The “Cool List” for 2024, published by National Geographic each year, has been released with thirty destinations worldwide highlighted.
This year’s list is divided by continent, with thirteen locations in Europe, four in Asia and Australia, nine in the Americas, and three in Africa. Often, the destinations go beyond a list of cities and include regions, national parks, or broad areas that can cross the borders of various countries.
A look at the 2024 list
EUROPE
- Albanian Alps, Albania
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Galloway and Southern Ayrshire, Scotland
- Nordland, Norway
- North Yorkshire, England
- Pompeii, Italy
- Saimaa, Finland
- Tartu, Estonia
- The Euros, Germany
- Valletta, Malta
- Whisky in Wales
- Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
THE AMERICAS
- Atacama Desert, Chile
- Lima, Peru
- New York State, USA
- Miami, USA
- Dominica
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Texas, USA
- Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
- Iberá Wetlands, Argentina
AFRICA
- Akagera, Rwanda
- Andrefana Dry Forests, Madagascar
- Sierra Leone
ASIA and AUSTRALIA
- Sikkim, India
- Tainan, Taiwan
- Xi’an, China
- Victoria, Australia
The list tends to include destinations where impressive public and private ventures are taking place that will attract visitors in the coming years as word begins to spread about the projects. Sierra Leone has significantly upgraded its largest airport in its capital city, Freetown. With the presence of international hotel chains, tourism to the coastal nation is likely to increase in the coming years.
Various UK destinations make the list
The United Kingdom is highly represented in this year’s list. Since Brexit, the United Kingdom has seen tourism decrease, according to the German news outlet DW. The inclusion of five locations from the United Kingdom on the list could be an effort to highlight destinations that were previously visited by a significantly higher number of individuals. For those seeking a nature-focused trip rather than urban landscapes, one of these locations may be perfect. Writing about North Yorkshire, the team at National Geographic focused on the ecosystem restoration underway in the area and the biodiversity benefits the project is expected to bring. “Intensive sheep grazing is being reduced, peat bogs and waterways are being restored and tens of thousands of newly planted saplings will boost tree cover from 6% to over 20%,” reads the article.
If reconnecting with nature is not on your 2024 bucket list, there are other options, including a trip to visit the whisky distilleries around Wales. Penderyn is a newer player in the whisky game, as it was the “first commercial distillery in over 100 years when it opened in 2000.”
Which US destinations made the list?
Two US states, New York and Texas, along with the city of Miami, have been included in the 2024 list of top tourist destinations. Both New York and Texas offer a unique blend of urban and natural landscapes that are sure to keep visitors occupied and entertained throughout their stay.
Miami has long been a center for tourism in the United States, with the beach and the rich blend of cultures on full display to those who make it. National Geographic sees Miami’s Underline, a project similar to the Highline in New York City, as a great reason to visit the city next year.
The city has decided to build a 10-mile linear park under the Metrorail, and with a focus on public art, Miami the project is sure “to the dazzle of a city already known for the murals of Wynwood Walls, and the recently expanded Museum of Graffiti alongside it.”
