Traveller's diary: Turkey's culture taught Moglix CEO business lessons

For travellers looking to take a cultural beach trip in 2020, Il Gzira is located on the north eastern coast of Malta and lies in direct view of the walled city of Valletta. This stunning seaside destination takes its name from the Maltese word for “island” and with the city’s sweeping Marsamxett harbor overlooking Manoel Island, it’s not hard to see why.

Fort Manoel, which was built in 1726 on Manoel Island adjacent to the town itself, makes a great day trip for travellers to learn more about the town’s history and the island’s past as a hospital quarantine. After exploring, travellers can enjoy local cuisine with incredible views as they relax at one of the many restaurants overlooking the harbor.

Thanks to its breath-taking scenery, Ninh Binh is often referred to as the “Ha Long Bay on land” as the dense greenery of the landscape surrounding the city emerges from land rather than water. Quieter than its nearby namesake, Ninh Binh offers travellers a scenic escape just a few hours away from bustling Hanoi.

Outside the city itself, Ninh Binh province is a medley of mountains, rivers, caves, rice fields and pagodas. Taking a boat tour in this picturesque natural area may look like something from a movie, especially given its starring role on the big screen in the past.

Bright colonial architecture with colorful and unique landscapes nearby, Salta is located in the heart of the Argentine Andes and is a great ‘best of both worlds’ destination for the one- in-five (19%) of global travellers who want to visit Argentina in 2020.

Whether taking in the colorful cityscape with a visit to 9 de Julio Plaza, a lush public square in the heart of the city, San Francisco Church, a historic church and monastery that dates back to the 1600s or exploring the nearby colorful landscape of The Hill of Seven Colors and Salinas Grandes (salt flats), a trip to this beautiful part of the world will leave a colorful impression.

The second largest city in South Korea’s Jeju Island, Seogwipo, is a bustling coastal city surrounded by natural wonders of the volcanic coastline. Ideal for active travellers, Seogwipo’s clear blue waters will prove popular with scuba-diving enthusiasts, while nearby Mount Hallasan is a great option for those looking to lace up their boots and take a hike.

Seogwipo is also the perfect base to visit the nearby waterfalls - Cheonjiyeon Falls and Jeongbang. To refuel after a day of adventuring, the Seogwipo Olle Market offers tastes of the region with various street food and fresh produce stalls, while downtown Seogwipo is home to many traditional Korean restaurants and BBQ spots.

The stunning city of Jodhpur is known as one of the most colorful cities in the world, with thousands of blue houses transforming the urban landscape into a sea of ocean-colored buildings.

Aside from its vibrant setting, Jodhpur is home to the Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace and the Mandore Gardens, ideal for culture vultures interested in architecture and museums. Foodies and shopaholics will also love exploring the winding medieval streets of Jodhpur and sampling authentic Indian food and spices at one of the many bazaars.

Located in northwest Poland, Swinoujscie is a beautiful port town on the Baltic Sea that’s a perfect destination for water lovers. Travellers can immerse themselves in the town’s history and visit the Museum of Sea Fishery, which features model vessels and astonishing sea creatures, before continuing the sea theme and taking a walk to the 19th Century Lighthouse for panoramic scenery of the harbor from the observation deck.

Adrenaline junkies can dive into even more aquatic experiences, spending the day doing water sports on Swinoujscie Beach, one of the widest beaches in Poland.

Takamatsu, also known as Udon Kingdom and the Gateway of Shikoku, is a port town that’s the perfect vacation for travellers interested in vibrant food scenes and scenic backdrops. Once you have finished feasting on noodles, a must-visit is the picturesque Ritsurin Park.

The park is a Japanese national treasure and is home to many tea houses where travellers can experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony; plus the Engetsu-kyo (moon crossing) bridge and iconic lotus ponds.

Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan is an extraordinary Caribbean destination boasting vibrant culture and architecture. Walk the cobbled streets of Old San Juan to see the colorful Spanish colonial buildings; explore Fortaleza Street, also known as umbrella street and discover roads full of lush greenery surrounding the houses nearby.

The flora isn’t the only picture opportunity for travellers, with a thriving art scene, San Juan’s streets are adorned with street art while more architecturally-minded travellers can enjoy El Morro, Castillo de San Cristobal and Paseo de la Princesa. A trip to San Juan will also aid in Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts following the effects of Hurricane Maria back in 2017.

Travellers looking to go off-grid with their 2020 travels should head for the mountains in Zabljak, a small town in northern Montenegro and at the center of the Durmitor mountain region. Whether traveling in winter for an adrenaline-packed trip on the snowy slopes or during the warmer months to experience thrilling water sports on the lakes and rivers and hiking trails nearby, this destination appeals all year round.

The must-see list includes Durmitor National Park, Black Lake and the Djurdjevica Tara Bridge, a concrete bridge that was once the biggest concrete arch bridge for vehicles in Europe.