(Thursday 24 October) Here are the trends that caught our eye this week:

Best travel destinations for 2020

Bhutan, the South Asian kingdom aiming to become the first fully organic nation, is the number-one country to visit next year, according to Lonely Planet. Meanwhile, the Central Asian Silk Road, now more accessible than ever, claims the spot as top region, while Salzburg, which will celebrate the centenary of its festival of music and drama in 2020, was named top city.

The rise of country coupling

The latest Virtuoso Luxe Report reveals that travellers are increasingly exploring multiple countries on the same trip, even during short journeys. Itineraries with a range of settings are trending, even ones with unexpected combinations: a ski adventure with a beach getaway or a much-visited tourist attraction followed by a little-known spot to mingle with locals.

Pet-centric vacations

The coming year is set to bring about a new era in pet vacations, as travellers increasingly take the needs of their animal friends into account. Booking.com’s travel predictions for 2020 show that 42% of travellers would choose destinations based on whether they can take their pets along on the trip, while 49% are willing to pay more to stay in pet-friendly accommodations.