Vietnam among top emerging travel destinations

India, Vietnam and Cuba are the top emerging destinations for 2010, according to the 2010 Virtuoso Luxe Report released Monday.

The report, which provides invaluable insight into the future direction of high-end travelers, said Asian and Latin locations rose to the top of the list as up-and-coming destinations for this year.

Rounding out the top emerging-destination selections were the Galapagos Islands, China and Chile, PR Newswire reported.

Based on expert feedback from its sought-after network of travel providers and advisors, the Luxe Report results reflect booking trends, new travel destinations, comparisons to travel in 2009, and above all, forecast the travel aspirations of some of the most upscale travelers in the US.

The top three trends ranked by Virtuoso travel providers as influencing clients’ vacation choices included: seeking authentic experiences in new destinations; rest & relaxation; and spending time or reconnecting with loved ones.

The survey also found that private villa rental is booming, with 41 percent saying that this sector will increase in 2010 over 2009 bookings, supporting the trend towards connecting with loved ones in a private group setting.

Travelers in 2010 are booking longer vacations to more distant destinations. Of the travel professionals responding, 71 percent said clients are seeking international travel for more than ten days. Weekend getaways to domestic destinations garnered the smallest share with only 18 percent.

The primary reasons for Virtuoso clientele booking their travel through a Virtuoso agent as opposed to booking directly were cited as: expertise; the comfort level of working with their travel provider; the pre- and post-trip support they receive; and the ability of the travel provider to fully customize the trip for them.

The largest influences on consumers’ travel decisions are word of mouth, travel magazines and lifestyle magazines.

“The Luxe Report findings confirm tourists’ continued drive to travel – to see and experience the world firsthand,” said Virtuoso CEO Matthew D. Upchurch. “Although favorites such as Italy and Australia appear on this year’s list of popular vacation locations, the results point to new interest in emerging destinations such as India, Vietnam and Cuba, the latter of which is revealing, given the current US restrictions.”

“The Luxe Report also affirms the value that high-end travelers place on working with a professional travel advisor, he said. “In this era of on-line marginalization, experience, knowledge and personalized service still emerge as the very things travelers value.”

Virtuoso® is the industry’s leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations.

Tags: Vietnam Tourism, Vietnam travel