This year’s only surefire travel predictions: Titanic and world’s end will draw crowds

There are all kinds of predictions about the year ahead. Who really knows? But there’s a sure thing about at least two high profile disasters that will make travel headlines this year: The Titanic and the end of the world.

Actually, it may not be the end of the world, but that’s what the Mayan calendar predicts.

The event is the focus of marketing efforts throughout what has been called the “Mundo Maya.” That area includes Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. They will be heavily advertising sun-seekers get there while there’s still time left.

The 100^th anniversary of the Titanic sinking is being commemorated with everything from cruises retracing the doomed liner's route — hopefully with a more positive ending — to a flashy new waterfront development and museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland. That’s where the ship was built.

Events and other celebrations that will bring in millions of tourists this year (some of them unlikely in the past to be front runners) include:

—Two US states, Arizona and New Mexico are commemorating 100 years of statehood.  Stamps, museum exhibits and special events will go on throughout the year to celebrate and encourage more tourism.

—San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 years old in May, with a lineup of lectures, performances, exhibits and film screenings plus a revamped visitor plaza that features better trail connections and more seating.

–Also in the US, the California cities of Oakland and San Diego, made the New York Times list of “45 Places to go” in 2012. “Oakland’s revitalized night-life scene has continued to smolder,” said the Times. As for San Diego, visitors will be going for the beer. “With breweries and brewpubs, it’s a sunny heaven for suds lovers,” the Times said.

—In a real surprise, Chattanooga, Tenn. , which Walter Cronkite in 1969 famously called the dirtiest city in America also made the Times list. “In recent years, though, it has undergone a dramatic overhaul with a radical gentrification plan and an aggressive citywide push to lure artists. In addition to a $120 million clean-up-and-invest 21st Century Waterfront Plan, an incentive program called Arts Move brings artists of all mediums into town; a yearly Southern arts fair called Four Bridges draws thousands each April.” 

—With the approval of the Obama administration, Cuba should continue to open up to more tourists this year with a high interest in a formerly “forbidden” country. Visitation will continue to be crimped by the US restrictions that require Americans to travel in groups.

—On the other side of the world, Japan and Thailand are hoping for a rebound from last year's earthquakes and flooding.

—Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is shaping up as Asia's "it" destination for 2012. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited late last year, and an organization founded by activist Aung San Suu Kyi now welcomes responsible tourism to a long-isolated country that some tour operators are touting as the Thailand of 50 years ago.

—This may come as a surprise to Londoners, but the Times named Britain’s “foodiest town” as Birmingham. Foodies will make it a popular place this year.

At the very top of the New York list:  Panama City.

In the last 12 years as Panama regained control of the Canal, the country has shaped itself into a thriving place and its “economy is now booming,” says the Times,” which adds:

“Cranes stalk the skyline of the capital, Panama City, where high-rises sprout one after the next and immigrants arrive daily from around the world.”  Among those who have landed en masse in recent years are American expatriates and investors, who have banked on Panamanian real estate by building hotels and buying retirement homes.

By David Wilkening