(5 December) Here are the trends we’ve noticed this week:

Best places to travel in 2020 according to i-escape
The experts at i-escape have named the best places to visit in 2020. The top destinations include Kent, England, which is emerging as a bucket-list region for wine-lovers; the Canaries, Spain, where clear skies allow tourists to experience the new ‘astrotourism’ travel trend; and Cochin India, which is enjoying a host of new openings. Other destinations, such as Portugal’s Eastern Algarve and Kalkudah Beach in Sri Lanka, are recommended to travellers who want to avoid crowds.

Locals believe visitors are missing out on the true spirit of destinations
A survey across seven major cities has revealed that 59% of locals feel visitors are missing out on the true spirit of their area — even though, according to the same survey, 75% of luxury travellers want to experience cities as a well-informed local. The research was carried out as part of InterContinental’s new ICons campaign, which also reveals that three-quarters of travellers feel obliged to see the most popular tourist sites.

Top experiences in the US in 2020
VisitTheUSA has highlighted the top experiences for the New Year. Among them: Old San Juan in Puerto Rico marking 500 years of history, with celebrations across the island; the first-ever Pride of the Americas LGBT festival, taking place in Greater Fort Lauderdale, north of Miami; and the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage being celebrated with a number of events across the US, particularly in the New England region.