BURSTPenticton is one of just two Canadian cities to crack a new travel and tourism list ranking the trendiest destinations worldwide.
The southern B.C. city placed fifth on Skyscanner’s list of the most-searched destinations.
According to the U.K.-based travel booking platform, Penticton saw a 137 per cent increase in travel searches year-over-year, placing it alongside high-profile tourism destinations in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
Penticton and Tofino, on B.C.’s Vancouver Island, were the only Canadian cities to make the list.
Kevin Pearce, executive director at Visit Penticton, said he’s “incredibly proud” to see the city placed alongside some of the world’s top travel destinations.
“Within minutes, visitors can be on the water, on a bike, at a winery, enjoying a meal inspired by local ingredients, or taking in a world-class event,” Pearce said of Penticton. “From vineyard-covered hillsides and sunny patios to dramatic bluffs and lake views, many visitors compare the landscape to some of the world’s most iconic regions.
Skyscanner’s full list for fastest-rising travel destinations includes:
1. Cardiff, Wales
2. St. George’s, Granada
3. Tivat, Montenegro
4. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
5. Penticton, Canada
6. Salzburg, Austria
7. Bergen, Norway
8. Olbia, Italy
9. Podgorica, Montenegro
10. Tofino, Canada
Penticton, located in the South Okanagan region, is surrounded by 88 wineries within a 20-minute drive and was named Canada’s Craft Beer Capital by travel publication Lonely Planet in 2020.
The city is one of two places in the world situated between two lakes. The other is Interlaken, Switzerland.
Penticton, home to several beaches, is also known for its outdoors.
Along with hundreds of kilometres of hiking, cycling and trail-running routes, the city is close to two downhill ski resorts.
Rock climbing, paddling, boating and water sports are also prevalent.
The city, with a population of around 40,000, is about an hour south of the Kelowna International Airport and less than 65 kilometres north of the U.S. border.