Americans to travel farther, spend more in 2012

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Shaky economy notwithstanding, Americans intend to travel farther and spend more in 2012, according to a nationwide poll.
Long-haul bookings to Europe, Asia and Australia are up in 2012, comprising 11 of the top 20 destinations for U.S. travelers, compared to nine in 2011, the survey of 640 travel agents showed.
Over 90 percent said their clients will spend the same or more on travel in 2012. The top two international destinations for 2012, based on actual bookings, remain Caribbean cruises and Cancun, Mexico, as they were in the 2011 survey.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong, China, missing from the top 20 in 2011, made the list in 2012, and Sydney, Australia, ranked 19th last year just missed making the top 15.
“We are very encouraged to see the rise in popularity of such a diverse group of international destinations,” said Roger E. Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group, which conducted the poll.
He said along with the expected list-toppers, such as London and Rome, it was nice to see Americans’ interests are diversifying and in large enough numbers to ‘bump up’ destinations such as Hong Kong and Beijing in Asia, and Amsterdam and Barcelona in Europe.
Asked to pick the top up-and-coming international destinations, over a third of the agents chose Croatia for Europe, and one-half said Vietnam led in Asia. Panama edged out Ecuador and Brazil among destinations within Central/South America.
The luxury travel segment continues to thrive. More than half the leisure travel specialists polled reported upticks in small ship cruising, off-the-beaten path travel and international family travel.
Las Vegas, Nevada, heads up the domestic destinations for 2012 for U.S. travelers, as it did in 2011. Agents cite the lure of gaming and the ease of the getaway for its continued vitality; Orlando, Florida, the home of Disney World, ranked second.
Last-minute leisure travel is down. Eager to lock-in optimum pricing and driven by reduced airline capacity, leisure travelers continue to book further in advance of their travel date.
Domestically, more than 63 percent of leisure travelers booked their flights eight weeks or more in advance of the travel date; internationally, it was 89.5 percent.
Almost 40 percent of the agents reported higher bookings in 2012; 40.8 percent said bookings were even; and 19.7 percent reported lower bookings than in 2011.
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Tucan Travel Declares 2012 the ‘Year of Adventure’

LONDON , Dec. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Despite the scope of predictions already being made on what 2012 will hold, with everything from uncertainty in the economy and the end of the European experiment, to end of the world as a whole if you listen to the predictions of the ancient Maya, none of them paint a particularly rosy picture. To counter this and propose an alternative, Tucan Travel is declaring 2012 the Year of Adventure.
There is no doubt that 2011 was a year of big change in the world, from devastating natural disasters to financial upheaval and revolutionary change. What is also true is that no one can be certain of what 2012 will bring. But during this uncertain time there is also opportunity, opportunity for travellers to go on the adventure of a lifetime, wherever in the world that might be.
Tucan Travel has come a long way as a company, offering other travellers a genuine travel experience. And this year will see the company turn 25. To celebrate preparations are underway to make it their biggest and most exciting year yet.
So as the new year approaches, why not forget any of the doom and gloom you might have heard for 2012; the year will be what you make of it. Why not make it a Year of Adventure?
Tucan Travel’s 2012 hot spots
Colombia — This beautiful yet still enigmatic corner of South America is in the forefront of many people’s minds at the moment, and as an up-and-coming destination is absolutely bursting with adventure opportunities.
The Balkans — This under-explored region of Eastern Europe is far too often overlooked by travellers in search of a genuine adventure. From the rugged peaks and stunning bays of Montenegro down to the long, rock and pine covered coastline of Croatia with its hundreds of islands walled cities, to the rich cultural heritage of both Bosnia and Serbia, there is so much to explore in this region as it emerges from its recent history.
Central America — Much has been made of certain readings of the ancient Maya calendar that the world will end this year. Despite the questionable validity of such claims, this fascinating civilization did leave behind many mysterious and astonishing ruins, deep in a lush jungle setting.
Tucan Travel is a specialist adventure tour operator with hundreds of high-quality, affordable and exciting adventures to worldwide destinations. Choose from over 400 group tours, Independent Travel packages and Expedition Cruises to Europe , the Middle East & North Africa , Asia & Russia , East & Southern Africa , Latin America and Antarctica .
Media Enquiries:
Ben McIntosh , Communications coordinator
Direct Line: +44 (020) 8896 6711 | Email: ben@tucantravel.com
This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com/.


This article is from http://tourism9.com/