Asian and Latin locations rose to the top of the list of potentially popular destinations in 2010, released Monday by Virtuoso. India took the number-one spot.

Cuba is also among the top three “emerging destinations”, followed by the Galapagos Islands, China and Chile.

The report was based on expert feedback from travel providers and advisors. It reflects booking trends and new travel destinations in comparison with 2009, and forecasts the travel aspirations of the most wealthy US travelers.

“Although favorites such as Italy and Australia appear on this year’s list of popular vacation locations, the results point to new interest in emerging destinations such as India, Vietnam and Cuba, the latter of which is revealing, given the current US restrictions,” Virtuoso CEO Matthew D. Upchurch was quoted as saying in a press release.

Italy was ranked the most popular international destination and the most popular destination for family travel.

The report suggested the demand for professional travel advisors as high-end clients seek more personalized services.

The survey also found that private villa rentals were booming, with 41 percent of the feedback saying that this sector would grow in 2010 as wealthy travelers prefer connecting with loved ones in private group settings.

Virtuoso employs more than 6,000 elite travel specialists at more than 300 agencies in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. The group generates over US$5.1 billion every year in travel sales, making it the most powerful in the luxury travel segment.

Thanhniennews.com