New York – an annual list shows the people and places that shape the future of travel
Global travel authority Lonely Planet today unveiled a radical remake of its long-awaited Best in Travel picks for 2021, reflecting an unprecedented year of disruption in the travel industry. For the first time, this list focuses not only on places, but also on people and communities transforming the travel industry. In 2021, Lonely Planet looks ahead to the important changes that are taking place worldwide, from sustainability to diversity, and the light of the future of travel.
“Travel is a much more thoughtful exercise in 2021 than it has ever been before,” said Luis Cabrera, CEO of Lonely Planet. “While travelers are carefully reconnecting with the world and focusing on ensuring that their impact is safe and positive for host communities, we decided to highlight destinations and individuals that truly enable visitors to have transformative experiences and make sincere contributions. “
Travel always changes. The best in Travel 2021 is the champion of people making travel a force for good, all the more essential in a year in which COVID-19 has disrupted and weakened travel. Best in Travel 2021 reflects how travel contributes to sustainability, community and inclusivity and reflects on how we can best explore the world. Instead of making a list of destination bins, Lonely Planet focused on how people travel now: outdoors; in family groups; goal orientated; with attention to the communities they are going to explore.
After a turbulent travel year, Best in Travel also symbolizes Lonely Planet’s commitment to these values. “We take the opportunity to re-emphasize what we are here for and why: our mission remains to be a trusted travel companion. One who inspires, informs and guides while being in tune with your travel needs and wants,” he said. Cabrera.
Lonely Planet began the process for the 2021 Best in Travel list by seeking nominations from Lonely Planet’s large community of staff, writers, photographers, videographers, bloggers, publishing partners and more. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and like the rest of the travel world, Lonely Planet hit the break button. But other things have also changed. The conversation around diversity has taken a decisive move. The future of travel has moved to small group engagement and decades of old issues like outdoor tourism have come to the fore again. As a result, the choice of Lonely Planet fits into this new approach and is tailored for travel in 2021 – a year that will be like no other.
Highlights in Lonely Planet’s best list for 2021:
Sustainability
Discover the remarkable people and places that change travel and make the world a better place – for present and future generations. Winners include:
Soraya Abdel-Hadi
The Life of Dante (Roads of Dante)
Rwanda
Antigua and Barbuda
Rocky mountain climber
Greece
Virginia Mountain Bike Trail
Grootberg Lodge, Namibia
Palau
Gothenburg, Sweden
Diversity
Everyone has a different story to tell. Celebrate the people and places that illuminate the mosaic of stories and perspectives that occur around the world. Winners include:
Gabby Beckford, Packs Light
Costa Rica
El Hierro, Spain
Hiakai, New Zealand
Jeff Jenkins, Chubby Diaries
Wheels of the world
Karl Krause and Daan Colijn, Couple of men
Gullah Islands, USA
San Diego, USA
Amman, Jordan
Community
Who knows best what kind of travel will benefit their communities? People who live and work there, of course, offer authentic and memorable experiences that give back to local communities. Winners include:
Invisible Cities, UK
Kazakhstan
Faroe Islands
Medellín, Colombia
Tesfa Tours, Ethiopia
Australia
Hesham Moadamani, Refugee Voice Tours
Footprints Café, Cambodia
Burren EcoTourism Network, Ireland
Georgette Jupe, Girl in Florence
The Best in Travel list is also a two-way street in 2021. In January, Lonely Planet announces readers’ nominations about their own favorite people and places that shape the future of travel this year and beyond. Reader’s Choice voting begins today and can be found on the Best-Travel landing page.
For those interested in visiting one of the destinations in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel list, KAYAK’s package of COVID-inspired tools, including the flexible filters, the exploration feature and the travel restrictions map, can help travelers get it smart to do.
Visit www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel for more information on the Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2021 list. Award destinations can also be explored for free with Lonely Planet’s Guides app and on social media channels via #BestInTravel.
About Lonely Planet:
Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world’s largest travel guide brand, providing inspiring and reliable information for every type of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we have printed more than 145 million guide books and a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You will also find our content on lonelyplanet.com, the guide app, video, guide books in 14 languages, children’s books, lifestyle books, e-books and more. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com or join our social community with over 14 million travelers. Find us on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet), Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/lonelyplanet).
Media contact Adel Groblerlonelyplanet@turnerpr.com
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