by news.com.au — JUST when you thought you were stalking your mate’s Amalfi Coast or party pictures in Vegas, upon closer inspection, you realise they’ve actually checked into Beirut, Lebanon. While Bali, Italy and the United States remain some of the most popular holiday destinations, new research by finder.com.au has revealed that locations such as Lebanon, Croatia, Nepal and even Pakistan are on the rise for Aussie tourists. The comparative site analysed ABS overseas arrivals and departures data and compared the number of Australians travelling on holidays between the months of January to May in both 2016 and 2018. Lebanon had a 38 per cent increase on the Destinations on the Rise list and there’s no surprises why — while it borders Syria and Israel, it’s nestled on the Mediterranean coast, with a striking resemblance to the coastlines of Italy and Greece.

Its capital city Beirut, often called the “Paris of the Middle East”, is a hotspot for cosmopolitan charms. “Lebanon’s appeal is a mixture of its rich cultural history, vibrant night life and a reputation as a foodie’s heaven,” finder.com.au travel expert Angus Kidman told news.com.au While it has experienced its fair share of conflicts, with a civil war ending in 1990 and fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, the city of Beirut is currently largely safe to visit, according to the Foreign Office. “The short stint Dubai played as Qantas’ hub opened up many of the areas in and around the Middle East to potential Aussies tourists, and that could be a reason why some destinations have seen a rise,” Mr Kidman said.

Topping the list was Croatia at 52 per cent, followed by Egypt (51 per cent), Nepal (47 per cent) and Pakistan (41 per cent). The number of Australians travelling to Croatia has leapt more than 50 per cent. Of course it has its Game of Thrones and Mamma Mia: Here I Go Again screen appeals, but that’s not the only reason for its spike. “It’s cheap, hot and has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe so of course it’s rising in popularity,” Mr Kidman said.

Island hopping in Croatia is the new Grecian idyll. The Croatian islands are hidden gems that are substantially less impacted by tourism than the popular Greek islands, in turn attracting many young Aussie travellers.” Last year Lonely Planet named Nepal as the best value destination, adding to its popularity, according to Mr Kidman. It ranked third on the list. “Mount Everest also remains a bucket list favourite for adventure tourists,” he said. “Over the last few decades, travel has been added to many Aussies’ bucket lists, with Europe being high on the list of destinations. But those that have already done Europe might be looking to expand their horizons.” While those countries are proving their popularity, the top 10 destinations for Aussies haven’t changed much over the past two years. New Zealand topped the list with more than 1.4 million heading across the ditch, followed by Indonesia with 1.2 million people (down nearly 3 per cent compared to the number over the previous 12 months) and the United States coming in third place.