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.