Globally, the desire to travel shows no sign of abating, with two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents planning to travel this upcoming season (December 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023) with the majority of those (82 percent) planning one or two trips—that’s according to Tripadvisor’s recent “Seasonal Travel Index” study. Almost 9 in 10 respondents (89 percent) will travel the same amount or more compared to last year, with this figure highest in the U.S. (93 percent).
Inflationary pressures across the globe continue to impact consumer spending behavior, with almost two-thirds of survey respondents (62 percent) changing travel plans because of rising living costs, consistent with behavior from prior “Seasonal Travel Indexes” over the last two quarters. Around a third (32 percent) will likely travel less or for shorter lengths than previously planned, while a similar number (30 percent) plan to vacation closer to home than previously planned. Rising energy costs also impact travel behaviors, though slightly less so than rising living costs.
While affordability is now nearly twice as important as other factors when planning a trip, travelers will maintain travel spend this season, with over a third (36 percent) planning to spend about the same amount as last year on travel and over half (52 percent) spending more. In the U.S., 58 percent plan to spend more.
Most global travelers (57 percent) plan to travel domestically this upcoming season; however, the propensity to take international trips has increased (from 40 to 43 percent) since the previous “Seasonal Travel Index.” With winter on the horizon in the northern hemisphere, the most popular global destinations feature a mix of major global cities like Paris, London and New York, along with winter sun favorites such as Cancun, Dubai and Punta Cana. American respondents showed a higher propensity for foreign trips compared to the previous Index (+3 percent).
Unsurprisingly, the top ten fastest growing global destinations (those that have seen the largest year-on-year growth) are all based in Asia Pacific countries, many of which have reopened to international travelers or loosened restrictions over the past 12 months.
Top Destinations for U.S. Travelers
For Americans, the top domestic destinations were New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Key West, Lahaina, Miami Beach, New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale and Anaheim. Internationally, though, Mexico and the Caribbean dominated, making up eight of the top 10 spots (with only Paris and London separating themselves from this group). The list includes:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Caribbean
- Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Paris, France
- Palm - Eagle Beach, Caribbean
- Bavaro, Caribbean
- Montego Bay, Caribbean
- London, U.K.
Source: Tripadvisor
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