Christchurch makes top 2027 travel destinations list

Christchurch has been named as one of Booking.com‘s top trending destinations for 2027, it has revealed. 

The South Island’s most populous city is among global destinations that survey respondents said they were planning a trip to in the next 12 to 24 months, alongside up and coming hotspots in Italy, Paraguay, Japan and India. 

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The eleventh installment of the booking site’s Travel Predictions revealed that current travel trends revolve around finding something new, it said. 

“For years, travel followed a familiar formula: pick a destination, pack a bag and follow the itinerary.  

“In 2027, travellers are rewriting the rules, booking by mood, choosing companions based on budget and seeking experiences that surprise both themselves and their friends.  

“The defining feature of travel in the year ahead is the element of surprise, beyond what an algorithm could ever predict.” 

Related AccomNews story: Homes, hotels or both? Christchurch’s Airbnb dilemma

Booking.com said its research looked at what 28,000 travellers across 32 countries and territories were looking for in their upcoming travel plans. It found that Christchurch ticked the boxes for many of the 67 percent of holidaymakers looking for their next trip to surprise them in some way, and the 36 percent who wanted to surprise friends and family with their holiday photos. 

“Christchurch offers jam-packed hiking itineraries one day and the chance to escape into some of the world’s most remote landscapes the next. That means that whatever your travel style, getting away from routine will come naturally here. “ 

Other key findings of the research included that around two thirds of travellers (67 percent) said at least one health or lifestyle change has influenced their choice of holiday destination. For others, it affects what they seek out during their trip, with 23 percent looking for low- or no-alcohol drinks options, and 35 percent searching for high-protein meals. 

Budget considerations were high on travellers’ lists, too, with half admitting they have reconsidered who they invite on a trip due to budget or spending differences. This was most notable in Gen Z; 62 percent of this group said they had disagreed with their travel partners during their trip due to spending differences, versus only 27 percent of Boomers. 

The overall picture, booking.com said, pointed towards travellers spending more time thinking about what they wanted out of their holiday, rather than treating destinations as a tick list. 81 percent said they would rather pick a destination based on how they want to feel, rather than where they want to go. 

Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2027 list in full: 

• Christchurch, New Zealand
• Monterey, California, U.S.A
• Sendai, Japan
• Reims, France
• Rosario, Argentina
• Pescara, Italy
• Puri, India
• Goiânia, Brazil
• Asunción, Paraguay
• Bratislava, Slovakia