In a new survey conducted by Travelzoo, travelers from key international markets have voted the United States their top vacation destination for 2016. Australian, British, Canadian and French voters named the U.S. as their top destination, while the U.S. ranked second among Spanish and Chinese respondents—making the USA number one overall. The perception of the USA as a safe destination was a key factor in the choice of travelers.
In the annual survey, the U.S. saw the biggest increase in popularity among the British, rising from sixth to first place year over year, while the destination also remained popular among Chinese voters, staying at second spot for the second consecutive year. The table below shows the results among seven key markets, which, according to the most recent full-year data available from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), account for nearly half (47 percent) of all international visits to the United States.
Top Three Destination Favorites of
Travelers from Key International Markets
| Country | No. 1 Destination | No. 2 Destination | No. 3 Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australians | USA | Australia | New Zealand |
| British | USA | Italy | UK |
| French | USA | Spain | France |
| Spaniards | Spain | USA | Italy |
| Germans | Germany | Spain | Italy |
| Canadians | USA | Canada | Caribbean |
| Chinese | Japan | USA | Australia |
| Source: Travelzoo (Note: The annual online survey conducted by Travelzoo tallied votes from 5,753 respondents across Australia, the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, the U.S. and China.) |
In a statement accompanying the survey results, Travelzoo said that, when asked how unrest or terror events impact destination selection, 64 percent of respondents said they will avoid destinations that experienced a terror attack within the past 12 months. Climate, price, culture and safety were ranked highly when selecting a vacation destination.
Travelzoo North America president, Michael Stitt noted, “The strong dollar was expected to deter international travelers, but the launch of new direct flight routes and America’s image as a safe destination contributed to its growing popularity.”
The results of the survey serve to confirm reports from European tour operators and European trade journals that many Germans and Spaniards are opting out of long-haul travel this year and opting instead to travel within their own country.
