Growth in the South American travel market continues to outstrip that of its larger North American counterpart.
This is one of the findings of the annual ITB World Travel Trends Report, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by the world's leading travel trade show, which noted an unabated lust for international travel, particularly in Brazil.
Over the first eight months of 2013, the number of international trips taken by South Americans increased by 6 per cent, IPK's American Travel Monitor survey found. Growing by ten per cent, the individual markets of the Americas in particular benefited from a general lust for travel.
Overseas travel rose by two per cent. There was a marked boom in trips averaging less than four overnights. This segment grew by 16 per cent. Trips which took longer increased by only one per cent. Overall, South Americans spent two per cent more overnights abroad than in 2012.
Holiday trips were the driving force, rising by an impressive nine per cent. In addition to beach holidays and city breaks round trips were in great demand. They increased by 13 per cent, illustrating the difference between trends in South America on the one hand and the USA and Canada on the other, where this travel segment has become less popular.
Spending by travellers at their destinations remained high, reaching 12 per cent more on trips abroad than in 2012. Once again, the forecasts for 2014 for South America's outbound travel market are very positive. A full 43 per cent of those polled wanted to go on more trips abroad in 2014 than in 2013.
Around 34 per cent had the same intentions as in 2013 and only 19 per cent aimed to travel less. Overall, in 2014 the South American travel market is expected to grow by six per cent.
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