Greece on Bucket List of Global Travel Writers for 2021

Photo © GTP

Global travel writers, planning to resume travel this year, have included Greece on their bucket list of destinations.

As part of a survey conducted by public relations agency FINN Partners Global Travel Practice, hundreds of travel writers were asked to name destinations they have not visited before and would consider for their bucket list.

A list of 10 popular vacation spots around the globe was compiled with Greece ranking eighth.

Japan is in first position followed by South America and Iceland.

2021 Bucket List Destinations around the world

Tokyo, Japan

1. Japan
2. South America
3. Iceland
4. Australia
5. Africa
6. New Zealand
7. South Africa
8. Greece
9. Europe
10. Peru

Covid-19 vaccine and a thirst for new locales spur hope for a return to travel journalism

FINN Partners Global Travel Practice tapped hundreds of travel writers and content producers about their preferences, inspirations, barriers and opportunities for future travel and how it will impact their work.

According to the survey, an overwhelming majority of global travel writers – 94 percent – plan to resume travel in 2021 for first-hand reporting.

Archive photo of travel journalists on a press trip to Attica.

The survey found that attitudes about travel are shifting as vaccines are distributed and a new U.S. president prepares to take office. The majority of travel writers surveyed said they will promote travel and tourism before the pandemic is over as travel entities demonstrate responsible safety practices.

They also believe President-elect Joe Biden and his administration will make international travel to and from the U.S. more accessible to everyone. More than a third of the respondents (37 percent) will start traveling only after getting vaccinated.

Moreover, over 60 percent of those surveyed would like to visit places they have not been before, domestically and internationally, and 37 percent would like to revisit their favorite destinations. Also, more than half of respondents will rely only on their first hand experiences when reporting making a swift return to travel even more important.

Other survey findings included media’s belief that keeping travel top of mind and promoting it even during the pandemic is important.

Hot content topics for 2021

Photo source: European Travel Commission (ETC)

The FINN survey also asked writers to rank topics based on their travel writing outlook this year. While topics were varied, the majority (67 percent) think domestic stories and headlines on destinations closer to home will be their top focus.

Ranked in order of topic preferences:

– Close to home travel: 67%
– Underrated destinations: 54%
– Responsible travel: 47%
– Health and wellness: 42%
– Travel safety: 37%
– Travel innovation: 36%
– Non-travel: 16%

Respondents also said that the hot topics post-Covid when borders reopen and travel resumes will be about:

– Brands driving positive changes in travel (sustainability, all-accessible design, community benefit, etc.): 32%
– Deals and safety protocols: 32%
– Pandemic influenced airports, airlines and hotels of the future: 10%

The survey of about 400 travel writers and content producers in North America, Asia, and Europe was conducted in December.