Why Malindi, Kenya Will Be Big In 2020

Need a nudge on those 2020 travel plans? Guadalajara, Milwaukee, Romania and Tokyo will be welcoming a lot of tourists in 2020 according to AirBnB. The hospitality platform just released their list of the “20 Destinations to Visit Next Year.” The picks were selected with a focus on booking data in “lesser known and eco-conscious cities and countries across the world.”

Malindi, Kenya is the only destination on the list in Africa. Once a popular vacation destination for Italians, Malindi’s visitors are becoming much more diverse. And with beautiful coastline, fresh seafood and spectacular architecture, putting this city on your shortlist might not be a bad idea. Here’s what AirBnB has to say about its 19th pick:

“This bustling coastal village is home to a multicultural melting pot of African, Arab and European residents, and stunning natural beauty. Dotted with brawny palms, this historical Kenyan port town introduces travelers to the country’s diverse aquatic wildlife in Malindi Marine National Park, making it an idyllic spot for divers. Known for its Swahili architecture, fresh-caught seafood, and natural wonders like the Marafa Depression – also known as Hell’s Kitchen — this pristine beach town is much more than a laid-back sunny retreat. The country at large is also making sizeable strides in preserving our planet: at the recent UN Climate Action Summit, Kenya pledged to plant two billion trees by 2021 and committed to accelerating energy efficiency by three percent each year.”

You can see the complete list of rankings below.

1. Milwaukee, WI, US
2. Bilbao, Spain
3. Buriram, Thailand
4. Sunbury, Victoria, Australia
5. Romania
6. Xi’an, China
7. Eugene, OR, US
8. Luxembourg
9. Guadalajara, Mexico
10. Vanuatu
11. Cali, Colombia
12. Cape Canaveral, FL, US
13. Aberdeen, Scotland
14. Courtenay, BC, Canada
15. Ubatuba, Brazil
16. Les Contamines-Montjoie, France
17. Tokyo, Japan
18. Kerala, India
19. Malindi, Kenya
20. Maastricht, Netherlands