The pandemic has forced people to rethink how they travel.
Not only have restrictions meant trips away are fraught with uncertainty, but being grounded for the best part of two years has changed our understanding of climate change, with us already seeing some of its effects with wildfires and floods across the world - and closer to home, extreme weather events like Storm Arwen.
Each year, the New York Times collates a list of '52 Places' the most exciting and interesting places to travel in the world. For 2022, it has changed its focus to highlight places where change is happening, and where travelling can be part of the solution for climate change, rather than adding to the problem. And Northumberland has made the cut.
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Along with just one other UK destination, Scotland's Inner Hebrides, Northumberland has been showcased as a place 'where visitors can be part of the solution to problems like overtourism and climate change.'
The article mentions The North East stretch of England's 2,800 mile coastal path, Northumberland's wild beaches, the International Dark Sky Park and the Hadrian's Wall 1900 Festival.
One of the attractions heavily involved in the festival is Vindolanda Roman Fort, and Sonya Galloway, the Vindolanda Trust's Communications Manager, said that the 1900 Festival was just as much about looking to the future as the past.
She said: "It's fantastic to get international recognition of how amazing our county is. From our perspective, the 1900 Festival is not just about looking back, it's about looking forward at what the next 1900 years will look like.
"We have got a responsibility to make sure that Vindolanda will be here for people to enjoy for that amount of time."
The Vindolanda Trust has recently been awarded a 'silver' Green Tourism Award, which Sonya hopes will encourage sustainable tourism in a huge year for the site.
Sonya finished: "The 1900 celebrations are going to be a big year not just for the wall, but also the communities along it to get engaged. It's an opportunity for us to widen our reach too, and our bunting challenge has already had interest from around the world."
Another attraction mentioned in the article was Kielder Observatory. Dan Pye, the Director of Astronomy and Space Communication, was delighted that the observatory is being recognised on a global scale. He said: "It's great that we're getting global coverage.
"We've had people coming from all over specifically to visit the observatory. There was one guy who came from Malaysia and he wanted to do two things in the UK - one was visit Kielder Observatory and the other was watching Manchester United play football.
"It also gives us faith that we're doing something right. One of our main charitable objectives is to engage with people across a hugely diverse audience and we want to bring the experience of Kielder to a global audience. That's our grand vision!"
And he says it's good news for the county too. Dan continued: "I have heard a lot of people saying it's their first time in Northumberland and what an amazing place it is to come on holiday.
"It's becoming a destination akin to the Lake District, Cornwall and Devon - so it's great to be up on the map with those destinations when people are thinking of where to go for a holiday."
Andrew Fox, Chair of Visit Northumberland, said: "We were delighted, but not at all surprised, to see that Northumberland has made it to number 4 in New York Times ’52 places for a changed world’.
"Previously referred to by many as The Secret Kingdom, Northumberland is now being recognised throughout the world for its dark skies, pristine beaches and dramatic landscapes where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
"2022 is an exciting time with Hadrian’s Wall 1900, a celebration of 1900 years since the building of Hadrian’s Wall. In addition, the spectacular Lindisfarne Gospels will return to our neighbours in Newcastle in September, with events throughout Northumberland to celebrate its return."
Writing for the New York Times, AnneLise Sorensen, said: "Britain’s diverse coastline, from the cliffs of Dover to the boardwalks of Brighton, will soon have a unifying element: the 2,800-mile England Coast Path.
"Developed in part by the governmental organization Natural England, the path aims to increase public access to the coast while also restoring landscapes, improving community connection and promoting sustainable travel.
"Trail segments that have opened include a 44-mile stretch in the northeast, from the River Tyne to the Northumberland coast, which is the epitome of rugged England: misty dunes, rocky headlands, wild beaches.
"At night, look up. The Northumberland International Dark Sky Park has some of the lowest light pollution in the country and features one of the largest areas of protected night sky in Europe. Gaze at galaxies sprayed across the sky at Kielder Observatory, and then venture to the ancient past as Hadrian’s Wall is celebrating its 1,900th anniversary with a yearlong festival."
This is not the first time Northumberland has been recognised for its merits as a travel destination for 2022. Both National Geographic and The Guardian have named England's most rural county as a place to visit in the year ahead.
You can read the full New York Times '52 Places for a Changing World' list here.
