Destinations

2012 Burma had tour operators flocking to launch programmes there, following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Sri Lanka became increasingly popular – many hotels were booked up for Christmas. Iceland was massive, thanks to what was supposed to be an especially good year to see the northern lights; volcano tourism helped. Mallorca and Tenerife benefited from their use as training grounds for cyclists and Olympians.

2013 Having ticked off Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, travellers are looking further east to Indonesia (and beyond the Gili islands to Flores) and Papua New Guinea (where Exodus has the Kokoda Track and other new trips). Kashmir is likely to make a comeback after the FCO stopped advising against Srinagar. Tour operators expect another bumper year for Sri Lanka, with Cinnamon Air, the country's first domestic scheduled carrier, launching in March, and British Airways restoring London-Colombo flights in April. Increasing interest in Brazil is predicted as the 2014 World Cup approaches, followed by the Rio Olympics in 2016. Iceland specialist Discover the World launches Alaska: seen the aurora, now see the bears.

Cyprus is turning its tacky package image around, with stylish new hotels including a purpose-built yoga hotel (zening.eu) and the boutique hotel website i-escape.com launching a Cyprus collection.

Accommodation

2012 Britain's glamping craze continued, despite a washout of a summer. Art concept rooms, such as Living Architecture's room on top of the Royal Festival Hall, sold out. Lots of new house-swapping services and websites facilitated recession-appropriate holidays.

2013 Glamping goes somewhere sunny – we learned our damp lesson (see goglamping.net).

Active breaks

2012 Olympics fever made everyone sporty; Wiggo's Tour de France win fuelled a surge in cycling holidays.

2013 Running trips, in the style of trekking holidays, send people running from one destination to another. Cycling, cycling and more cycling … the Tour de France goes to Corsica.

Cultural bodies turn tour operators

2012 Silent Cinema branched out with an overnight film screening in a prison; Tate Modern launched Tate Travels art tours.

2013 The Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Opera House respectively launch garden- and music-themed holidays.

Food

2012 Scandi cuisine was still hot, especially restaurants with former staff of Denmark's Noma. Raúl Castro's changed rules on private business led to a restaurant boom in Cuba; hot new Peruvian restaurants in London turned attention to Lima's scene. Chef Alex Atala at São Paulo's DOM became an international sensation with Amazon-foraged ingredients.

2013 Eaten in New York? Now try Toronto, where David Chang has opened another Momofuku noodle bar.

Film and TV influences

2012 The Rum Diary pushed Puerto Rico; On the Road made everyone yearn for a Kerouac road trip; Istanbul starred in Skyfall.

2013 The Hobbit's impact kicks in in New Zealand; Long Island prepares for the Great Gatsby effect.

Bonus holidays

2012 The jubilee and royal wedding meant two extra UK bank holidays.

2013 A royal baby is expected – if it's triplets, can we have three days off?