Dominican Republic among top 10 trending destinations for summer 2024
Report reveals tourism trends for 2024, highlighting popular destinations and trips
According to the Mastercard Economics Institute’s latest global report, released today, the top 10 trending destinations for June through August 2024 for U.S. travelers include four travel destinations in the region: Oranjestad, Aruba (2nd), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (5th), San Juan, Puerto Rico (6th) and Santiago, Dominican Republic (10th).
Globally, Oranjestad ranks as the 10th trending destination from June to August 2024. For Latin Americans, Punta Cana is the eighth trending destination for this summer.
In 2024, the tourism sector is breaking boundaries. Through March 2024, consumer travel spending is robust with significant increases in passenger traffic, according to the Travel Trends 2024 report, which provides comprehensive information on the changing landscape of the travel industry in 74 markets.
Across the Caribbean, it notes that while travel is recovering, countries with relatively more affordable hotel options are performing exceptionally well, ultimately benefiting economies.
Internationally, there has been a notable increase in vacation time, from 4.5 days in 2020 to 5.5 days in 2024.
In the Caribbean, for example, the time travelers spend in Barbados increased from an average of 7.8 to 8.5 days, respectively. The increase is due to key factors such as affordability and climate.
Other global tourism findings
Based on an analysis of aggregated and anonymized transaction data, including Mastercard SpendingPulseTM, and third-party data sources, the report delves into key global travel trends for this year and beyond, which include:
- Record travel: an all-time high of 15.9 million Americans traveled internationally in the first quarter of 2024.
- Leisure for longer: tourists are extending their vacations by an average of one day, influenced by affordable destinations and warmer climates.
- Experience economy on the move: consumers now prioritize experiences over material goods while traveling, accounting for 12% of tourism sales, the highest point in at least five years.
- Cruises are going full steam ahead: cruise travel is surpassing pre-pandemic levels of demand, driven by affordability compared to hotels. The Bahamas has welcomed an additional 2.9 million passengers arriving by sea compared to 2019.
- Top 10 trending destinations: Japan leads in tourism activity, while Munich tops the list for summer tourism. Albania ranks third among European countries with the lowest cost.
“The resilience and adaptability of the travel sector, coupled with persistent consumer demand, will mean a prosperous 2024 for tourism. Just like at home, travelers are prioritizing experiences over goods while abroad,” said Michelle Meyer, chief economist and director of the Mastercard Economics Institute.
“However, today’s travelers are discerning and choose destinations that offer value and authenticity,” she said. “They are smart enough to stretch their funds and extend their stays, fully immersing themselves in the wonders of each location.”
