5 Fastest-Growing International Destinations for U.S. Travelers

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. November 7, 2019 — Egypt is once again the fastest-growing international destination for U.S. travelers, but reports show new destinations are on the rise, according to travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.

 

Squaremouth reveals new travel trends for the top 5 fastest-growing international destinations.

 

5 Fastest-Growing International Destinations for U.S. Travelers 

 

• Egypt remains the fastest-growing international destination for the second year in a row with an 84% increase in travelers this year.

 

• Puerto Rico secures a top 5 spot with a 42% increase, just two years after the impact of Hurricane Maria.

 

• Portugal returns to the top 5 list after experiencing slow growth in 2018.

 

• U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Portugal, and Panama have surpassed Morocco, Tanzania, and Colombia as top 5 fastest-growing tourist destinations over last year.
  

  Country	Year Over Year Increase
  Egypt	+ 83.54%
  U.S. Virgin Islands	+ 44.30%
  Puerto Rico	+ 42.13%
  Portugal	+ 40.17%
  Panama	+ 32.99

 

Average Trip Cost Increases Slightly

 

• Trip cost increased less than 2% on average for the top 5 destinations.

 

• Travelers heading to Egypt saw the highest increase and spent the most on their trips, with an average cost of $5,145.

 

• Travelers going to Panama spent the least at $3,023.

 

Country	Average Trip Cost	Year Over Year Change
Egypt	$5,145	+ 12.67%
U.S. Virgin Islands	$3,744	– 7.04%
Puerto Rico	$3,086	+ 3.63%
Portugal	$3,908	+ 8.23%
Panama	$3,023	– 8.62%

All Generations Enjoy Top Destinations

 

• Millennial travel saw the highest increase in tourism to Panama, more than doubling over last year.

 

• Egypt saw the highest increases from Gen Z, Baby Boomer, and Silent Generation travelers.

 

Country	Gen Z	Millennial	Gen X	Baby Boomer	Silent Generation
Egypt	+ 149%	+ 62%	+ 64%	+ 99%	+ 100%
U.S. Virgin Islands	+ 26%	+ 37%	+ 38%	+ 40%	+ 59%
Puerto Rico	+ 51%	+ 51%	+ 51%	+ 33%	+ 16%
Portugal	+ 31%	+ 30%	+ 39%	+ 45%	+ 47%
Panama	+ 97%	+ 104%	+ 41%	+ 29%	+ 29%

Surprising Decrease for Popular Destinations

 

• Iceland grew significantly in popularity in 2017 and 2018, however the closure of low cost carrier WOW Airline in March 2019 may have contributed to a 13.28% decline this past year.

 

• Russia and China also saw a slowdown in growth, decreasing by 4.74% and 4.40% respectively.

Country	Year Over Year Decrease
Iceland	– 13.28%
Russian Federation	– 4.74%
China	– 4.40%

 

About Squaremouth

 

Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth’s comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare travel insurance policies side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com.