NEW YORK -- Active and adventure travel is the most popular travel
specialty, Travel Leaders Group (TLG) advisers reported in a survey.
TLG released the results of its latest travel trends survey
in conjunction with a luxury-focused trade show for agents here Tuesday.
While active and adventure travel topped the list of niche
and specialty travel, other areas are trending, too. Active/Adventure was
followed by honeymoon and destination weddings, culinary and wine, reunions,
wellness, and women-only trips.
Agents are optimistic about business, according to the
survey results. More than 90% reported feeling "positive" or "very
positive" about their business outlook in 2019. Over two-thirds said
consumers are spending more on 2019 trips versus the current year.
Travelers are booking longer trips, too. Most common are six
to seven days, followed by eight to 10 days. TLG said only 1.5% are primarily
booking trips less than four days in length.
The survey was conducted in September and October; 1,000
agents completed it.
The survey included a list of top destinations. The top
international, non-cruise destination is Mexico, followed by Italy, the
Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Australia, France, Aruba
and England.
The top domestic, non-cruise destination is Hawaii, followed
by Orlando, Las Vegas, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New Orleans,
Washington, D.C., Anchorage and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For domestic cruise destinations, Alaska is tops followed by
Hawaii. Internationally, the Caribbean was the top spot, followed by European
river cruises and Mediterranean cruises.