2020 Travel Trends: Expedia.com Predicts Top Destinations and Experiences for the New Year

SEATTLE, Nov. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 flights, hotel stays, searches and bookings, and even experiences – all in the pursuit of arming explorers with everything they need to know to navigate the year ahead. Based on a robust analyses of US traveler data, Expedia's 2020 Trends in Travel highlights:

• The fastest-growing destinations around the world
• Hidden gem beaches both near and far
• The rise of natural wonders and college towns
• Top-selling experiences and attractions

Read on for a selection of predictions and trends below and view the full 2020 Trends in Travel report here.

The New Top 10
Expedia's analysts scoured the list of fastest-growing destinations to identify the countries that had the most cities trending based on flight demand. The result: A brand-new bucket list worthy of a new decade. 

"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." 

1. Spain & Canary Islands: Ibiza (+50%), Palma de Mallorca (+35%), Oviedo (+30%), Seville (+15%)
2. Canada: Winnipeg (+465%), Saskatoon (+425%), Regina (+400%), Halifax (+365%)
3. Peru: Trujillo (+35%), Lima (+15%), Arequipa (+5%)
4. Japan: Naha/Okinawa (+45%), Sapporo (+40%), Tokyo (+20%), Osaka (+20%)
5. Italy: Cagliari (+40%), Genoa (+5%), Olbia (+5%), Calabria (+5%)
6. Australia: Sydney (+20%), Cairns (+20%), Adelaide (+15%), Melbourne (+10%), Gold Coast (+10%), Perth (+5%)
7. Mexico: Campeche (+95%), Oaxaca (+60%), Puerto Escondido (+50%), Mexico City (+30%)
8. Portugal: Porto (+55%), Faro (+35%), Lisbon (+10%)
9. Brazil: Fortaleza (+35%), Iguazu Falls (+10%), Sao Paulo (+10%)
10. India: Goa (+25%), Ahmedabad (+15%), Delhi (+15%), Kolkata (+10%)

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:

1. Universal Studios Hollywood Admission in Los Angeles, California (+350%)
2. Robot Restaurant Show in Shinjuku, Tokyo (+220%)
3. Chichén Itzá Admission, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (+125%)
4. The High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas, Nevada (+35%) 
5. 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. 

1. Niagara Falls, Ontario (hotel demand +45%) 
2. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana (flight demand to Georgetown +30%) 
3. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (hotel demand +25%) 
4. Sutherland Falls, New Zealand (flight demand to Christchurch +20%)
5. Iguazu Falls, Brazil (flight demand +10%) 
6. Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park (hotel demand +10%)

Curious about hidden gem beach destinations and which U.S. college towns are trending? Check out the full 2020 Trends Report here and start planning your next vacation.

About Expedia.com 
Expedia.com^® is one of the world's largest full-service travel sites, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (https://www.expedia.com/, 1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the 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 registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CST# 2029030-50. Visit our web site https://www.expedia.com/ or use our mobile app to book cheap flights and hotels.

Source: Brand Expedia. 

All trends based on Expedia.com hotel or flight demand from the U.S. between January 1, 2019 and September 15, 2019, compared to the same time frame in 2018. 

SOURCE Expedia.com

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