Travel in the United States
The United States has the largest domestic travel market with a whopping 6.7 trips per year for the average American traveler, yet less than half of them even own a passport. For anyone hoping to visit the United States, the great diversity of cultures, geographies, and climates must be taken into account. The American west can be split up into the Pacific north-west and the south-west. The north-west is mostly forest and is often rainy. This offers some opportunities for beautiful hikes and views from coastal cliffs and mountains. The south-west is all desert. From the middle of California to east Texas, there’s an almost year-long dry and hot climate. The natural beauty in this part of America is my personal favorite, as the rocks there have allowed thousands of years of water erosion to create some dramatic scenery. Also, you can experience a raw and authentic look at Native American culture, as there are a great many reservations in the region (which served as a last stand for many tribes).
Travel in Canada
Canadian travelers take on average 3.2 domestic trips and 1 abroad trip per year. For that trip abroad, the overwhelming majority of Canadian travelers stay within their own continent by visiting the United States — about 250,000 visits in 2013 alone. Mexico, also in North America, is the next runner up with about 25,000 visits per year, and the United Kingdom/France are the third and fourth most visited with about 14,000 trips each.
Travel in Australia
In Australia, domestic trips outnumber those made abroad. The average Australian traveler takes 3.4 trips within Australia and only .4 trips elsewhere. Statistically, Australian travellers have been shown to visit many different and diverse regions of the world. As far as staying in Oceania goes, New Zealand (13.4%) and Indonesia (11.1%) are the two hot spots. However, Asia appears to be the most popular region. This includes Thailand (7.6%), China (4.6%), Fiji (4%), Singapore (3.7%), Malaysia (3.2%), and Hong Kong (2.8%). Also popular are Australia’s English-speaking cousins: the United States (10.5%) and United Kingdom (6%). Another interesting tidbit of information is the question of why Australians are traveling abroad. Studies show that roughly half travel on holiday, a quarter to visit family or friends, and the rest on business. Overall, Australian travel has experienced an upward trend that is not expected to drop off anytime soon.
Travel in Scandinavia
Scandinavia is rated as the world’s most traveled region, though any of you considering traveling there should be wary of how expensive it is. Nevertheless, Scandinavia can be well-worth a visit. There are many clean and culturally-rich cities that display some of the region’s incredible history, such as remnants of the globally-influential Vikings and native Sami tribes. In the summer, activities are plentiful. You can hike the vast mountain ranges that cover Scandinavia, check out the awe-inspiring fjords in Norway, or enjoy some of the many festivals that celebrate the nearly constant daylight found as you get closer to the Arctic Circle.
The average Swede takes 1.5 trips abroad and 4.4 trips within Sweden per year, while the average Dane takes 3.9 domestic trips and 1.4 international trips. As a result of their high wages, the average Norwegian takes 5.2 trips per year, and the majority of these trips are taken abroad because Norwegians can stretch their money further in less expensive parts of the world.
Other Well-Traveled Countries
There are many other well-traveled places in the world. For instance, Hong Kong and New Zealand both have an average of 4.3 trips each year. In Hong Kong the majority of these trips are internationally bound, while for New Zealanders most are domestic.
The average French traveler takes 3.1 domestic trips and 0.4 trips abroad, for France itself offers a great many of diverse attractions — from the sun-kissed beaches of the south to the picturesque Alps in the east.