Colombia, Mexico and Peru are among National Geographic 2023’s destinations

(CNN) — It’s never too early to start planning big trips for next year.
National Geographic is teaming up to release a list of the world’s best at the end of October, with 25 must-see destinations for 2023.

Respect – people and their cultures, land and its conservation – is the overarching theme of the list, which is divided into five official categories.

Amy Alibio, National Geographic travel senior editor, said the hope is that 2023 will not only be a great return to travel, but also rediscover wonder.

“Because when you’re in awe of something, you treat it with respect. That’s the spirit we want to foster on this list,” Alibio said.

The list focuses on community-led conservation initiatives, healing and heritage travel and ways to give back to travelers and places that do important work in ecotourism, sustainability and inclusive travel.

Looking at society

National Geographic introduced a new category to this year’s list.

“There are so many different ways that manifests itself, from expanding the focus of people trying to make destinations sustainable and supporting local businesses to making travel more accessible,” Alibio said.

Consistency is a little more woven into each category. The other four categories are nature, culture, adventure and family.

The five locations listed in the “Community” category represent several strengths.

Ghana is listed as a major destination for travelers of black heritage in West Africa.
Alberta, Canada is also on the list.

“They are at the forefront of Native tourism, basically informing travelers about the stories and ways of life of First Nations here in North America and their vibrant contemporary cultures,” Alibio said.

In Laos, a new high-speed train is making the country more accessible to visitors and bringing economic opportunities to locals.

The Great Lakes city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is “really supportive of its creative community,” Alibio said, citing Bronzeville, which is opening a cultural center focused on African-American art.

Among the Greek islands of the Dodecanese, Karpathos stands out for its sustainable tourism with female leadership.

Big openings, small crowds

The list isn’t without some great new spots. The long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo makes the 2023 list in the “Culture” category. and the Charleston, South Carolina, soon-to-be International African American Museum, opening in January.

American wilderness makes the list in two categories, emphasizing getting away from the crowds.
Utah, whose five national parks are a big draw, appears in the “adventure” category in part because of its efforts to combat overtourism by attracting tourists to some of its lesser-known areas.

Visit Utah has a page Travel responsibly It includes “Do I do my best to avoid tight spots?” He asks the audience to consider his impact with questions like The State ParksDead Horse Point and Goblin Valley are located near one or more of Utah’s five spectacular national parks.

Big Bend National Park in Texas is listed in the “Nature” category. Big Bend though 581,000 views Parks in 2021, it is much less visited than some of the more popular national parks in the United States. Yellowstone received 4.9 million visitors and Smoky Mountains National Park received 14.1 million recreational visits in 2021.

Slovenia, a “long-time leader in sustainable tourism” that combines cycling routes with visits to vineyards, cheese factories and other food producers, earns a place in the “Nature” category with a culinary joint.

The Scottish Highlands, Portugal’s stunning volcanic Azores archipelago and Botswana make the “Nature” list for their conservation and sustainability efforts.

Family, adventure and culture

Columbia has gained attention with the Disney film “Encanto,” a timely pick for the “family” category. In California, San Francisco’s Crosstown Trail is another perfect destination for a family adventure.

Speaking of “adventure,” this category also includes an Inca site that rivals Choc Grao, Peru, and Machu Picchu, and is becoming more accessible and encouraging economic growth.

New Zealand, the long-time capital of adventure, is on the list to boost enthusiasm for a travel renaissance.

The Austrian Alps offer great opportunities for adventure in the Bergsteigerdorfer network of 29 mountain villages.

Asia, which took the longest to recover from the pandemic, ranks high in the “culture” category. Busan, South Korea, appears in a variety of offerings, from craft beer to Asia’s premier film festival.

Although China is closed to international tourism, its Longmen Grottoes in Henan province make the “Cultural” list as new technology draws attention to one of the world’s largest stone statues.

To learn more about National Geographic’s World’s Best list, Visit their website.

Elephants graze in the lush waterways of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, listed in the “Nature” category. Credit: Beverly Joubert/National Geographic Image Collection

National Geographic World’s Best 2023 List:

Culture

• Appian Way, Italy
• Busan, South Korea
• Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China
• Egypt
• Charleston, South Carolina

Nature

• Scottish Highlands
• Botswana
• Slovenia
• Big Bend National Park, Texas
• Azores, Portugal

adventure

• New Zealand
• Choquirao, Peru
• Utah
• Austrian Alps
• Revillaquiquedo National Park, Mexico

Social

• Dodecanese Islands, Greece
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Alberta, Canada
• Laos
• Ghana

Family

• Trinidad and Tobago
• San Francisco Road, California
• Colombia
• Manchester, United Kingdom
• Swiss