WASHINGTON -- The millennium may be new, but ASTA's Hot Spots
Survey shows travelers aren't ready to break their old vacation
habits.
The survey, conducted in association with Fodor's, tracks the
destinations booked by travel agents. It found the domestic hot
sellers for 2000 are, in order, Orlando, Las Vegas, New York, San
Francisco and Los Angeles.
On the international side, the big sellers are London; Paris;
Rome; Cancun, Mexico, and Frankfurt. Other international hot
sellers are Sydney, Australia; Amsterdam; Madrid; Hong Kong, and
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
ASTA president Joe Galloway said it is the Olympic Games in
Sydney later this year that has piqued interest in the destination
among U.S. travelers.
According to the survey, 45.2% of agents canvassed found that
Americans, partly due to the strong economy, are willing to spend
more on travel this year than last.
"More than ever before, vacations are a reward, and people are
willing to spend a bit more to ensure that they have an
unforgettable experience," said Bonnie Ammer, president and
publisher of Fodor's Travel Publications.
When asked what they thought the hot domestic and international
destinations would be in the years to come, agents picked Las
Vegas, with its popular combination of casinos and shows, and Costa
Rica, a burgeoning ecotourism magnet.