Sri Lanka, BA's top travel spot for 2013

British Airways (BA) has named Sri Lanka as its top travel spot for the new year.The airline published a list of the 13 hottest destinations for 2013, with the much talked-about tropical island nation taking first place.Destinations manager at BA, Ash van Wensveen, said there is "a real buzz about Sri Lanka right now".

He said: "For a small island it offers a lot, from endless beaches to elephant treks and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit."Other places expected to prove popular in 2013 include Rio de Janeiro, which is currently preparing to host the FIFA World Cup and the next Olympic Games and Seoul.The profile of the South Korean capital has received a boost from Korean pop star Psy's massive global hit Gangnam Style, which recently became the first video to surpass one billion views on YouTube.

"There's a lot happening in Korea right now, business is thriving and it's a tourist destination on the up," said BA's Mike Rock.