Conducted November 21 – December 16, 2011, and based on actual booking data, the 2012 Travel Trends Survey includes responses from 640 Travel Leaders owners, managers and frontline travel experts throughout the United States.

 

When asked to pick the top up-and-coming international destinations, over a third of the Travel Leaders agents nationwide indicated Croatia for Europe, and one-half said Vietnam is tops within Asia. Panama edged out Ecuador and Brazil among destinations in Central/South America.

 

With 11 of the top 20 international destinations in Europe, Asia and Australia – up from just 9 last year – the survey indicated that Americans are ready to travel farther from home than in recent years.

 

Travellers are also willing to spend what is necessary for their desired vacation – over 91% of Travel Leaders surveyed say clients will spend the same or more on travel in 2012 as compared to last year. 

 

Croatia has been recommended as one of top destinations to visit in 2012 by several US media groups. Istria is one of the world’s top places to visit in 2012, say National Geographic Traveler editors.

 

Hvar was named as one of the world’s best regions to visit by Lonely Planet, and one of Europe’s top islands by Condé Nast Traveler's readers. Jerolim beach in Dalmatia came on top of CNN’s list of world’s best beaches for a skinny dip.

 

Dubrovnik was also named as one of the top ten travel destinations to visit in 2012, according to the travel buzz on the social network site Facebook.