(CNN) – It’s never too early to start planning next year’s big trips.
National Geographic also got an early start, releasing its World’s Best list in late October of 25 must-see destinations for 2023.
Respect – for people and their cultures, for the land and its conservation – is a major theme on the list, which is divided into five formal categories.
The hope is that 2023 will not only be a great return to travel, but also to rediscover the wonders, said Amy Alibeo, Senior Editor at National Geographic Travel.
“Because when you feel afraid of something, you treat it with respect. And that spirit is something we want to encourage on this list,” Alibio said.
The list focuses on destinations that have community-led conservation efforts, recovery and heritage travel, and ways for travelers to give back, as well as places doing important work in ecotourism, sustainability and inclusive travel.
Young dancer Nang Kyu performs in Luang Prabang, the former imperial capital of Laos, which can now be reached by bullet train.
Kike Calvo / Nat Geo Image Collection. Kike Calvo / Nat Geo. Photo Collection
looking at society
National Geographic introduced a new category to this year’s list, replacing “sustainability” with the broader “society” category.
“It’s about broadening the focus on people trying to reach sustainable destinations and the different ways that are emerging, from facilitating travel to supporting local businesses,” Alibeo said.
Durability was woven into each category a little more. The other four categories are Nature, Culture, Adventure and Family.
The five destinations listed under the ‘Community’ heading represent a range of strengths.
Ghana is ranked as an important destination for travelers of black heritage in West Africa.
Alberta, Canada also makes the list.
“They were pioneers in indigenous tourism, basically letting travelers learn about the stories and ways of life of the First Nations here in North America” and their vibrant contemporary cultures, Alibeo said.
In Laos, the new high-speed train is making the country more accessible to visitors and bringing economic opportunities to local residents.
Alipio, citing Bronzeville, which is opening a cultural center focused on African-American art, said Milwaukee, in Wisconsin’s Great Lakes, was ranked in part because it has been “really supportive of its creative community.”
And in the Greek Dodecanese Islands, Karpathos is a prominent place for sustainable tourism led by women.
Big games, small crowds
The list is not without great new attractions. The long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo is appearing on the Egypt 2023 list in the Culture category. Charleston, South Carolina, will soon be home to the International African American Museum, which will open in January.
The US wilderness is listed in two categories, with an emphasis on getting away from the crowds.
Utah, where five national parks are a major attraction, appears in the “adventure” category in part for its efforts to steer tourists to some of the lesser-known areas to combat overtourism.
Slovenia, a “long-time leader in sustainable tourism,” combines cycling trails with visits to vineyards, cheese makers and other food producers in a way that makes it a country in the “nature” category with a culinary bonus.
The Highlands of Scotland, Portugal’s dazzling volcanic archipelago of the Azores and Botswana also make the “nature” list for their efforts towards environmental conservation and sustainability.
Small sperm whales in the waters around the Azores. The Portuguese archipelago is on National Geographic’s list of the best in the world in the “Nature” category.
Andy Man Collection / Nat Geo Image
Family, adventure and culture
Columbia was in the spotlight with Disney’s Encanto, making it the right choice for the Family category. In California, the Crosstown Trail in San Francisco is another perfect spot for a family adventure.
Speaking of “adventure,” this category also includes Peru’s Choquequirao region, an Inca site to rival Machu Picchu that has become more accessible and accessible and spurs economic development.
And New Zealand, which has long been the adventure capital, tops the list as excitement grows with the return of travel.
The Austrian Alps also offer excellent opportunities for adventure within the Bergsteigerdörfer network of 29 mountain villages.
Asia, which has been the slowest to reopen from the pandemic, features prominently in the “culture” category. Busan, South Korea, features in the category of shows from craft productions to Asia’s largest film festival.
As China remains closed to international tourism, the Longmen Cave in Henan province is also on the “culture” list as new technology draws attention to the world’s largest collection of stone statues.
Elephants graze among the lush waterways of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, featured in the Nature category.
Beverly Joubert Collection / Nat Geo Image
National Geographic’s 2023 World’s Best List:
culture
Appian Way, Italy
Busan, South Korea
Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China
Egypt
Charleston, South Carolina
the nature of temperament
Scottish Highlands
BOTSWANA
Slovenia
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Azores
conspiracy
New Zeland
Choquequirao, Peru
Utah
Austrian Alps
Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico
social communication
Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alberta, Canada
laos
Ghana
of family
Trinidad and Tobago
San Francisco Crosstown Trail, California
Colombia
Manchester, United Kingdom
Switzerland
