If there’s one thing Americans are looking forward to, it’s summer travel. At least that’s what TripAdvisor’s annual Summer Travel Index, released today, reveals. According to the index, 95% of Americans are planning to travel as much or more than they did last summer.
But they don’t just want to go anywhere. When it comes to international destinations, one Caribbean island stands out, taking two of the top 10 global destinations for American travelers: the Dominican Republic.
According to the index, Punta Cana was ranked third as the most popular international destination, ahead of world-famous cities such as Paris, while Bavaro, also in the Dominican Republic, ranked higher than Barcelona, ​​Spain and dreamy Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
While this may seem like a surprising result at first glance, it shouldn’t come as a shock. According to a recent analysis by travel information provider ForwardKeys, the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector is thriving. According to ForwardKeys’ 2023 Global Travel Trends Report, the country’s international tourist inflows in 2023 will increase by 14% compared to 2019, reaching 10 million international travelers. This is the first time the Dominican Republic has recorded such high figures, making 2023 a record-breaking year in terms of international tourism.
But the Dominican Republic and its Caribbean towns aren’t the only international destinations Americans find appealing. The outright winner of the rankings was bustling Cancun in Mexico, followed by a more laid-back but desirable destination. Coming in second on the list of most popular travel destinations, according to the index, was London, England.
If you need more summer travel inspiration, there are plenty of other destinations to explore: Check out the top 10 international destinations most popular with U.S. travelers below, according to TripAdvisor’s Summer Travel Index.
1. Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula
2. London, United Kingdom
3. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
4. Paris, France
5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
6. Rome, Italy
7. Bavaro, Dominican Republic
8. Palm-Eagle, Aruba
9. Barcelona, ​​Spain
10. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
