(Thursday 19 December) Here are our favourite travel trends of the week:

Travellers want to be connected again
Audley Travel has identified a shift from digital detox to digital reconnect, based on customer demand. Audley Travel’s trends for 2020 report finds a decreasing number of properties are ditching technology, based on clients’ wish to remain connected, whether it’s as simple as providing internet access or offering preloaded playlists, sensory experiences and bespoke apps. Other trends noted in the report include an increasing focus on slow travel, conservation, community tourism and undertourism.

Pinterest’s travel trends for 2020
Responsible tourism is on travellers’ agenda now more than ever, according to Pinterest. The social media company released its trends for 2020 based on user behaviour. Among the terms searched travel terms of the past year are eco-structures (over 31%), such as treehouse retreats, biodomes and ecolodges; agritourism (over 57%), where farmers invite travellers to lend a helping hand and pick their own produce; and zero-waste travel essentials (over 48%).

USTOA’s top destinations for 2020
The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) has released the results of its annual survey. According to the results, Egypt, Croatia and Colombia are the top emerging destinations for 2020, while Italy was named the most popular country followed by France and Spain. Finally, arts and culture was cited by survey participants as the top travel category driving sales, with wildlife and nature following close behind.