New report shares growing trends with destinations across
Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean
TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2019 /CNW/ -- When it comes to
analyzing travel trends, Expedia has a leg up. Being one of
the world's largest online travel brands means being
able to uncover themes across air travel, hotel stays, searches and
bookings, even experiences – all in the pursuit of arming Canadian
travellers with everything they need to travel smarter in
2020. And today the results are in – from European cities
dominating the new destinations to watch, to inspiration on where
to explore at home, as well as options for relocating to a beach
this winter, the full 2020 Trends in Travel Report unpacks the
fastest-growing destinations around the world, all based on real
traveller data.
European cities dominate the new top ten
It's time to
start planning and updating bucket lists. The below countries each
had three or more cities that appeared on the list of
fastest-growing destinations, based on flight demand for Canadian
travellers. Data shows Canadians are racking up the international
miles to Europe, with 6 out of the
10 countries on the list located in that part of the world:
- Spain & Canary
Islands –This European locale boasts a whopping
5 trending cities, but they're far from
the usual suspects. Barcelona and Madrid were downright eclipsed by beachy
Mallorca, and architecture centre Bilbao, located in the northern Basque region
of the country.
- Where to go: Palma de Mallorca (+73%), Seville (+29%), Valencia (+20%), Malaga (+13%), Bilbao (+10%)
- Germany –
Germany is often known for its
annual Oktoberfest celebrations, beer, sausages, soccer and fast
cars driving down the Autobahn; however, it's also a great spot for
history buffs.
- Where to go: Cologne (+88%), Hannover (+27%), Berlin (+21%), Munich (+17%), Dusseldorf (+16%)
- Japan – All eyes
will be on Tokyo
next summer, but Expedia data shows that
interest in the country has already picked up,
and it's not just centered around Japan's
largest city. Stray off the beaten path to taste Osaka's food scene or experience Sapporo's famous Snow Festival.
- Where to go: Sapporo (+70%), Tokyo (+53%), Fukuoka (+50%), Osaka (24%)
- Italy – While Florence, Venice, Rome
and the Amalfi Coast are popular spots in Italy, this year's trends are determined to
prove that these aren't the only places worth seeing in
Italy.
- Where to go: Palermo (+102%), Catania (+64%), Milan (+43%), Naples (+22%), Florence (+5%)
- Thailand – For
those looking for a longer-haul flight, consider adding
Thailand to the list, which had
three trending cities this year. Take in the hustle and bustle of
the market streets or escape the Canadian winter on a remote beach
on one of the many islands.
- Where to go: Phuket (+23%), Chiang
Mai (+21%), Bangkok
(+20%)
- Mexico – It
probably comes as no surprise that Canadians are going to
Mexico in droves, given it is
relatively close-by, affordable and offers top-notch food and
beaches. While spots like Cancun and Puerto
Vallarta maintain their popularity, Mexico's hidden gem
beaches and culture-rich cities are officially having a moment as
well.
- Where to go: Cancun (+56%), Oaxaca (+20%), San
Jose del Cabo (+18%), Veracruz (+18%), Queretaro (+15%), Puerto Vallarta (+12%)
- Portugal –
Portugal might be the most
predictable destination on the list this year, but just like
Croatia before it, the demand
shows no signs of letting up. With Portugal's temptation of
castles, beaches, great food and rich history, it's time to jump on
the bandwagon.
- Where to go: Funchal (+47%), Ponta Delgada (+17%), Faro
(+16%)
- India – The cities
seeing the biggest year-over-year growth in India tell a story of leisure and industry.
India had the most trending cities
amongst the top ten countries, with a total of seven spots to
explore.
- Where to go: Ahmedabad (+195%), Kolkata (+113%), Kochi (+100%), Chennai (+94%), Delhi (+66%), Bengaluru (+54%), Mumbai (+54%)
- Switzerland – If
looking for a mix of the outdoors and an urban centre, then look no
further. From exploring the alps, to taking into the architectural
rich cities, Switzerland is a
great option that gives travellers the best of both worlds.
- Where to go: Zurich (+24%), Basel (+20%), Geneva (+8%)
- Poland
– Eastern Europe is full
of unique charm and Poland is no
exception. From perogies, to historic cities, to fresh lakes and
small villages, this is the perfect taste of eastern Europe and a great place to dip your toe.
- Where to go: Katowice (+21%), Poznan (+12%), Warsaw (+9%)
The prairies, west and north are trending across
Canada
Canadian cities in the prairies, western
provinces and the northern territories are all trending, so expect
to see more of them in the new year. Interestingly, all of the top
ten destinations listed have close proximity to the outdoors,
making them great jumping off points for those looking for an
adventure focused trip.
- Edmonton,
Alberta (+221%); Winnipeg,
Manitoba (+190%); Calgary,
Alberta (+180%); Vancouver,
British Columbia (+155%); Lethbridge, Alberta (+120%); Kamloops, British Columbia (+96%);
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (+81%);
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
(+81%); Regina, Saskatchewan
(+58%); Whitehorse, Yukon (+50%)
Beach escapes to soak in that vitamin D
The 2020
Trends in Travel report proves the Caribbean and Mexico remain as go-to destinations for
Canadians in search of a warm beach vacation closer to home. Often
the hardest part about planning a beach escape is narrowing down
where to go. Whether it's authentic island culture
or quiet uncrowded beaches, the below ten spots are up-and-coming
destinations, based on hotel demand.
- Oranjestad, Aruba (+98%);
Sayulita, Mexico (+69%); Gros
Islet, St. Lucia (+63%);
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (+61%); Rockley,
Barbados (+54%); Providenciales,
Turks and Caicos (+51%); Noord, Aruba (+44%); Placencia, Belize (+41%); Willemstad, Curacao (+38%); St. Thomas, U.S
Virgin Islands (+35%)
Things to do: Theme Parks, Shows and High-Up Views
Activities and attractions are more than just an add-on to a trip.
Often, they're one of the top considerations when travellers are
choosing their destination and accommodations, and purchasing the
tickets ahead of time makes trip planning easier. So, plan those
experiences in 2020 and try something different. For some
inspiration, here are some of the top activities for Canadians
booked on Expedia:
- Universal Studios Hollywood admission (+141%); The High Roller
Observation Wheel in Las Vegas,
admission tickets (+47%); Capilano Suspension Bridge park tickets
(+180%); Colosseum & Forum Tour tickets (+96%); and tickets to
experience the Mystere, Cirque du Soleil show at Treasure Island in Las Vegas (+30%).
About Expedia
Expedia is one of the world's largest
full-service travel sites, helping millions of travellers per month
easily plan and book travel. Expedia aims to provide the latest
technology and widest selection of top vacation destinations,
affordable airfare, hotel deals, car rentals, destination weddings,
cruise deals and in-destination activities, attractions, services
and travel apps. ©2019 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Expedia
and the Airplane logo are either trademarks or registered
trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other
product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of
their respective owners. Visit our web site https://www.expedia.ca
or use our mobile app to book cheap flights, hotels, and
packages.
All trends based on Expedia.ca hotel or flight demand from
Canada between January 1, 2019 – September 15, 2019, compared to the same time
frame in 2018.
SOURCE Brand Expedia