As one of the most powerful industries, the travel industry is always finding new ways to innovate on previous formulas and provide streamlined experiences for tourists. Due to the ever-changing nature of the industry, there are a variety of facts to learn about different types of travel. To help you have a good understanding of our favorite facts, we’ve created a list of 12 Interesting Travel Facts Everyone Should Know:
Approximately 6.6 million tourists visited the Bahamas in 2018 which was up 7.9% from 2017. (Source: The Nassau Guardian)
When the Dionisio D’Aguilar (Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas) announced in 2018 that its tourism numbers reached the highest they’ve ever been, many people thought this news came out of nowhere. However, the Bahamas has been carefully planning their tourist presence over the past decade, continually growing and encouraging visitors to contribute to the local economy while on vacation.
In the United States, the most popular attraction is Times Square which attracts 42 million visitors a year. (Source: The Travel)
There’s no city quite like New York City. As one of the most notable cities in the United States, NYC attracts tens of millions of people on an annual basis. For many, the tourist center of the city is Times Square, with flashing lights and boutique shops that cater specifically to those visiting the city.
Atlanta, GA’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world with over around 107,400,000 passengers passing through in 2018. (Source: Travel and Leisure)
If you’re not familiar with how the aviation industry works, this might seem like a ridiculous statistic. After all, why are so many people traveling to Atlanta, Georgia? The answer is actually more complicated than you might think. Though Atlanta is not one of the most popular cities in the world, its airport facilitates a wide variety of flights (specifically connections), making it populated by a lot of individuals on a daily basis.
With 89 million visitors, France attracts the most tourists a year. (Source: WorldAtlas)
As a country with a healthy tourism market, France leads the way for international travelers. Not only does it feature one of the most popular cities in the world (Paris), but it also has large areas of rural towns that are incredibly popular among tourists. Many French individuals also like to be tourists in their own country, with domestic tourism accounting for 70% of the market’s revenue.
The average vacation for a family of 4 is $4,580. (Source: CreditDonkey)
Despite vacations being wonderful moments to connect with family and see unique parts of the world, they can also be quite expensive. For this reason, many families save up for long periods and continually search for deals to make sure that they are getting the most out of their hard-earned dollars.
That being said, this number could seem pretty low depending on where you go while on vacation. For example, spending $4,580 could allow your family to have a luxurious two-week trip to Germany, but it could only get you a few days of entertainment at Walt Disney World. When planning a vacation, it is important to know how to work within a budget and make sure that you will be getting your money’s worth.
With 22.78 million visitors in 2018, Bangkok is the world’s most visited destination. (Site: Forbes)
Though it’s easy to assume that cities like New York or Paris would be the most visited global destinations, Bangkok actually earned the title with 22.78 million visitors in 2018. As an enticing metropolis that is always bustling with life, Bangkok is a wonderful place to visit for anyone looking to expose themselves to the culture of Thailand.
Like many major metropolitan areas, Bangkok has something for everyone, with wonderful nightlife, delicious cuisine, and even beaches to go visit. Bangkok also has the advantage of a central location when viewed from European and Asian countries, making it a great destination for tourists to visit.
Around 40% of USA citizens take a vacation every year. (Source: AAA)
One of the wonderful things about taking a vacation is that it is one of the few times during which you can call all the shots and make decisions based on what you want to do. Taking a vacation is also an opportunity to take a break from your busy lifestyle by giving yourself time to visit other places that you may not be able to see on a daily basis. What a vacation means is different for everyone, but many Americans view them as positive and rewarding events to schedule.
In a way, certain vacations are also distinctly American. For example, the concept of the “great American road trip” is a large part of the country’s identity, being represented in numerous pieces of culture and literature. The idea of taking a car and exploring the country is not only liberating but also educational. For this reason, it makes sense that so many Americans are taking the time to explore the world in new ways.
In the 2019 fiscal year, the United States issued 20,690,491 passports and 2,895,514 passport cards. (Source: U.S. Department of State)
Do you have a passport? If so, you’re not alone. Though the majority of Americans do not own passports, there are still staggering numbers of individuals who receive them on an annual basis. One of the most beautiful things about having a passport is that you can take yourself on new adventures and see the world from different standpoints.
Many people who receive passports do so for work or school. Between business trips and study abroad programs, it makes sense that so many Americans are starting to engage with life outside of the United States.
When it comes to visiting other countries, the average United Kingdom citizen has been to 10 other countries, but the average United States citizen has only been to 3. (Source: New York Daily News)
If you are unsure as to how exactly United Kingdom residents have visited more countries than United States citizens, you must understand the proximity that the U.K. has to other countries. Though U.K. residents have often traveled to more countries, the concept of doing so is more accessible for them.
Plane tickets from the U.K. to other European countries are significantly cheaper than international flights from the U.S., making the idea of being a global citizen more attainable. On top of this, the United States is one of the largest countries in the world, making it more likely that an American would spend a significant amount of time exploring their own country before visiting others.
Boeing manufactures 57 Boeing 737 airplanes a month. (Site: Boeing)
As one of the most well-known plane manufacturing companies, Boeing has maintained a positive reputation in the public eye since it began doing business. Being a plane that is used throughout the world, the Boeing 737 is one of their most popular models. However, to understand just why this aircraft is so successful, it’s important to understand its history. For example, when the 737 was introduced to the world on January 17th, 1967, Boeing was already an established aviation company. The reason why the 737 was so well-received was because it combined parts from other models (specifically the 707 and the 727) to create a new product.
The top 4 most popular theme parks are all Disney parks- Magic Kingdom at 20.9 million visitors, Disneyland Park at 18.7 million visitors, Tokyo Disneyland at 17.9 million visitors, and Tokyo DisneySea at 14.7 million visitors. (Site: CNN)
It’s no secret that theme parks are a global phenomenon. No matter which continent you’re on, you are bound to find a wide variety of theme parks that are all successful due to a large number of tourists they draw on an annual basis.
The parks in question are Magic Kingdom (Orlando, Florida), Disneyland Park (Anaheim, California), Tokyo Disneyland (Tokyo, Japan), and Tokyo DisneySea (Tokyo, Japan). Since the opening of the original Disneyland in 1955, the Disney company has been focused on delivering high-quality entertainment to guests from all around the world. This is largely the result of Walt Disney’s focus on providing entertainment that was not only accessible to children, but also enjoyable by adults.
On top of being able to maintain a consistent appearance, many Disney parts also feature critically acclaimed attractions. Disney theme parks like Tokyo DisneySea also know how to cater to theme park enthusiasts by featuring intricate and intense attractions like Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Tower of Terror.
Based in Australia, Qantas is considered to be the safest airline in the world. (Site: Business Insider)
As an Australian air carrier, Qantas has a reputation for being one of the most efficient and reliable airlines currently available. However, this reputation didn’t just come out of nowhere. In fact, Qantas has led the way in safety advancement for the last 60 years.
At the end of the day, being an informed traveler is about so much more than simply finding the right deals for you. By understanding the most unique facts about the travel industry, you can become a more informed traveler and learn more about places that you might want to visit!
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