WHAT ARE THE TOP EMERGING TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR 2017?

With the start of a new year, it’s time to plan some new adventures. And, if you’re thinking of <br />vacationing outside the U.S., you’re certainly not alone. The number of Americans travelling <br />overseas continues to rise according to the National Travel & Tourism Office with more than 27 <br />million Americans heading abroad in the first three quarters of 2016, an increase of more than 7% <br />from 2015. Whether it’s seeing a country that’s been closed to Americans for 50 years or taking a <br />sulfur bath in Georgia’s capital, destinations beyond Paris or Rome are climbing in desirability. In this <br />interview, TRAVIS KATZ, Co-Founder and CEO of Trip.com, reveals the top emerging destinations for <br />2017 based on real traveler data. He also tells us about places that may be worth a second look and <br />recommend local getaway hotspots. Trip.com (formerly Gogobot)'s mission is less work, more fun. <br />Users can select the tribes (Family Travelers, Foodies, Luxury, Wellness and LGBT, among others) that <br />best represent them to further personalize their experience. More than 10 million people used the <br />site to plan and research places to go in the last year. Trip.com also has more than one million <br />reviews, five million photos and postcards, plus 60,000 city guides available on both the site and its <br />apps. The company has been a 2015 Top Developer (Google Play); Best Travel Apps of 2015 (PC <br />Mag); Five Can’t-Miss Apps of 2015 (Mashable); and a 2015 Top Ten App to Download (Travel Channel).