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Mark Footer

Come on, everybody; do please keep up.
A variety of publications have, in the past few months, latched onto the idea of “destination dupes”, declaring that the swapping in of a similar destination or attraction for one that is suffering from overtourism is the “latest travel trend”.
“Destination Dupes Are the Travel Trend You Need to Know For 2024” – lectures a headline in Elle magazine.
“The travel trend for 2024: Destination Dupes” – The Hindu.
“These 9 destination dupes feel like the real deal” – National Geographic.
“‘Dupe destination’ boom hits social media” – Nikkei Asia.
“Why ‘destination dupes’ are the latest travel-twinning trend” – BBC.

But Post Magazine foresaw all this a couple of years ago, while much of the pandemic-weary world was still itching to travel again.
Back then, we predicted, “Huge pent-up demand for international travel means that, when all pandemic-related travel restrictions are removed, the world’s alpha attractions are likely to be even busier than they were in pre-coronavirus times.”
The logical conclusion was that travellers would look for alternatives that were quieter, more affordable – perhaps more brag-worthy.
And we proffered some suggestions: Guangxi autonomous region’s ancient, cobbled market town of Fuli, or peaceful Xingping, instead of tourist-thronged Yangshuo; sleepy Tha Ton, on the Mae Kok River, instead of the heaving visitor-magnets elsewhere in Thailand; the rugged red-rock scenery of Utah instead of the United States’ much-trodden and helicoptered-over Grand Canyon.

And so it has come to pass; the crowds are returning – and fanning out (a bit).
“Travel tech company Expedia was the first to mention destination dupes in their trends for 2024,” claims The Hindu newspaper. (We’ll give them that one, since Expedia no doubt was the first to mention destination dupes in their trends report).
Examples of destination dupes given by Expedia include Taipei instead of Seoul, Perth instead of Sydney and Pattaya instead of Bangkok.
Nikkei Asia declares: “‘Fashion dupes’ began as a trend on TikTok aimed at finding affordable alternatives to duplicate popular products. The same logic quickly migrated to travel in the form of destination dupes.”
The Japan-based news magazine suggests swapping Bali for Thailand “because it is easier to get around, less crowded and comparatively cheaper; Lombok instead of Bali because it is less well known and has pristine beaches such as Kuta, together with rich Sasak culture and activities like volcano treks to Mount Rinjani.

“Hoi An, Vietnam, is being preferred over Kyoto, Japan’s former capital, for its rich culture and architecture, history and laid-back atmosphere.
“South Korea often wins over Japan because it is easier on the budget and less crowded; and Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island can be swapped for Thailand’s Phuket for a more relaxed experience.”
Duping is a simple idea that can be easily adapted. We recently received an email promising to reveal, “Five Destination Dupes in Asia Pacific You Didn’t Know About, Available on Marriott Bonvoy”. Each suggested dupe comes with a suggested hotel, of course.
The premise here seems to be that you’re unlikely to know about these connections because they are tenuous, at best.

Is Thailand’s Koh Samui a realistic “remote island” stand-in for Bora Bora? Are the heritage and architecture in Jaipur, India, really a substitute for the Moorish design of Morocco?
Seoul can fill in for the Big Apple, Marriott suggests, because the South Korean capital “presents an enticing array of attractions reminiscent of New York’s hot spots.
“An attractive alternative to the crowded Empire State Building is N Seoul Tower. For a peaceful retreat from the urban hustle, swap Central Park for the Seoul Forest.”
By that token, any city with a tower and a park qualifies as a New York substitute.

In truth, some travellers have always shunned the crowds, but it’s only now that such behaviour is being declared – and marketed – as “a trend”, setting a whole new set of destinations on the road to ruin.
Searching out authenticity (for want of a better word) has always been the raison d’être for a significant few, so we take issue with some of the claims made in a recent Business Insider article.
“Millennial and Gen Z travellers are over tourist traps,” we’re told in the feature – Top 2024 Destination Dupes, According to Intrepid Travel – as if those responsible for the Instagrammation of public discourse are the first to realise there’s more to the world than flag-waving tour guides and “I [heart] Wherever” T-shirts.
“According to [Matt Berna, president of small-group tour company Intrepid Travel] young travellers aren’t bogged down by FOMO – or the ‘fear of missing out’ – that influenced older generations. They want to be a trendsetter, going to the next cool place.”
Jumping on the bandwagon, some might call that.

