With a record Fourth of July travel weekend in the books, the start of this summer’s tourism season is heating up with the help of eager travelers and a strong U.S. dollar.
The U.K.’s referendum to leave the European Union last month might have roiled international stock and currency markets, but it’s been a boon to local travel agencies booking trips to Europe.
“The dollar’s strength right now relative to the euro and British pound makes traveling to Europe a better buy than it’s been in a long time,” said Dan Ilves, senior vice president of leisure at West L.A.’s TravelStore Inc.
The dollar is up nearly 10 percent since the start of last year’s summer travel season compared with the British pound. And with American eyes cast toward London, that’s having a ripple effect on other European travel destinations.
Five out of the top 10 travel destinations this summer are in Europe, according to the American Automobile Association. Rome and London sit atop the list, replacing tropical destinations Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, which respectively ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in 2015. Interest in those cities has dwindled over the past year due to rising fears over the Zika virus.
And while Europe has seen a surge in popularity overall, terrorist attacks have made some people think twice about traveling to certain destinations on the continent and beyond.
“Travel everywhere has been impacted to some degree by recent world events,” Ilves said. “After the tragic bombings in Paris and Brussels, and now the attack at Istanbul’s airport, there are certainly people delaying decisions to travel to certain parts of the world.”
Bell Orestes de Souza, vice president and chief operating officer of Mansour Travel Co. of Beverly Hills, said some vacationers are turning their attention to slightly less traditional destinations due to the attacks.
“One of the most intriguing developments has been the opening up of Cuba, a country many people have shown more interest in than ever before,” he added.
De Souza said he’s seen an uptick in clients planning visits to the once-banned Caribbean island since credit-card companies Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc., and American Express Co. lifted transaction blocks within the country last year.
And while a Cuban getaway might not be the first thing to come to a traveler’s mind, getting a good deal for a one-of-a-kind experience usually piques their interest, he said.
“With travelers, whether they’re going on a high-end or a moderate-level budget, the one thing that’s common across the border is people wanting to know they’re getting a good value for their money,” de Souza said.
