Americans have big travel plans for the coming year. Have you already come up with your bucket list of travel destinations? According to SWNS Digital, a new survey indicates that 37% of Americans are hoping to become “experienced travelers” in 2024. The research also finds that, on average, Americans are planning to visit four different destinations next year.
Over half (51%) of survey respondents want relaxed vacations, 43% prioritize cultural exploration, and 38% hope to visit historical sites. The most important factors to travelers when choosing a new destination include natural beauty and landscape (58%) and historical attractions (50%).
I thought this was interesting. Nearly half (44%) of those polled say TV shows influence their travel plans. For example, Emily in Paris has been inspiring people to buy plane tickets to France. HBO’s The White Lotus, which has been set in Hawaii (Season 1) and Sicily (Season 2), is also playing a role how people are making decisions for trips. The third season of The White Lotus will take place in Thailand, so that could be a hot destination in the near future.
So where exactly will Americans be traveling next year? A quarter of the respondents say they want to explore new and unfamiliar places, while 23% prefer going to places with which they’re already familiar. The survey reveals the twelve most popular countries, which you can see HERE.
Top Travel Destinations for Americans in 2024
5. Italy
Ancient history, cosmopolitan cities, quaint villages, stunning coastline, people who really know how to live, and some of the best cuisine on the planet. What’s not to love about Italy?
Colorful traditional houses in the Old town port of Procida Island, off the coast of Naples, Italy. (Photo by Xantana/Getty Images)
4. Spain
From the dream-like architecture in Barcelona to the sun-kissed olive groves of Andalusia, a visit to Spain is like traveling through a dream. Making a pilgrimage along El Camino de Santiago is one of the many reasons people from all over the world make their way to Spain.
Swiss/Italian pilgrim Claudio Modola rides his horse, Cortez, as two other pilgrims travel on foot, during his 44-day horseback journey from the Spain-France border across four different Spanish regions on a 870-kilometer trek on the Way of St. James, or El Camino de Santiago, a network of ancient pilgrim routes that stretch across Europe and converge at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Campostela in northwest Spain, on October 24, 2020 in Grañón, a village in the province of La Rioja, Spain. (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Getty Images)
3. France
If you only visited France to eat in the restaurants and drink the wine, that would be enough. But there’s so much more, from history and art, to fashion and some of the most beautiful countryside anywhere. Inspiration lurks around every corner.
The Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. (Photo by saiko3p/Getty Images)
2. Canada
It might not be the most exotic destination, but America’s neighbor to the north has a lot to offer. You can enjoy coastal experiences in British Columbia to the west and the Maritime provinces in the east. In between, you’ll find fascinating history and French culture in Quebec, the wide open prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the western wilds of Alberta. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver each offer their own unique urban experiences.
Idyllic cabin in the Canadian Rockies. Emerald Lake is located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. (Photo by Eder Maioli/Getty Images)
