7 up-and-coming travel hot spots

Destinations such as Warsaw, Chiang Mai and Guiyang are gaining traction among Singapore travellers

- Sarah Stanley

As 2025 draws to a close, a look back at Singaporeans' travel patterns reveals a continued preference for practical, value-driven holidays.

Travel booking platform Trip.com's analysis of booking data, published on Dec 15, showed that the top countries Singaporeans are travelling to in the first quarter of 2026 are China, Japan and Malaysia, while the top cities are Bangkok, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur.

The popularity of these destinations boils down to a handful of things that Singaporean travellers prize: accessibility, affordability and a variety of activities.

"These destinations have direct flights, favourable currency exchange rates, and seasonal and cultural activities," says Ms Lavinia Rajaram, director of Asia public relations at Expedia Group.

Still, she adds that as prices rise, travellers will negotiate new definitions of value, likely through a more cost-conscious lens. To that end, detouring from major cities to visit less accessible destinations may prove more affordable and offer a different range of activities.

Around 65 per cent of Singapore travellers say rising expenses affected their travel choices in 2025, particularly higher transport and accommodation costs, based on a survey conducted from October to November by online market research and data analytics firm YouGov.

Around 49 per cent of the 1,006 respondents say they will be looking to manage costs with off-peak travel and by booking early.

Here are seven emerging destinations outside crowded tourist hubs to keep on your radar for 2026. All flight prices are for one-way trips in April based on searches by The Straits Times, and are correct as at Dec 26.

1. FUKUOKA

The Japanese archipelago comprises four major islands: Honshu, Shikoku, Hokkaido and Kyushu. Fukuoka, Kyushu's largest city, is famous for its food scene and cultural sites - minus the throngs of people in more popular cities Osaka and Tokyo.