Forecasts for 2010 predict that more people will be traveling, but the numbers are still well below what they were before the recession. Still, if you can afford to get away, interesting events will drawing visitors to destinations around the world, from Shanghai to South Africa to Orlando.
And here’s a surprise: Mexico is turning up on some top-10 lists for 2010, despite the swine flu epidemic and worries over drug violence.
Destinations
Several destinations will be in the tourism spotlight in 2010 thanks to headline-grabbing events, including the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C., Feb. 12 to 28; the FIFA World Cup soccer games in South Africa, for a month beginning June 11; and the Shanghai World Expo, May 1 to Oct. 31, a 21st century world’s fair that organizers are hoping will attract as many as 70 million visitors.
Another destination that will get attention in 2010 is Oberammergau, Germany, where the oldest continually acted Passion play in Europe has been performed by the locals roughly every 10 years since the 1600s. The show will be staged May through October, and is typically seen by a half-million people.
Spain is expecting more pilgrims traveling the Camino de Santiago, an ancient route to Galicia, where the cathedral is said to house the remains of St. James the Apostle. Typically the route draws more visitors when the saint’s Feast Day, July 25, falls on a Sunday, as it will in 2010.
Closer to home, Universal Orlando opens the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure this spring. The marquee attraction will be a high-tech ride called “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” that will take guests through scenes and rooms from the blockbuster Potter movies.
Universal Hollywood also has news for 2010. Its King Kong attraction, which burned down in 2008, is swinging back onto the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tram tour next summer. The new 3D attraction, King Kong 360, will transport visitors to Skull Island where they will witness “the eighth wonder of the world” tussling with dinosaurs and other critters.
Disneyland’s California Adventure Park is also debuting a big new attraction in 2010 called World of Color. This unusual nighttime water show uses a kaleidoscope of color, powerful fountains, and audio and visual effects to take viewers on a journey through animated Disney classics like “The Lion King,” “Toy Story” and many others.
Disney will also be offering a free day’s admission to parks on both coasts to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work in the new year. The “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. Disney is partnering with HandsOn Network, a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, to connect people with projects and to certify that the work was done.
And finally, never mind that worries about swine flu and drug violence led to a 12.5 percent decline in air travel to Mexico by U.S. citizens for the first nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Lonely Planet’s U.S. staff’s top 10 list for 2010 declares that “H1N1 is so 2009,” and puts Mexico as the No. 4 destination for the new year, adding that it’s “still a good bargain, easy to get to for most Americans.”
Yahoo’s list of most popular cities for 2009, based on consumer interest and activity, includes Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. And Mexico City was on Frommer’s top destinations list for the new year.
You can still be a trendy traveler without a plane ride by hopping in your car and driving to the nearest national park. The inauguration of President Obama helped draw visitors to park sites in Washington, D.C., but millions of Americans traveled to parks elsewhere, too, recognizing them as perfect destinations for a recession vacation.
Economics
Domestic leisure travel is expected to increase 2 percent in 2010, with an increase in leisure travel spending of nearly 5 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
The lodging forecast for 2010 from PricewaterhouseCoopers shows a small increase in the number of average daily rooms sold, up 2.5 percent to 2.68 million rooms in 2010, compared to 2.61 million in 2009. But that’s the lowest number since 2003.
“The industry is not rebounding,” said Scott Berman, hospitality and leisure leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The good news for consumers is that PricewaterhouseCoopers is also forecasting lower average daily rates ($95.79 in 2010 compared to $97.51 in 2009), due partly to increased competition from a larger supply of hotel rooms.
AirfareWatchdog.com predicts that airfares will even out since many airlines have cut capacity. If you are hoping to snag a deal, sign up for frequent flyer programs, e-mail alerts and Twitter feeds.
Top 2010 destinations
Lonely Planet predicts: U.S., Canada, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand, Cuba, Italy, Philippines, Brazil, Costa Rica.
Concierge.com: Marrakesh, Kyrgyzstan, Vancouver, Burma, Venice, Antarctica, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Colombia, South Africa.
Yahoo Travel: Las Vegas, Miami, Cancun, San Diego, Cabo San Lucas, New York City, San Francisco, Orlando, Honolulu, Paris.
Frommer: Paris; Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; Florida Panhandle Beaches; Hawaii (the Big Island); Salta Province, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Melbourne, Australia; Hanoi, Vietnam; Kerala, India; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Tunisia; Copenhagen, Denmark; Isles of Scilly, England.
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