Key Notes
- China, Malta and Slovenia lead Fora’s list of nine destination groups to watch in 2027.
- The Taste Index combines Fora booking growth, advisor feedback, hotel openings and new US flight links.
- The report highlights slower itineraries, trips built around personal interests, wellness and expedition cruising.
China, Malta and Slovenia lead Fora’s 2027 Hot List, as the travel-advisor platform points to growing demand for cultural discovery, outdoor escapes and trips built around individual interests. The annual forecast brings together nine destination groups, alongside changes in how clients want to travel.
China is the strongest growth story in the Hot List, with Fora reporting hotel bookings to the country up 184% year over year. The figure measures activity on Fora’s platform. It does not describe the growth rate of all international tourism to China.
The Nine Destinations on Fora’s 2027 Hot List
The selection ranges from countries to a US state and a pair of Caribbean islands. In the order presented by Fora, the list is:
- China: cultural journeys connecting Beijing and other cities with historic sites and landscapes.
- Malta: Mediterranean history, dining and coastal stays, with Valletta as a starting point.
- Slovenia: a compact mix of mountains, wine country and the Adriatic, centred on Ljubljana.
- Egypt: museums, the Nile Valley and interest around the August 2027 solar eclipse.
- Vietnam: varied itineraries combining cities, food, beaches and mountain scenery.
- Finland: lakes, forests and sauna culture, alongside city breaks in Helsinki.
- Taiwan: food, urban exploration and trips extending beyond Taipei.
- Alaska: coastal cruises and land extensions into the interior.
- St. Thomas and St. John: the paired US Virgin Islands entry, focused on beaches and time on the water.
Fora reports booking growth of 152% for Slovenia and 129% for Malta. Those figures sit alongside advisor recommendations and developments in hotels and air access; the finished list is an editorial selection, rather than a simple ordering of countries by their growth rate.
How the Taste Index Works
The new Taste Index assigns half of a destination’s score to growth in hotel bookings made by US-based Fora advisors. Advisor feedback accounts for 35%, hotel openings for 10% and new nonstop routes from US airports for 5%.
The booking comparison covers September 15, 2025 through September 14, 2026 against the previous year. Fora adjusts destination growth against growth across its platform. Its editors then select from the highest-scoring 25 destinations, taking account of places they consider already overexposed.
That makes the report a useful view of momentum among the agency’s clients. It should be read alongside the practical details of a trip—season, budget, flights and availability—when choosing where to go.
Fewer Stops and More Personal Choices
The report’s travel themes include airport assistance, shorter holidays with a slower pace, recommendations beyond social-media favourites, expedition cruising, trips organised around hobbies, wellness and luxury all-inclusive stays.
In Fora’s advisor survey, 28% of participants said clients want fewer stops and a slower pace. For an itinerary, that can mean choosing one base and allowing enough time to enjoy it, with fewer hours spent packing, transferring and checking into another hotel.
Trips centred on reading, sport or another shared interest are another example. They give a group a reason to travel together and a starting point for choosing a property or location. A list of fashionable destinations is less useful if none supports the experience the group actually wants.
Wellness, Expeditions and the Next Hotel Stay
The wellness theme reflects growing interest in sleep, recovery and longer-term wellbeing programmes. We have just covered Aman’s ATMA plans with Novak Djokovic, an example of how hospitality brands are making sport and recovery central to future developments. Its Miami project is scheduled for completion in 2031.
Fora also highlights expedition cruising and includes Amangati among the arrivals to watch. Travelers comparing this part of the market should look at the itinerary and activities as closely as the accommodation: a yacht holiday and an expedition can offer very different experiences.
The Alaska entry has a land component too. Our Denali Lodge update details Holland America’s renovation ahead of the 2027 cruisetour season, showing how the time before or after a sailing can shape the wider journey.
Use the Forecast to Build a Better Shortlist
For someone planning 2027 travel, Fora’s list offers several distinct directions: a cultural itinerary in Asia, a European trip with room for nature, an Alaska land-and-sea journey or a Caribbean island stay. The useful next step is deciding which kind of holiday fits the time available.
From there, compare the specific season, route and property. New openings may still have provisional schedules, and a fast-growing destination can contain both busy tourist centres and quieter places. The report is a starting point for those decisions, with the most relevant choices depending on what the traveler wants from the trip.
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