As fall brings cooler temperatures, many travelers will be seeking a Caribbean getaway this season.Puerto Rico should be high on their list as Americans can visit without a passport. That's a significant advantage given the current extended wait time for a new travel document.Routine processing times are up to 10-13 weeks while expedited processing (for an additional $60) can still take as long as 7-9 weeks."Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, American citizens and permanent residents don't need a passport to travel to the island," Discover Puerto Rico reminds travelers. "However, they must always travel with a valid ID, such as a driver's license or a state ID card."International travelers such as residents of Canada or Mexico will still require a valid passport to visit. Additionally, visitors to the island no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter.Amid Atlantic hurricane season running through November 1, travelers will also want to be aware of any restrictions due to weather conditions. Hurricane Lee is projected to pass north of Puerto Rico this week with minimal impact. "All major airports in Puerto Rico are fully operational, as are cruise ports with cruises/ferries operating normally. Similarly, all major hotels and venues are thoroughly prepared for inclement weather and have generators," according to Discover Puerto Rico.
Expedia Group’s Q3 "Traveler Insights" shows traveler enthusiasm holds strong
29.08.2023 - 08:56 / traveldailynews.com / Tatiana Rokou
New data from Expedia Group’s Q3 Traveler Insights shows traveler enthusiasm holds strong, with the return of seasonal trends such as quick trips for live events and short-term planning for spring and summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere.
Search volume steadies, while EMEA shows growth. Following a strong 25% quarter-overquarter (QoQ) increase in traveler searches on our traveler brands in Q1 2023, search volumes in Q2 held steady with the prior quarter, indicating sustained travel interest globally. This trend is consistent with seasonality in previous years, with persistant search volumes in Q2 2022 after a 25% QoQ lift in searches in Q1 2022.
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) showed the strongest search growth, with a 10% increase in searches both QoQ and year-over-year (YoY). Globally, week-over-week (WoW) search volume fluctuated throughout Q2, with some upticks leading up to and around major holidays and events. During the week of April 10, EMEA saw a 20% WoW increase in search volume, with a nearly 30% increase in domestic searches and an over 15% increase in international searches. This uptick may have been tied to planning for then-upcoming events, including the King’s Coronation (May 6) and Eurovision in Liverpool (May 7), revealing that travelers in EMEA are searching nearly one month out.
North America (NORAM) and Latin America (LATAM) searches were strong the week of May 22 leading up to Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., with around a 10% increase in each region. This tells us that these travelers may be booking last minute, especially in advance of three-day weekends.
European cities saw substantial increases in search volume, with some experiencing double-digit growth in the quarter, including cities throughout Italy: Rome (30%), Venice (30%), and Florence (40%). Turkish beach cities such as Antalya and Dalaman also saw strong search growth in Q2, experiencing a nearly 70% and an over 150% uptick in searches, respectively.
Looking at the top 10 booked destinations across all regions, longhaul destinations outside the origin region rose in popularity, showing that international travel demand remains strong. London and New York were both popular destinations for travelers, appearing on the top 10 booked destinations list across all regions.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and
Q3 2023 Traveler Insights: Traveler enthusiasm holds strong
During the week of May 22, North America (NORAM) and Latin America (LATAM) each saw a nearly 10% week-over-week (WoW) increase in searches leading up to Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., indicating that those travelers were booking at the last minute, especially ahead of holiday weekends.
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