Booking.com’s latest research – with insights from more than 30,000 travellers across 21 countries and territories – revealed that 81% of travellers confirm that sustainable travel is important to them, with 70% saying they would be more likely to choose a sustainable accommodation.
Here are 5 of the world’s most beautiful natural sights which have sustainable travel options available:
The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
About: While the folklore is interesting, the science behind the Causeway’s creation is even more so; formed 60 million years ago during a period of high volcanic activity, these 40,000 interlocking basalt columns are the result of lava cooling into near-perfect hexagons.
Popularity: Google searches for Giant’s Causeway peaked in September 2019, before, sadly, dipping in 2020 to the lowest interest seen in the past five years and down 70% on the year before – likely due to the pandemic. Since the beginning of 2022, searches have doubled, with the hope of seeing interest return to pre-pandemic figures.
Manjanggul Lava Tube, South Korea
About: Located on the volcanic island of Jeju, in South Korea, the Manjanggul Lava Tube is a seven-kilometre-long tunnel carved out by lava flow over a hundred thousand years ago. The tube is illuminated by multi-coloured spotlights whose kaleidoscopic hues stream down stalactites and stalagmites, lending this UNESCO world heritage site an otherworldly feel.
Popularity: Global searches for Jeju Island, where the Manjanggul Lava Tube is located, spiked in October 2021 – a 525% increase in interest in just one month – after being mentioned once in the popular Netflix series “Squid Games”.
Kirkjufell, Iceland
About: Located on the western Snæfellsnes peninsula, Kirkjufell – which means ‘church mountain’ – is a 463-metre-high mountain that’s said to be the most photographed in the country. Game of Thrones fans may also recognise the mountain as the ‘Arrow Head Mountain’ from the popular TV series.
Popularity: This mountain also saw an increase in popularity following being featured on Game of Thrones. Since being referenced in Season 7 Episode 6, Kirkjufell saw a peak in Google searches, the largest number of searches since in the past five years (2017-2022). Searches for Kirkjufell dipped during the pandemic and have not regained pre-pandemic interest levels yet.
Wadi Rum, Jordan
About: Wadi Rum is a dramatic, Mars-like valley that stretches across Jordan’s ochre desert. Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum cuts into the sandstone and granite, creating alien-like rock formations seen almost nowhere else on Earth.
Popularity: Wadi Rum saw a dramatic drop in searches at the beginning of the pandemic, dropping 80% between late February and March 2020. Wadi Rum has seen regained its interest, predicted to peak to search levels similar to pre-pandemic. In 2021, searches for Wadi Rum peaked in November – up 464% from the year before – potentially impacted by the release of the movie Dune (2021), which was filmed in Wadi Rum.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
About: Zanzibar is home to pristine palm-fringed beaches, spectacular sunsets, crystal clear water and some great snorkelling. Located about 25 kilometres off the coast of mainland Tanzania, this island paradise teeming with natural beauty is regarded by many as paradise on Earth.
Popularity: Zanzibar dropped to its lowest search levels in May 2020, but has since regained similar interest levels to pre-pandemic.
You can find the full story by Booking.com here: https://www.booking.com/articles/the-earths-natural-beauty.en.html
