'Absolutely unbelievable' destination experts say you should visit now
As travellers look to expand their travel horizons in 2026, a travel expert has revealed the destinations people are the most interested in visiting.
While old favourites like Italy and Japan continue to reign supreme, there are some more unexpected countries among the "hottest" tickets this year.
"Sri Lanka is going to grow and boom this year, particularly because Jet Star is starting to fly there from the east coast of Australia," Australian Traveller's Quentin Long said.
READ MORE: Biggest 'trending' spot of the year looks like Italy but has far fewer tourists
New flights are making travel to Sri Lanka easier. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Mexico is another spot considered the "big winner out of North America".
"Festivals and events absolutely is driving a lot of travel right now," Quentin told Today show hosts, pointing to the FIFA World Cup across North America, the Winter Olympics and Italy and the Tour de France as major drawcards.
But it's some of the emerging destinations that are going to be the real highlights.
"Albania is absolutely unbelievable. And Montenegro which is right next to Albania," he said.
Karl may have seemed perplexed by this notion, but we too have been banging on about Albania for some time now.
As seasoned traveller Dilvin Yasa wrote just a few months ago on 9Travel: "How this Balkan gem continues to fly under the radar with most Australians is baffling."
Albania is considered one of the top emerging destinations. Getty
The country's affordability and warm, welcoming locals are big plus points.
"Albania is also home to the Albanian Riviera, which is significantly cheaper than its western European counterparts, a varied cuisine and a rich and colourful history shaped by both Ottoman rule and communism," Dilvin wrote.
"Don't miss the charming Ottoman-era towns of Gjirokaster and Berat, the ancient Greek and Roman cities of Apollonia Archaeological Park and Butrint, or the Albanian Alps - known for its dramatic peaks, traditional villages and hiking trails."
The country has been called the "new Croatia". Getty Images/iStockphoto
Shifting climates, the Nordic region is also booming among travellers, while Saudi Arabia is fast becoming a player in the luxury market.
As for overall trends, it's no surprise that Quentin also agreed that Euro summer is out.
"What's happening is more Australians are traveling in the shoulder period. So think September, October, May, June; it's cheaper, it's cooler, less populated, and that's really making massive difference," he said.
That difference should also be seen in overall travel costs.
"Costs should come down," he said. "We think that airfares out of those peak periods will come down slightly."
