Travel may have ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Americans are busily booking travel plans for next year as more people get vaccinated and countries continue to open their borders once more, according to new research.
“Travel in 2023 looks strong,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, said, according to Condé Nast Traveler.
“As borders continue to re-open, people are not only thinking about big, international trips, they are booking them,” Hendley continued. “Whether you are traveling solo, adventuring with friends, or traveling with family, there is truly a trip for everyone.”
To that point, American Express Travel released its 2023 Trending Destinations list — and some of those destinations are certainly bold.
Based on the research, here are the top 10 2023 Trending Destinations according to American Express Travel:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Florida Keys
- Istanbul, Turkiye
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Montenegro
- Paris, France
- Sydney, Australia
- Woodstock, Vermont
- Yaukuve Island, Fiji
In case you’re wondering, here’s how the research was conducted: Morning Consult conducted an online poll between September 30 and October 3, 2022, of 2,000 U.S. travelers who are American Express Card Members and previously booked travel with American Express Travel. Those travelers have a household income of at least $70K and they are defined as adults who typically travel by air at least once a year.
Other Significant Findings
“I think the pandemic has certainly changed how a lot of people think of travel,” Hendley said, according to Travel Weekly.
“We’re not taking it for granted anymore. We know it’s something we love,” Hendley continued. “We know it’s something we want to do but we’ve had time to sit back and think a little bit about why we travel — what’s meaningful to us when we travel.”
Indeed, as Hendley notes, the research showed that the survey’s participants’ ideas about travel have changed. For example, 70 percent of the respondents said they want to travel to wish list destinations in 2023.
Interestingly, survey respondents also plan to “vacation with holistic health in mind.” For instance, 89 percent of the respondents said they want to go on a trip to escape routine while 74 percent said they plan to travel more in 2023 for their well-being.
With those findings in mind, it’s not surprising to also learn that 49 percent of the respondents said they plan to seek out activities like spa treatments and meditation sessions while on vacation to improve their overall well-being.
If you’re looking for more inspiration for planning travel, be sure to read
