Kaikōura's comeback from the damaging 2016 earthquake has received a boost with the town topping Airbnb's list of trending destinations for 2019, the first time a New Zealand destination has made the global list.
The list, featuring 19 destinations, was compiled based on a combination of Airbnb search, booking and 'wish list' growth data.
Kaikōura notched up a 295 per cent year-on-year increase in Airbnb bookings and a 210 per cent year-on-year increase in searches.
"Heavily damaged by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016, this coastal town in the South Island is staging a marvellous comeback with the strongest increase in both bookings and search on our list," Airbnb said, releasing the list this morning.
"With train and other transportation services coming back online, avid whale- and seal-watchers will find it easier and easier to experience the town’s notable sperm whale population and historic whaling past," it said.
Airbnb said it has found most of its trending destinations "are places where the increased 'healthy', more sustainable and authentic tourism will benefit residents and travellers alike, promoting emerging locales like Accra, Ghana; supporting environmental sustainability in places like Calabria, Italy; and offering the chance to help rebuild communities after natural disasters, starting with the top-trending destination on our list: Kaikōura, New Zealand."
Airbnb's full list of trending destinations for 2019:
1. Kaikōura, New Zealand
2. Xiamen, China
3. Puebla, Mexico
4. Normandy, France
5. Great Smoky Mountains, US
6. Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
7. Accra, Ghana
8. Mozambique
9. Outer Hebrides, Scotland
10. Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
11. Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley, US
12. Santa Catarina State, Brazil
13. Batumi, Georgia
14. Winnipeg, Canada
15. Pondicherry, India
16. Uzbekistan
17. Calabria, Italy
18. Andalucia, Spain
19. Taiwan
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