and
gears up for the Olympics in 2016.
Brazil is a sexy
destination all about its samba music, soccer stars and
supermodel beauties strolling the streets. It is also a land
of juxtaposition with wild parties and wild jungles,
adventure one minute, siesta the next.
Brazil is also the
perfect destination for voluntourism, and as that holiday
type itself surges in popularity, so too will the popularity
of Brazil and, particularly, projects in the Amazon jungle.
INSIDER TIP: Brazil’s true colours shine during
the vibrant annual Carnaval, so if the timing works for your
travel plans jump at the chance to head to the Carnival
Capital of the World, Rio de Janeiro during February -
March.
2. SINGAPORE
No longer just a
stop-over hub, Singapore is a fully-fledged tourism hot
spot. A manageable flight time, strong dollar and an
all-year round 30 degree climate are just the tip of the
iceberg.
Even if you were there three years ago, you’ll
notice a very different Singapore today.
From
traditional hawker street food markets to the glamour of
some of Asia’s best rooftop bars and designer shops,
Singapore is a multi-faceted destination offering travellers
the perfect blend of history, culture, arts and adventure.
And thanks to a strong economy and subsequent ex-pat
community, Singapore is as cosmopolitan as they
come.
Travellers will get a kick out of Sentosa Island, a
purpose-built island complete with theme park, hotel,
adventure experiences and connecting monorail.
For those
looking to take in the cosmopolitan side of Singapore a
visit to Little India, Arab Street and Club Street will
unveil the many different cultures of
Singapore.
INSIDER TIP: The famous Singapore Sling
at Raffles Hotel is the single must-do on any traveller’s
list. Rudyard Kipling famously wroteThe Jungle Book while
sipping one himself in the hotel and its magnificent facade
is steeped in colonial heritage.
3.
SHANGHAI
China’s cosmopolitan darling, Shanghai is
often forgotten as travellers traditionally flock to Beijing
to see the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. But
Shanghai is in a league of its own.
Shanghai offers a
different perspective, from ancient to modern and East to
West.
In 2013, passport holders of 45 countries and
regions including New Zealand were granted a visa-free
transit stay of up to 72 hours when taking an international
transfer via airports. As travellers embrace the flexibility
and convenience of visa travel in China, Flight Centre
predicts a surge in popularity for a Shanghai stopover.
INSIDER TIP: The Bund is a famous waterfront strip
regarded as the symbol of Shanghai and perfect for
people-watching, great restaurants and chic
bars.
4. NEW ORLEANS
The US city of New
Orleans certainly has many new things on offer, but its
unique quirks are stepped in tradition and cultural
heritage.
Founded by the French, briefly ruled by the
Spanish and called home by the Haitians in the early 1800s,
New Orleans has a vibrant history and is the most European
city in America.
New Orleans has never been easier to
access from New Zealand with all major US hubs servicing New
Orleans, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and
Houston. It is also one of the most walkable cities, with
more than 1,300 restaurants, award-winning museums and
premier tours and attractions, all scattered throughout the
historic French Quarter, CBD and Warehouse District.
From
jazz tunes to local cuisine, New Orleans has an array of
treats for travellers to sample. They say ‘Gumbo’, a
soup made of local seafood such as shrimp, crabs and
crawfish, is a tasty metaphor of New Orleans culture.
INSIDER TIP: Hit the cobblestone streets running
and take a walking tour of the cultural hub of New Orleans,
the French Quarter. With its old world shops and building
facades a walking tour offers a great insight into the
history of New Orleans and is much more fun than just
driving by.
5. SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is
the great all-rounder perfect for all traveller types where
you can seek adventure, adrenalin, romance, family time or
food and wine indulgence.
South Africa’s tourism market
is expected to continue to move from strength to strength in
2014 with improved infrastructure across the industry
playing its part in improving travellers’
experiences.
Domestic travel within South Africa will also
be even easier and more accessible, especially around the
Kruger region, with the planned re-opening of the Skukuza
Airport in the Kruger National Park in May 2014.
For a
history lesson, a visit to the township of Soweto will give
travellers a strong sense of the story behind the apartheid
struggle, while Newtown will show off the artistic flare of
the culture today.
INSIDER TIP: Well-known for its
“Big Five” – the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and
rhino – you can spot them at any of the numerous safari
lodge options available. But along with the Big Five, you
can spot another big one off the Western Cape coast where
cage diving with great white sharks is growing in
popularity.
6. COSTA RICA
A Central American
eco-hub that won’t costa lot! Budget conscious travellers
are expanding their horizons with more affordable airfare
pricing over the past few years making USA, South America
and Central America all much more viable holiday options.
Costa Rica is one of the 20 richest countries in
biodiversity and eco-conscious travellers will delight in
exploring the rainforests, active volcanoes, thermal hot
springs, beautiful beach and a thriving marine
surface.
From canopy tours to diving and white water
rafting, Costa Ricans know how to show off their assets and
travellers with a passion for Mother Nature will find this
place a wonder to behold.
