More Americans are
expected to travel farther from home in 2012 according to a recent survey by
Travel Leaders.Of the top 20 travel destinations, 11 are in Europe, Asia and
Australia, which is up from 9 in 2011.And more than 91 percent of Travel
Leaders surveyed say clients will spend the same or more on travel in 2012 as
compared to last year. The survey is based on booking data and was conducted
from Nov. 21 to Dec. 16 using responses from 640 Travel Leaders owners,
managers and travel experts in the nation. Travel Leaders has offices in the
Mid-Columbia. About 43 percent of clients are spending about the same per trip
as they did in 2011, while 44 percent are spending somewhat more, according to
the survey.“Our surveyed travel agents indicate there’s an increase in interest
and bookings for small ship cruising, off-the-beaten path travel, and
international family travel,” said Roger E. Block, CTC, president of Travel
Leaders Franchise Group, which includes travel agency locations from coast to
coast. “With these luxury-oriented segments on the rise, it’s no wonder the
overall optimism our Travel Leaders have heading into 2012 based on bookings
to-date for the upcoming year is also very high.”Travel Leaders travel agents
nationwide say Croatia is the top “up and coming” international destination in
Europe, Vietnam is tops within Asia and Panama narrowly edges out Ecuador and
Brazil among destinations in Central and South America.And more travelers are
planning ahead, with 64 percent booking travel within the United States eight
weeks or more ahead and 90 percent booking international travel 8 weeks or more
ahead, according to the survey. Here is the top 20 list of international
destinations based on the survey:
1. CRUISE- Caribbean, same as 2010
2. Cancun, Mexico, same as 2010
3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico, more than 2010
4. CRUISE- Europe (Mediterranean), 3rd in 2010
5. Rome, Italy, same as 2010
6. London, England, same as 2010
7. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 9th in 2010
8. Paris, France, 11th in 2010
9. Montego Bay, Jamaica, 7th in 2010
10. Negril, Jamaica, 15th in 2010
11. Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, Mexico,
12th in 2010
12. Florence and/or Tuscany, Italy, 14th in 2010
13. CRUISE- Europe (River), tied for 21 in 2010
14. Beijing, China, 16th in 2010
15. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 13th in 2010
16. (tie) between CRUISE- Mexico, was 10th in 2010, and Sydney, Australia, 19th
in 2010
18. Barcelona, Spain, 20th in 2010
19. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, tied for 26 in 2010
20. Hong Kong, China, tied for 23 in 2010
By KRISTI PIHL
Victor Gonzalez
Ventanas Residences
www.VentanasResidences.INFO