Travel Leaders Group released its latest survey findings in which Cuba continues trending upward in interest among American travelers and is likely to increase further with regularly scheduled air service from the United States that was announced on June 10. Survey participants indicating they’d “go immediately” to Cuba if all government restrictions were lifted has risen to nearly 11%, with gains also charted among those who have already been there. This year’s survey also explored the Top 20 International Destinations already being booked for 2016 by Travel Leaders Group agents by asking travelers to rank their desire to visit each; the top “must see” destination was Venice, Italy, followed by Florence (Tuscany), Rome, London and Dublin, respectively. The survey was conducted April 4 to April 30, 2016, and includes responses from 3,431 consumers throughout the United States.
“Today’s announcement of six U.S. airlines approved for commercial flights to Cuba, beginning this fall, is another major step toward more American visitors in Cuba. While Congress has yet to lift all remaining restrictions on travel, it is clear from our survey data that Americans are increasingly considering and booking travel to Cuba, albeit modestly,” explained Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko. “Cuba is such a fascinating and culturally-rich destination that we anticipate continued growth. Our goal is to assist clients in determining which of the 12 approved categories of authorized travel best fits their needs.”
Cuba Travel:
The number of Americans interested in travel to Cuba if all U.S. Government restrictions are lifted continued to increaseyear-over-year. Conversely, the number who indicated they have no interest in traveling to Cuba has decreased substantially since last year.
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
| I’ve already been there. | 3.2% | 2.0% | 1.6% |
| I’d go immediately. | 10.9% | 8.8% | 6.9% |
| I would go as soon as I believed Cuba was ready for Americans. | 16.4% | 14.9% | 11.5% |
| I might consider going. | 34.3% | 35.4% | 32.4% |
| I have no interest in going. | 35.1% | 39.0% | 47.6% |
| Must See | Interested or Very Interested | ||
| 1 | Venice, Italy | 30.2% | 51.2% |
| 2 | Florence and/or Tuscany, Italy | 28.8% | 55.2% |
| 3 | Rome, Italy | 28.4% | 51.7% |
| 4 | London, England | 25.7% | 54.4% |
| 5 | Dublin, Ireland | 24.5% | 53.6% |
| 6 | Paris, France | 24.4% | 48.9% |
| 7 | CRUISE – Europe (River) | 20.2% | 48.5% |
| 8 | Barcelona, Spain | 19.6% | 57.7% |
| 9 | CRUISE – Europe (Mediterranean) | 16.1% | 51.5% |
| 10 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands | 14.7% | 56.7% |
| 11 | CRUISE – Caribbean | 13.3% | 45.6% |
| 12 | CRUISE – Europe (Baltic) | 12.1% | 48.1% |
| 13 | Aruba | 11.1% | 49.2% |
| 14 | Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, Mexico | 9.6% | 49.2% |
| 15 | Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya, Mexico | 8.9% | 45.1% |
| 16 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 8.2% | 46.2% |
| 17 | Montego Bay, Jamaica | 7.6% | 42.9% |
| 18 | Cancun, Mexico | 6.7% | 42.1% |
| 19 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | 6.1% | 42.3% |
| 20 | CRUISE – Mexico | 4.3% | 30.3% |
- Over 96% of those polled said they “have or will take” at least one leisure trip this year.
- More than 91% indicated that the total number of leisure trips they anticipate taking in 2016 will be either the same or more than last year (36.5% say “more” while 54.6% say “the same”).
- Also, 86.7% of those polled stated they will spend the same or more on leisure trips this year versus 2015 (42.4% will spend “more” and 44.3% will spend “the same” on their leisure trips as compared to last year).
- Land or Cruise: When asked whether participants’ leisure trips were land-based, cruise-only or a combination of both, the results (compared to previous years) showed:
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |
| Land-based, only. | 52.5% | 67.1% | 60.1% | 59.9% | 63.5% | 77.3% |
| Cruise, only. | 5.0% | 5.7% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| Both land-based and cruise vacations. | 42.5% | 27.2% | 37.1% | 37.4% | 34.3% | 21.2% |
- Traveling Away from Home: With the vast majority of survey participants indicating they will take at least one leisure trip in 2016, it was also important to find out how far they are traveling from home. Selecting all options that apply to their leisure trip(s) this year, the top responses were:
| Travel within the U.S. and farther than a bordering state. | 79.6% |
| Travel within your home state. | 54.9% |
| Travel internationally (Canada, Mexico and/or Caribbean). | 51.1% |
| Travel to a bordering state. | 48.2% |
| Travel internationally (Europe). | 33.3% |
Through the years, Travel Leaders Group has built a reputation for gathering extensive travel trends data from its vast network of travel agents and more recently from American consumers and travelers. This is the 8th consecutive year for the consumer travel survey. To see recent survey data on Airport Security, go here. Travel Leaders Group also released data on Europe travel and the Zika virus on travel.
American consumers were engaged through social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as through direct contact with travel clients for the following Travel Leaders Group companies including the flagship Travel Leaders brand, as well as All Aboard Travel, Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, Results! Travel, SinglesCruise.com, Tzell Travel Groupand Vacation.com units.
With annual sales approaching $21 billion, Travel Leaders Group is the largest traditional travel agency company in North America, comprised of approximately 30% of all travel agencies in North America that are wholly-owned, franchised, or member agencies. It’s a leader in both the retail travel agency space and corporate travel, and consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies nationwide.
About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group (www.travelleadersgroup.com) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers – through our beginnings as Carlson Leisure Group, a division of Carlson Companies, TraveLeaders and Tzell Travel Group and through the additions of Nexion, Vacation.com and Protravel International – Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. With annual sales of approaching $21 billion through over 6,500 locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest traditional travel agency companies.
