World’s Most Desired Travel Destinations: Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand Make The List + A New Beatles Attraction in London

A new list of the world’s most desired destinations, a look at a new Beatles experience heading to London, England, and a $3 billion prgram to boost Toronto Pearson Airport. Today’s blog post covers a lot of ground.

WORLD’S MOST DESIRED DESTINATIONS

It seems every keen traveller has their own bucket list of places they’re desperate to visit. Maybe it’s Machu Picchu, or maybe it’s a little town in France you visited on your honeymoon.

I don’ t know that any list can be definitive, but the folks at JB.com say they’ve up come with a list of the most desired countries in the world that people want to visit.

To find which countries people dream about visiting most, the research analyzed 100 Reddit threads where travelers shared their bucket lists and dream destinations. The study also tracked monthly online search interest for each destination, Instagram hashtag counts, and how many tourists actually visit every year. Countries were finally ranked by how often they appeared in online wish list discussions. 

Here’s their top 10, along with estimated mentions and some thoughts from yours truly

JAPAN 

I’ve been a couple times, and this country never ceases to amaze me. There are 122 million people packed into a relatively small country (146,000 square miles; about 60% the size of Alberta, which has five million residents), but they manage to make it work. There’s also the fantastic food, lovely temples, and beautiful countryside. I’ve only been to Tokyo (twice) and Kyoto (once), but I loved both and would very much like to return to see more of the country.

NEW ZEALAND 

Another relatively small country with truly spectacular scenery that ranges from sub-tropical to alpine mountain to Norwegian-like fjord. The country is only 103,000 square miles in size, but has just 5.4 million people. I love the North Island, but I think the South Island is more dramatic. Both are home to spectacular beaches, welcoming locals and amazing wine. If you’re looking for something most visitors don’t seem to know about, check out the formerly French village of Akaroa, a short drive east of Christchurch on the South Island. It’s got charm to spare, and the surrounding countryside and coastal views are splendid.

ITALY 

One of the world’ s best-loved countries, Italy is famous for its food and wine. But you’ll also find towering, snow-covered mountains in the north (including the Dolomites, which many of us saw during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year), historic cities like Rome and Florence, and stark, beautiful Mediterranean islands such as Capri and Sicily. It can be busy with locals in summer, but check out the island of Ponza for something a little different. And don’t miss the sensational food offerings of Emilia-Romagna.

ICELAND

I haven’t been, but everyone I know who’s visited this country raves about the natural beauty.

NORWAY

Same. It’s definitely on my list; especially the fjords.

SWITZERLAND 

Craggy, jagged alpine mountains and crystal-clear lakes? Sure, but Switzerland also is home to terrific cities like Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne (love the lakeside setting and terrace vineyards), Bern and Lucerne, which is as pretty as a postcard. Zurich is beautiful, but also has a lively night life that might surprise visitors. I’ve also walked inside a glacier near Grindelwald and walked the streets of Zermatt, home of the Matterhorn. Next on my list is the Italian district of Ticino in southern Switzerland!

AUSTRALIA

 

I’ve managed to get to Australia five times in the past 25 years or so, and it’ s one of my fave places on the planet. The people, the scenery, the food and the wine are all spectacular. I love taking boat rides on Sydney Harbour and touring around The Rocks district. Both Bondi and Manly are outstanding beaches. I haven’t spent much time in Melbourne, but I did get to visit the Twelve Apostles in 2000 after the Sydney Olympics. It was one of the highlights of my life, as was a visit to Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) in 2010. I’ve been to Queensland a couple times, including a snorkeling trip on the majestic Great Barrier Reef and a day trip to Lady Elliot Island. I also had a couple of days on Lord Howe Island, one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever seen. I also have been to Western Australia twice in the past six years. I was able to enjoy insanely beautiful coastal and outback scenery at Kalbarri National Park, swim with sea lions in Jurien Bay, tour the lovely city of Perth and Rottnest Island (home of adorable marsupials called quokkas) and visit the world-class wineries in the Margaret River region. On my last trip I was able to take a “flying pub crawl” and check out some of the world’s most beautiful, white-sand beaches near Esperance. Brisbane will host the Summer Olympics in 2032.

CANADA

 

I’m biased, but I do think I live in the best country in the world. I’m not crazy about the climate, but the people are world-class and embrace visitors and would-be residents of all kinds. Canada is home to amazing cities like Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, and I defy anyone to find a more beautiful set of mountains than the Alberta Rockies. Toss in the warmth and coastal scenery of the Atlantic provinces, and you’ve got one spectacular destination. Looking for some different places to explore? Saskatoon is a terrific city, as is Halifax. I also love the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Dawson City in Yukon, and the Acadian coast of New Brunswick.

GREECE

I haven’t seen nearly enough of this country, but the areas I’ve visited were terrific. I was in Athens in 1990 for a couple days, and then spent two days on the island of Paros, which was pretty much undiscovered at the time. It was a short but wonderful trip, with great seafood, lovely beaches and a terrific moped ride around the island. I spent a month in Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympics and quite enjoyed seeing the sights. We also took a day trip to Hydra, which was quite pleasant. Gotta make it to Santorini some day, and I’d love to visit some of the lesser-known islands as well.

 

SCOTLAND

I’ve been to Edinburgh a couple times, most recently in the summer of 2023. It’s a fabulous city that’s rich in history. I had a day trip to Inverness to talk with the folks who run Castle Stuart Golf Links, which is run by the Canadian company Cabot Golf. My wife and I also had a couple of days in Glasgow, where we took an engaging and enjoyable music tour. We also had three days on the Isle of Arran, a small, easy-to-navigate island about an hour west of the mainland that has a wonderful whisky distillery, an old castle, charming villages, a fun and funky golf course called Shiskine, and much more.

NEW BEATLES EXPERIENCE COMING TO LONDON

Associated Press reports The Beatles are headed back to one of the band’s most famous sites with a new fan experience in London.

Apple Corps Ltd, the company founded by the Fab Four, announced Monday that it will open a new seven-floor fan experience at the company’s early headquarters. The building is the place where the band’s “Let It Be” album was recorded and its rooftop was the site of the Beatles’ last public performance on Jan. 30, 1969.

The attraction in central London will allow fans access to the rooftop, studios and extensive Beatles archives.

TORONTO PEARSON AIRPORT: $3 BILLION UPGRADE ANNOUNCED

Toronto Pearson, Canada’s busiest airport, has launched Pearson LIFT (Long–term Investment in Facilities and Terminals), one of the largest airport infrastructure programs in Canadian history.

Pearson LIFT is a phased, multi-billion-dollar program to modernize and expand the airport, renewing infrastructure, advancing technology–driven operations, revitalizing and expanding facilities to support Toronto Pearson’s growth for the next decade and beyond.

The initial phase of the first major part of the program includes a $3-billion investment in airside and baggage systems, unlocking space for millions more passengers and delivering a smoother, faster and more reliable journey from curb to gate, including: