These Cities Will Explode in Popularity in 2019

Often looked at as a “stopover destination," due to the massive Changi Airport – which sees countless travellers making airline connections each day – Singapore is slated for change in 2019. The city is preparing to reopen their famous Raffles Hotel this year, one of the better-known filming locations from the 2018 hit movie Crazy Rich Asians. Jeff Element, president of The Travel Corporation Canada says “having seen the hit movie, many Canadians have gotten the travel bug for the city and will be exploring every nook and cranny where the movie was filmed – from its impressive mansions to Michelin-starred food stalls.” The city has already begun to see a boost in its tourism, with American Express noting that cardholder bookings to Singapore were up 24% compared to the year before.

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Move over Sydney and Melbourne: Brisbane, the capital of Australia's Queensland state, has already begun to explode in popularity. With the 2018 opening of the first luxury property in the city’s core in over 20 years, the W Hotel is just the start of what’s to come for buzzing Brisbane. Jeff Element notes that the city will also be unveiling a $140 million Howard Smith Wharves development under the Story Bridge. But he’s quick to add that it’s not just urban advances that are going to have tourists flocking to the city in 2019: “The city will be much more than just a cultural hub. This interesting city boasts something for everyone from art galleries, a gateway to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, proximity to the famous Gold Coast and yes, even wildlife, thanks to it being close to the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary and the world famous Australia Zoo.” Canadian travellers can enjoy easy access to the city via Air Canada’s non-stop flight from Vancouver.

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Lonely Planet listed Copenhagen as the top city to travel to in 2019 and continues to hold rank amongst the world’s most liveable cities. “From Instagram-worthy buildings, cool neighbourhoods, delicious foods and plenty to see and do, it’s easy to see why everyone will be flocking to the ‘capital of cool’ in 2019,” says Jeff Element.

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This university city is slated to come out from the shadows in 2019. From the city’s ornate architecture to its rich history and lush landscapes, it’s easy to find the charm here – but it’s the food scene that Jeff Element predicts will put Cambridge on the map as a top destination in 2019. “Cambridge is reinventing the once-stodgy British dishes with a more progressive take thanks to restaurant’s like Parker’s Tavern, and, across town, the sublime Restaurant 22.” Jeff recommends getting into the spirit of the city with a full-day Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour that takes visitors through the historical towns home to two of the world’s most renowned colleges.

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“Helsinki is truly on the up and continues to build on its reputation as an art and design mecca," says Jeff. “An innately cosmopolitan place, where the Arctic, Russia and Europe collide." He adds that "in summer, the city’s innumerable parks and outside bars mark it as one of the best Scandinavian trips to take.” In 2019, look out for Oodi, the city’s new central library. The structure is guaranteed to be a hit with architecture-lovers, who will appreciate the mix of glass and steel against a wooden facade, blending both classic and contemporary design.

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In 2019, the German capital will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – and you can expect a celebration of epic proportions. “With around 31 million overnight stays in hotels in 2016, Berlin weighed in at third place for Euorpean city trips after London and Paris,” says Jeff.

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Formerly a major port in Vietnam, this unassuming town boasts truly awe-inspiring architecture. A blend of historic buildings and eclectic design, the city provides a dazzling backdrop for one of its prime attractions: the food. Jeff notes Hoi An’s culinary scene as the true standout feature for tourists in 2019: “new eateries are popping up, offering travellers plenty to sample.”

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The city known best for its structures carved into limestone hills will see a boost in tourism in 2019. Jeff credits this to Matera being tagged as 2019’s European Capital of Culture. Of the impact this honour will have on Matera’s tourism in 2019, Jeff says visitors have already begun joining in on the celebration: “inhabitants of Matera have been taking part in a 'one year to go' art project that saw residents and visitors coming together to construct a giant scene made from cardboard boxes, evoking an annual tradition of creating paper mache tribute to the city’s patron saint.”

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Known worldwide as the “capital of goulash”, Jeff says Prague is another city to watch in 2019 – primarily due to its culinary evolution, citing that “a dynamic dining landscape will take shape”. Beyond the world-class dining, visitors to Prague will enjoy the blend of old and new delights while taking in the historic charm in the city’s architecture by day and the contemporary ambiance of the bustling nightlife by night.

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With 47 miles of sandy beaches lined in palm trees, along with a bustling urban scene and a slew of new developments on track for 2019, Palm Beach has a lot to offer. Of these new developments, Jeff notes that “innovative hotel concepts, elevated culinary experiences and re-envisioned cultural institutions” as advances that will set Palm Beach apart in 2019. With everything the city has in the works for the coming year, there’s no doubt Palm Beach is on track to step out from the shadows of Miami Beach and appeal to travellers looking to indulge in a glamorous getaway – with an ocean view.

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