Savvy, curious travelers who understand that Japan is more than just
Tokyo have had Ishigaki, Japan on their travel radar, as the island has
emerged the top trending spot in the 2018 edition of TripAdvisor’s
annual Travelers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise ranking.
A stark contrast to the fast-paced, technologically-advanced society
of fluorescent-lit Tokyo, Ishigaki is located in Japan’s southwestern
Okinawa Prefecture, and is growing increasingly popular as a tourist
destination for tired urbanites who can snorkel, dive, surf and soak
along its beaches.
The area is also known for its colorful coral reefs, bright blue
ocean waters, sugarcane fields, lush mountainside and mangroves.
Destinations on TripAdvisor’s annual list of top rising places are
often lesser-known, emerging destinations set on the fringes of the
mainstream tourist radar.
Winners are selected by measuring year-over-year increases in
positive traveler review ratings. Winners have also experienced an
increase in search traffic and booking interest.
Rounding out the top five spots on the list are Kapaa, Hawaii; Nairobi, Kenya; Halifax, Canada; and Gdansk, Poland.
Kapaa, Hawaii is also the top rising United States destination of 2018.
“The Travelers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise award winners are a
great source of inspiration for travelers interested in going somewhere
exciting that’s emerging in popularity,” said Brooke Ferencsik, senior
director of communications for TripAdvisor in a statement.
“These winners were based on destination feedback and interest from
the TripAdvisor community, and a common thread is that they all have
outstanding accommodations, wonderful restaurants and exceptional
attractions for every travel budget,” the TripAdvisor official added.
Here are the Travelers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise:
1. Ishigaki, Japan
2. Kapaa, Hawaii
3. Nairobi, Kenya
4. Halifax, Canada
5. Gdansk, Poland
6. San Jose, Costa Rica
7. Riga, Latvia
8. Rovinj, Croatia
9. Nerja, Spain
2. Kapaa, Hawaii
3. Nairobi, Kenya
4. Halifax, Canada
5. Gdansk, Poland
6. San Jose, Costa Rica
7. Riga, Latvia
8. Rovinj, Croatia
9. Nerja, Spain
10. Boycott by our company