The “next cool place”, according to destination-dupe logic, must have some discernible similarities to the old cool place. But this is where things get weird.
Intrepid recommends Seoul as a “dupe” for Tokyo, the South Korean capital being “a great destination for travellers who want to avoid overcrowded attractions but still explore an Asian megacity”. Fair enough, but …
“Seoul provides an authentic and immersive cultural experience, allowing travellers to explore traditional Korean customs, arts, and lifestyles in a dynamic and modern urban setting,” Intrepid Travel tells Business Insider.
“This experience provides a deeper understanding of South Korea’s rich cultural heritage, which may be less accessible in the more globally popular tourist spots.”
In other words, Seoul is interesting in its own right, as the South Korean capital, rather than as a substitute for Tokyo, Japan. And surely there should be no “may be” about “South Korea’s rich cultural heritage” being more accessible in Seoul than elsewhere in the world.
By choosing Borneo over Bali, travellers can embark on a journey that transcends mere sightseeing and offers a profound appreciation of the natural wonders and cultural richness
Advice from Intrepid Travel
More bizarrely, Intrepid urges travellers to visit Central American country Panama instead of Barcelona, Spain: “Panama’s diverse natural landscapes, including lush rainforests, exotic wildlife, and pristine beaches, provide a captivating backdrop for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.”
Panama, we’re told, has a “vibrant cultural scene, influenced by its indigenous heritage, Afro-Caribbean roots, and Spanish culture”.
It offers a “dynamic and diverse experience for travellers seeking to immerse themselves in local traditions, folklore, and contemporary arts, providing an authentic and enriching journey that differs from the more European-centric cultural landscape of Barcelona.”
So, nothing like the Spanish city, then – and not even on the same continent.

Intrepid also suggests Borneo as a stand-in for Bali.
“While Bali is undoubtedly a stunning destination with its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage, Borneo offers an entirely different experience [emphasis ours] that is unmatched in its own right.
“By choosing Borneo over Bali, travellers can embark on a journey that transcends mere sightseeing and offers a profound appreciation of the natural wonders and cultural richness that define this remarkable destination.”
Now, we’re confused. Is the term “destination dupes” to be used to describe literally anywhere else that springs to mind? Don’t visit crowded Hong Kong, head to Iceland instead, for a very different holiday.
Our advice: visit Seoul to see Seoul, not because someone trying to sell something tells you it’s an alternative to Tokyo or New York – or that you should instead go to Taipei.


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Why the ‘destination dupes’ travel trend is getting silly: swap New York for Seoul? Barcelona for Panama? Come on

The N Seoul Tower rises above a pavilion on Namsan mountain in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Shutterstock

The N Seoul Tower rises above a pavilion on Namsan mountain in Seoul, South Korea. One hotel group suggested that Seoul was a destination dupe for New York, but is this latest travel trend getting out of hand in 2024? Photo: Shutterstock

Post Magazine recommended the market town of Fuli (pictured), in China’s Guangxi autonomous region, as a destination dupe for the nearby tourist town of Yangshuo back in 2022. Photo: Getty Images

The rugged red-rock scenery of Arches National Park in Utah. Photo: Shutterstock

The Indonesian island of Lombok has been suggested as a destination dupe for Bali. Photo: Shutterstock

Hoi An in Vietnam is being preferred over Japan’s Kyoto for its rich culture and architecture, history and laid-back atmosphere, apparently. Photo: Shutterstock

Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island (pictured) can be swapped for Thailand’s Phuket for a more relaxed experience, according to one news outlet. Photo: Shutterstock

Are the heritage and architecture in Jaipur (pictured), India, really a substitute for the Moorish design of Morocco? Photo: Shutterstock

A keel-billed toucan, photographed in Panama – which travellers are being urged to visit instead of Barcelona. Photo: Getty Images

China sends message it wants foreign visitors to spend money, whether they pay in cash or through  mobile payment apps

QR codes for WeChat Pay and Alipay at a food store in Beijing. Despite the mobile payment app providers making it easier for foreign bank cards to be used with them, overseas visitors continue to report difficulties making payments in China. Photo: AFP

A tourist in Beijing last month. The central bank has issued guidelines to make the use of credit cards issued by foreign banks easier in China, and said businesses should continue accepting payments in cash. Photo Getty Images

Alipay and WeChat QR payment codes displayed at a shop in Beijing. In 2023 the mobile payment app providers allowed cards issued by foreign banks to be linked to their systems, but visitors in China reported glitches. Photo: AFP

A Chinese customer uses his mobile phone to pay via a QR code with the WeChat app at a local market. Most Chinese residents pay for goods and services this way. Photo Getty Images

The Lawson shop at Kawaguchiko station in Yamanashi, Japan, with Mount Fuji behind. Photo: Shutterstock

Hikers climbing Mount Fuji. Photo: Shutterstock

After floods cause Dubai flights chaos, expect travel insurance to cost more and cover less

A woman and her daughters eat as they wait for their flight after a rainstorm hit Dubai, causing delays at Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Reuters

Passengers queue at a flight connection desk at Dubai International Airport on April 17, 2024. Flooding caused by record deluges in the United Arab Emirates led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights. Photo: AFP

Passengers queued for hours at flight connection desks at Dubai International Airport after record-breaking rain hit the United Arab Emirates, causing widespread flooding. Photo: Reuters

An Emirates passenger jet takes off at Dubai International Airport on April 19, 2024, three days after floods caused by torrential rain in the United Arab Emirates triggered the first of hundreds of flight cancellations. Photo: Bloomberg

