What
The new year is expected to bring big business, according to a recent Travel Leaders Group survey. Ninety-six percent of consumers say they plan on traveling for vacation in 2019, including nearly 90 percent who plan on taking the same number of, or more, trips as in 2018.
Why It Matters
The future looks bright for travel advisors, whose current clients — as well as prospective ones — are eager to travel this year. Seventy-six percent of consumers are planning at least two or more leisure trips, with 36 percent expecting to partake in solo travel, as well. While 40 percent of solo travelers prefer independent exploration, 25 percent enjoy joining organized group tours.
Fast Facts
- The top 10 U.S. destinations that consumers are most interested in traveling to in 2019 are Hawaii, Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, New York, Arizona, Montana and Washington D.C.
- The top five U.S. destinations that solo travelers are most interested in traveling to in 2019 are Florida, California, Hawaii, New York and Alaska.
- The top five international regions that consumers are most interested in traveling to in 2019 are the Caribbean, Western Europe, Mexico, Canada and Eastern Europe.
- The top five international regions that solo travelers are most interested in traveling to in 2019 are Western Europe, the Caribbean, UK/Ireland, Eastern Europe and Australia.
What They Are Saying
“The desire to travel among North Americans is stronger than ever with an increasing focus on authentic, memorable experiences,” said Ninan Chacko, CEO of Travel Leaders Group. “Across our network of more than 52,000 travel advisors, we are seeing increasing interest in specialty travel such as culinary-focused, heritage journeys and bucket list destinations. Further, many people are not willing to forgo vacations because they have no one to travel with or, in many cases, simply prefer to travel on their own. We are seeing a rise in solo travel, and our advisors and travel supplier partners are stepping up and catering to that demand with tailored trips for the solo traveler.”
The Details
Travel Leaders Group
www.travelleadersgroup.com
