In November, American Express Travel released its Trending Destinations 2024 list of the top 10 must-visit vacation spots based on global cardmember travel bookings and recommendations from a team of 6,000 travel advisors.
“People are looking for new experiences and to immerse themselves in the local culture when they travel,” said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, in a press release shared with CNBC Make It.
According to the report, the mobile locations are seeing particular interest from Gen-Z and Millennial travelers. The booking data shows that Japan has an increase of more than 1300% in tickets from 2019 to 2023.
In the same period, San Miguel de Allende saw an increase of over 400%, while Australia saw an increase of almost 800% among Gen-Z and Millennials.
Top 10 travel destinations in 2024
- Adelaide Hills, Australia
- Bodrum, Turkey
- Cervo, Italy
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- Niseko, Japan
- San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
- Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States on the online map
- The Seychelles
- Udaipur, India
- Zermatt, Switzerland
Santa Fe, New Mexico is the only US city listed in American Express Travel’s 2024 trending destinations report.
Jon Lovette | Stone | Getty Images
Santa Fe, New Mexico is the only US city to make the list.
As America’s oldest capital, Santa Fe is known for its art and famous Spanish, Mexican and Native American traditions. In 2005, Santa Fe became the first city to be designated a UNESCO Creative City in the US
According to UNESCO, one in 10 jobs in Santa Fe is linked to arts and culture industries and the city is home to more than 250 galleries. In 2020, the Western States Federation of the Arts named it the most creative small town in America.
Niseko, Japan, has been named one of the top mobile destinations for 2024, according to American Express Travel.
He likes to travel and have new experiences | Minute | Getty Images
Another mobile vacation destination on the list is Niseko, Japan. It is home to the best skiing in Japan and some of the best snow conditions in the world, according to Condé Nast Traveler. Over the past ten years, Niseko has averaged over 35 feet of new snow per season.
Located on Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, Niseko is famous for its world-class skiing and natural hot springs.
Japan opened its borders in June, but only tourists on chaperoned package tours and visas were required. In October 2022, the country lifted these rules and saw a huge spike in visitors, so it’s no surprise that Japan is the fastest growing global travel destination for Gen-Z and Millennials, according to the American Express Travel report.
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