Expedia, one of the world’s largest online travel brands, reveals 2020 Trends in Travel based on a robust analysis of US traveler data.
Expedia’s analysts scoured the list of fastest-growing destinations to identify the countries that had the most cities trending based on flight demand.
“When we looked at where travelers went in 2019, we saw that the biggest growth in demand was happening for destinations that aren’t the usual tourist hotspots,” said Christie Hudson, Head of PR for Brand Expedia North America. “For example, instead of Venice or Rome, the top trending Italian destinations were in Sardinia and the Italian Riviera. We hope this report shines a light on new places to explore and inspires people to start planning their travel for 2020.”
The New Top 10
- Spain & Canary Islands: Ibiza (+50%), Palma de Mallorca (+35%), Oviedo (+30%), Seville (+15%)
- Canada: Winnipeg (+465%), Saskatoon (+425%), Regina (+400%), Halifax (+365%)
- Peru: Trujillo (+35%), Lima (+15%), Arequipa (+5%)
- Japan: Naha/Okinawa (+45%), Sapporo (+40%), Tokyo (+20%), Osaka (+20%)
- Italy: Cagliari (+40%), Genoa (+5%), Olbia (+5%), Calabria (+5%)
- Australia: Sydney (+20%), Cairns (+20%), Adelaide (+15%), Melbourne (+10%), Gold Coast (+10%), Perth (+5%)
- Mexico: Campeche (+95%), Oaxaca (+60%), Puerto Escondido (+50%), Mexico City (+30%)
- Portugal: Porto (+55%), Faro (+35%), Lisbon (+10%)
- Brazil: Fortaleza (+35%), Iguazu Falls (+10%), Sao Paulo (+10%)
- India: Goa (+25%), Ahmedabad (+15%), Delhi (+15%), Kolkata (+10%)
It’s time to dust off your bucket list and It’s time to dust off your bucket list and start adding some new places. These countries each had three or more cities that appeared on the list of fastest-growing destinations, based on flight demand.
Top Beach Destinations
Beach vacations are one of the most popular trips for travelers, and it seems Americans will stop at nothing in search of the perfect stretch of sand. The fastest-growing beach destinations based on hotel demand highlight a desire for the new, novel and not-to-be-missed. Take note, because we may see an increasingly high number of travelers frequenting these far-flung beaches in 2020.
1. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (+255%)
2. Borocay Island, Philippines (+250%)
3. Positano, Italy (+130%)
4. Nadi, Fiji (+125%)
5. Budva, Montenegro (+120%)
6. Phuket, Thailand (+100%)
7. Tahiti, French Polynesia (+90%)
8. Canggu, Indonesia (+80%)
9. Nosara, Costa Rica (+75%)
10. Thassos, Greece (+65%)
Up and Coming Caribbean Destinations
The data proves the Caribbean remains a go-to destination for Americans in search of a warm beach vacation closer to home. And with more than 7,000 islands to choose from, the hardest part about planning a Caribbean escape is narrowing it down. Our report does the work for you. Whether it’s authentic island culture or quiet, uncrowded beaches our list of up and coming Caribbean destinations, based on hotel demand, has a little something for everyone.
1. Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (+215%)
2. Black Rock, Trinidad and Tobago (+170%)
3. Falmouth, Jamaica (+150%)
4. Villa, St. Vincent & the Grenadines (+115%)
5. Rockley, Barbados (+105%)
6. Soufriere, St. Lucia (+100%)
7. Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (+95%)
8. The Exumas, Bahamas (+90%)
9. St-Barthélemy, St-Barthélemy (+70%)
10. Noord, Aruba (+70%)
Popular Experiences: Robots, Ruins and Rollercoasters
Activities and attractions are more than just an add-on to a trip. Often, they’re one of the top considerations when travelers are choosing where to go and where to stay. Not to mention purchasing the tickets ahead of time makes the trip planning easier. So, don’t just go somewhere in 2020 – have an experience. Here are some of the top-selling activities on Expedia for inspiration:
- Universal Studios Hollywood Admission in Los Angeles, California (+350%)
- Robot Restaurant Show in Shinjuku, Tokyo (+220%)
- Chichén Itzá Admission, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (+125%)
- The High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas, Nevada (+35%)
- San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California (+15%)
Chasing Waterfalls
Take a cue from Americans who strayed from the rivers and lakes they were used to this year: Expedia data reveals many travelers were literally chasing waterfalls in 2019.
- Niagara Falls, Ontario (hotel demand +45%)
- Kaieteur Falls, Guyana (flight demand to Georgetown +30%)
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (hotel demand +25%)
- Sutherland Falls, New Zealand (flight demand to Christchurch +20%)
- Iguazu Falls, Brazil (flight demand +10%)
- Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park (hotel demand +10%)
College Towns from Coast to Coast
Small college towns close to outdoor recreation had quite the showing on the domestic trending list. Maybe it’s because where you’ll find university students, you’ll often also find a great craft beer and coffee scene, lively bars and nightlife, and unpretentious locals. Add to that a nearby hiking or biking trail, and what’s not to like?
1. Cedar City, Utah (+100%) – Home to Southern Utah University, and one hour from Zion National Park, Cedar City also boasts an annual Shakespeare festival.
2. Flagstaff, Arizona (+85%) – Home to Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff is a unique mix of strong brews, great cycling and bluegrass.
3. Bend, Oregon (+65%) – Bend is home to an OSU branch campus and is heaven for the outdoors-lover. Whether your version of outdoor recreation means snow sports and kayaking or just drinking craft beer on a sunny patio, Bend is the perfect place for a long weekend.
4. Eugene, Oregon (+55%) – Ask any Duck and they’ll talk your ear off about how great Eugene is. Not hard to believe given it’s jam-packed with great restaurants, friendly, offbeat locals and tons of outdoor recreation options.
5. Gainesville, Florida (+55%) – Home to the University of Florida, Gainesville is surrounded by wetlands, lakes and state parks galore, and is just an hour-or-so drive from three national forests. Plus, its still-prominent music scene gets major street cred for its ties to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