A woman and her daughters eat as they wait for their flight at a disrupted Dubai International Airport. Photo: Reuters

Residents try to extinguish a fire on the Greek island of Rhodes in July 2023. Tourists forced to flee because of 11 days of devastating wildfires have been offered vouchers for “free” holidays there. Photo: AP

A British tourist waits for a flight out of Rhodes in July 2023 after being evacuated following wildfires on the island. Photo: Reuters

Touring Taylor Swift’s London: a guide to the city through her lyrics, from pubs to parks – and their connections with her exes

Taylor Swift onstage during The 1989 world tour at Hyde Park in 2015 in London, England. Photo: Getty Images

Taylor Swift onstage during The 1989 world tour at Hyde Park in 2015 in London, England. Swift has spent a significant amount of time in London, and her love for the city has been immortalised in her songs. Photo: Getty Images

Joe Alwyn and Swift at the BAFTAs afterparty in 2019 in London, England. Photo: Getty Images

The Bull and Gate pub in London is probably the place Taylor Swift sang about in “London Boy”. Photo: Shutterstock

The women-only swimming pond in Hampstead Heath is just one of the area’s bathing ponds. Photo: Shutterstock

Broadway Market in Hackney is lined with cafes and other places to drink. Photo: Shutterstock

The Savoy’s Royal Suite featured in Swift’s “End Game” video. Photo: Savoy Hotel

8 of the world’s best nudist beaches, from Miami, Florida to Berlin’s Wannsee and Vancouver’s Wreck Beach

Public nudity is generally taboo in Asia, but for those who wish to bathe in their birthday suit, here are 8 of the world’s best nudist beaches, from Haulover Beach, Miami (above) to Mar Bella in Barcelona. Photo: Shutterstock

Maslin Beach, in Adelaide, South Australia. Photo: Getty Images

Part of the cover of The Australian Sunbather magazine from July 1949. The first edition was published in 1946.

Praia do Abricó is the only beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where nudity is permitted. Photo: Shutterstock

Wreck Beach in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Photo: Getty Images

Mar Bella beach, in Barcelona, Spain, was created in 1992. Photo: Shutterstock

Lake Wannsee in Berlin, Germany, has been called Europe’s largest outdoor swimming venue on an inland body of water. Photo: Shutterstock

You wouldn’t guess from this 2017 photo, but Knoll Beach, in Dorset, UK has been used by naturists since the 1920s. Photo: Shutterstock

Little Banana Beach, in Skiathos, Greece. Photo: Shutterstock

In Tai O, traditional Hong Kong fishing village, foundation helps preserve its culture and history

Kayakers pass stilt houses in Tai O, a fishing village on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. As more young people move away, efforts to preserve its culture and history, such as the opening of the Tai O Heritage Hotel, have kicked in. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Flags fly on the first day of the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade in June 2019. Photo: Nora Tam

The former Tai O police station is now the nine-room Tai O Heritage Hotel. Photo: Tai O Heritage Hotel

Created by local artists, murals in Tai O give tourists insight into the village’s history and culture. Photo: Mabel Lui

The Tai O Heritage Hotel’s reception area includes two original holding cells from the former police station. Photo: Tai O Heritage Hotel

To preserve the physical structure of the former police station building as much as possible, the hotel’s designers opted to make the glass canopy of its restaurant fully removable. Photo: Tai O Heritage Hotel

Melanie Kwok, general manager of sustainability for the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation (HCF), with Karl Law, manager of the Tai O Heritage Hotel. Photo: Mabel Lui

Visitors learn about the Tai O Heritage Hotel on one of its complimentary tours, including the story of how a policeman killed a sergeant and left nine bullet holes on a metal window shutter. Photo: Tai O Heritage Hotel

The living room in one of the Tai O Heritage Hotel’s suites. Photo: Tai O Heritage Hotel

A mural painted in Tai O as part of the ArtWalk@Tai O programme. Photo: Mabel Lui

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Destination dupes – places similar to others that are suffering from overtourism – are the hot travel trend in 2024, but some suggestions are ridiculous
It’s not even a new trend – some travellers have always shunned the crowds, but apparently we have millennials and Gen Z to thank


Destination dupes – places similar to others that are suffering from overtourism – might be the hot travel trend in 2024, but some of the suggestions are plain ridiculous.


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Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


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Destinations known

Destinations Known | Why the ‘destination dupes’ travel trend is getting silly: swap New York for Seoul? Barcelona for Panama? Come on

Destination dupes – places similar to others that are suffering from overtourism – are the hot travel trend in 2024, but some suggestions are ridiculous It’s not even a new trend – some travellers have always shunned the crowds, but apparently we have millennials and Gen Z to thank

Destination dupes – places similar to others that are suffering from overtourism – are the hot travel trend in 2024, but some suggestions are ridiculous

It’s not even a new trend – some travellers have always shunned the crowds, but apparently we have millennials and Gen Z to thank