INSIDER TIP: 30kms from
San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital lies the most active of all
Costa Rica volcanoes. Irazu is a colossal giant and on a
clear day both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans are visible
from its peak.
7. SOUTH AUSTRALIA
From the
vibrant atmosphere of cosmopolitan Adelaide to the pristine
beaches of Kangaroo Island and the world-famous wine region
of the Barossa, South Australia truly offers something for
everyone from adventure to avant-garde.
South Australia is
a cultural haven for tourists looking to experience award
winning wines, food and some of the most spectacular scenery
in Australia.
There’s never been a better time to
capitalise on the gourmet delights of South Australia as
Adelaide is undergoing a transformation with access from all
major airports around Australia now available.
INSIDER TIP: Just across the ditch but a world
away, Kangaroo Island is 509kms of coastline with native
bushland, wildlife, pristine beaches, local wines and
spectacular sunsets.
8. NEW CALEDONIA
France is only a few hours away, who knew?
The
glamour of France with the hospitality of the South Pacific,
New Caledonia is steeped in French colonial history yet has
the beach vibe and culture of a South Pacific Island.
Key
to its growing popularity with guests is its proximity to
New Zealand soil, with a flight time of under three hours
from Auckland.
INSIDER TIP: New Caledonia is a
cosmopolitan city with restaurants, bars, night clubs and
casinos all on offer, but travellers can seek tranquillity
on the islands of Ouvea, Isle of Pines and
Lifou.
9. EXPEDITION CRUISING
Travellers
looking for adventure are setting sail on expedition cruises
to get closer to the action. Think Antarctica, the
Kimberley, the Amazon, Galapagos Islands and Arctic
Norway.
In recent years, expedition cruise bookings have
grown in size and Flight Centre predicts this trend to
increase in 2014 with the most popular expedition cruise
choices for 2014 to be the Kimberley, Norway and Galapagos
Islands.
Very different to traditional cruising,
expedition cruises are dedicated to helping passengers learn
all about the history and culture of the remote destinations
they’re visiting. An overnight docking might involve
spotting wildlife at dawn on the water’s edge or a visit
into remote Papua New Guinean territory to see a local tribe
perform a century old ceremony.
INSIDER TIP: While
shore excursions are based on different interests and
fitness levels, mobility is a must for most expedition
cruises as many stops are wet stops, where passengers
disembark on to smaller vessels and sail to shore or explore
in the water.
10. BHUTAN
Monks, mountains
and modernisation summarise the Kingdom of Bhutan in South
Asia.
Tucked away in the Eastern Himalayas between India
and China, Bhutan offers travellers a wonderful blend of
ancient Asian civilisation with a touch of Himalayan
adventure.
Bhutan is potentially one of the happiest
places on earth. In 1971 the King famously coined the term
Gross National Happiness and it’s been used in Bhutan ever
since as a philosophical measurement of economic development
instead of Gross Domestic Product.
If the old King’s
views on economic progression are anything to go by, you
know you’ll be greeted with friendly faces and a positive
outlook on life in Bhutan.
Flight Centre predicts the
surge in its double dip airfares, two airfares for one low
price, will see more travellers add a Bhutan stopover to
their Thailand, Singapore or India itineraries.
INSIDER TIP: Bhutan’s geographic location
and unique climatic variations make it one of the world’s
last remaining biodiversity hotspots. Conservation is
key and there are a number of national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries showcasing endangered animals, birds and plants
to raise awareness.
For more information on great
holiday destinations for 2014, check out Flight Centre’s New
Year Sale. Contact the team at Flight Centre on 0800 427 555
or visit www.flightcentre.co.nz
- ENDS
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About Flight Centre
Flight Centre (NZ)
Ltd is New Zealand’s largest travel agency, with
approximately 900 staff in more than 200 retail stores and
businesses nationwide.
Flight Centre consultants are the
travel experts and are selected for their vast product
knowledge and their passion for travel. Flight Centre’s
global network allows consultants access to the widest
travel product offering in New Zealand, at the best
value.
Brands in the New Zealand market operated by Flight
Centre (NZ) Ltd include;
Flight
Centre
Cruiseabout
Student Flights
Vuksich Greive
Travel Associates
Hannagan Greive Travel
Associates
FCm Travel Solutions
Corporate
Traveller
cievents
Stage and Screen
Flight Centre
Business Travel
Infinity Holidays
Flight Centre Travel
Money
The company has won the Kenexa Best Workplaces,
large workplace category award for eight consecutive years.
In addition and in recognition of Flight Centre’s
continued achievements in the Kenexa Best Workplaces Survey
over the past ten years, Flight Centre is also a Five-Year
League Award recipient and a Ten-Year League Award
recipient.
Flight Centre Limited globally has almost
13,000 staff in 11 countries including Australia, New
Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom,
South Africa, Hong Kong, India, China, Singapore and
Dubai.
FLIGHT CENTRE"S TOP 10 INSPIRATIONAL TRAVEL SPOTS FOR 2014
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