What's 'Destination Duping' and why is it trending?

Visitor numbers in numerous popular destinations have surged back to pre-pandemic levels. Travellers are now eager to escape and are willing to pay premium prices for sought-after destinations. However, there are more affordable alternatives, as highlighted by any news reports and sources too.

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And here comes the ‘Destination Dupe,’ the emerging travel trend. Social media has fueled this trend, offering tourists alternatives to overcrowded hotspots. And to influence this trend, one can easily get suggestions that include swapping Tunis for Santorini, Pula for Rome, and Ljubljana for Venice.

Cities like Athens have taken measures to manage visitor numbers, emphasising sustainability. In 2023, the Acropolis implemented a daily visitor cap of 20,000. Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni hailed 2023 as another record year for arrivals and revenue, stressing the importance of promoting Greece as a year-round destination.

Embracing Sustainable Tourism

Slovenia and other countries embrace the trend to alleviate the strain of mass tourism on residents' lives. Slovenia, with its focus on sustainable tourism for the past decade, emphasizes the benefits of avoiding large resorts.

Tunisia also distances itself from the mass tourism image, attributing the change to government measures promoting economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Overcrowded destinations like Venice and Amsterdam are increasing tourist taxes to combat overtourism. Iceland plans to introduce a tax to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. France intends to launch a €1m campaign to encourage tourists to explore off-the-beaten-track destinations.

While the notion of bypassing a well-known destination in favour of exploring a neighbouring, comparatively less-known city or town is not novel, reports anticipated its resurgence, which has begun to gain traction as we transition into the cosy, warm season.

The rise in destination duping reflects a significant shift in travellers' preferences, driven by a desire for authentic cultural immersion and value-driven experiences, particularly evident among the younger demographic seeking genuine authenticity. This trend is further supported by robust data demonstrating a clear preference for unique, offbeat destinations.

Benefitting Residents and Environment

‘Destination duping' benefits not only residents of undiscovered cities, but also overcrowded ones and the environment. As flight costs rise, travellers are all ready to embrace this " and add relevant subheadings wherever necessary

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