At the World Travel Market in London this week ForwardKeys has announced the performance of the top global destinations of 2022 by publishing an annual Most Visited Destinations report that is available in hard copy at the event and to download at the bottom of this page.
The top country list is headed by the Dominican Republic, and the top city list by Antalya in Turkey. Between 1st January and 18th October (the latest available air ticketing data), the Dominican Republic welcomed 5% more visitors than it did in 2019. It is followed by Turkey and Costa Rica and Mexico, which all welcomed the same number of visitors as in 2019.
Here’s the top 10
Dominican Republic (up 5%)
Turkey (even)
Costa Rica (even)
Mexico (even)
Jamaica (down 5%)
Pakistan (down 5%)
Bangladesh (down 8%)
Greece (down 12%)
Egypt (down 15%)
Portugal (down 16%).
Dublin, Ireland. Gregory Dalleau/Unsplash Photo.
Taking a broad view of travel market developments in 2022, the picture is generally positive, with many destinations approaching full recovery and some even surpassing their pre-pandemic performance. By region, Africa and the Middle East is 2022’s most resilient, with the Middle East, in particular, benefiting from the resumption of major global events such as the Dubai World Expo, Formula One GPs in various Gulf
locations and, above all, Qatar’s FIFA World Cup, the ForwardKeys report stated.
The Americas, meanwhile, has achieved an impressive level of recovery thanks largely to pent-up demand from the United States outbound market for sun and beach destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean, several of which have seen tourism growth versus 2019. In fact, demand for sun and beaches is a recurring theme in this year’s travel review, with many destinations in Southern Europe also performing strongly. Turkey’s Antalya, for example, is this year’s stand-out performer by city
destination, seeing 66% more tourist arrivals than in 2019.
The least-recovered global region in 2022 is Asia Pacific, the report said, “which is to be expected given the late reopening of many of its destinations and China’s ongoing closure. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific, too, is heading in the right direction.”
ForwardKeys also looked at 2022 data versus 2021. Among the top-five destinations in this specific metric, four are European, with Ireland leading the way having improved
its recovery by 50 percentage points, followed by Turkey (+47% ) and Portugal (+46%). Breaking up the European dominance are Saudi Arabia (+50%) and Argentina (+45%)
“Sun and beach destinations are proving the most resilient, reaching -30% recovery in 2022 as compared with 2019 levels. This is reflected in the impressive performance of many destinations in Central America, the Caribbean and Southern Europe, as well
of tropical-island destinations in Asia Pacific (Maldives, Fiji).
However, urban trips are also making a comeback. In fact, the recovery of urban destinations is catching up with that of sun and beach destinations, and by December, the two will be nearly level…”
A street in Havana, Cuba. Alexander Kunze/Unsplash Photo.
SUNWING LAUNCHES EARLY BLACK FRIDAY SALE: GREAT DEALS FOR CUBA VACATIONS
Sunwing is dialing up the savings during its Black Friday Early Access Sale with incredible deals on all inclusive Cuba getaways. Starting today, customers can score a Cuba vacation under $999 when they book by November 20, 2022 for travel between November 14, 2022 and April 30, 2023.
“We’re thrilled to launch our Black Friday Sale early with unbeatable prices on all inclusive vacations to the customer favourite destination of Cuba,” said Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer of Sunwing Travel Group. “We’re offering thousands of packages to Cuba and fantastic value during our limited-time sale, with plenty of options to choose from to help our customers get more out of their Cuban getaway, whether they want to unwind on the beach, explore World Heritage Sites or take advantage of the many excursions offered through Sunwing Experiences, from sailing to snorkeling and more.”
Sunwing customers can take their pick of Cuban hotels and destinations and maximize every minute of their vacation, whether travelling with the family, jetting off with friends or looking for an intimate vacation for two this winter. Customers interested in visiting the world-famous destination of Varadero can enjoy a range of beachfront resorts. Iberostar Selection Varadero is a great hotel option for families, offering a splash pad for the kids, complimentary water sports and dining options to suit all taste buds. Couples and friend groups will enjoy the elevated serviced and amenities at the adults only Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa, from the on-site spa to the range of à la carte dining options.
For a boutique vacation experience, customers can head to Cayo Largo located on the southern tip of Cuba and known as the island’s sunshine coast. There are several options to choose from, including Memories Cayo Largo which is nestled on a white-sand beach along the Caribbean Sea and offers entertainment and amenities for all ages. Meanwhile, the new Hotel Tesoro del Atlantico in Holguin and Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria are other great family choices, offering on-site kids clubs, pools and amenities all guests will love.
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa.
RED ARROW ADDS TORONTO-OTTAWA BUS SERVICE
Red Arrow is now bringing its long-desired intercity passenger service to Ontario, offering an affordable premium experience the province has never experienced before.
On December 4th, Red Arrow will launch service between Toronto and Ottawa seven days a week, initially with four daily trip, then on December 8th with its full six daily trip schedule. The service includes stops in Scarborough and Kingston, allowing passengers a greater selection of destinations to embark and disembark.
Their vehicles seat 30 people, instead of the typical 55, so each seat is a window seat. They also swivel, so you can chat with your fellow travellers if you wish.
“This introduction of service between the province’s two most populous cities proves our continued commitment to the travel needs of Canadians. We invite all Ontario travellers to experience the Red Arrow difference,” says Raelene Miller, Vice President, Motorcoach division. “With higher gas prices, continued hassles with flying, and limited rental car availability, we’re a stress-free, convenient, and reliable alternative.”
“Pacific Western Transportation has served Ontario for over 30 years, and we are honoured to bring the iconic Red Arrow brand to the marketplace. Our customers can expect the same elevated experience we’ve been offering western Canadians for decades.
“Since its inception, Red Arrow has provided a safe, reliable, and stress-free travel experience with premium single-row privacy seating, advanced seat selection, onboard entertainment, complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks, and beverages.”
