The Latino Traveler

The Latino traveler is probably among the most interesting. Why? Because when we travel, we want to bring the entire family and still attempt to save money. As a child, my father used to take mom, my brother and me to the usual vacation spots like Canada, Florida and of course our “motherland” Colombia. But how many destinations are really reaching out to the Latino traveler? It is one thing to know about vacation locations but it’s another when tourism destinations speak to “us.”

The question of whether or not Latinos are traveling in a recession can easily be answered: YES THEY ARE. According to a PRweek article, “Whether it’s a trip to my homeland Buenos Aires for the holidays or a quick getaway to Catalina Island on a weekend, there’s one thing that’s certain: Latinos are not staying indoors.”  The first step to reaching out to the Latino traveler is obviously on the web. Having a Spanish-language website allows Spanish-only speakers to easily access information. Take Mexico for instance, right at the homepage you can select multiple locations and languages including U.S. (español) and South American.  Walt Disney World is another obvious destination taking notice of the Latino buying power. In fact, Walt Disney World will play host to the 2011 National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ convention.  Gathering a group of journalists in any destination is a plus.

Sometimes I feel as though destinations need to highlight the Latino community in their cities. Why? Not because Latinos want to visit these places, but it’s out of respect. In Philadelphia, research has shown Latinos want an action-packed adventure searching for its history…I mean it is America’s birthplace. However, there is a section on their website highlighting the Latino community. This could also be published for mainstream travelers.  Either way, keep in mind that although we love to save money, we also want to spend it. “…Hispanics continue to loosen their wallets including a 14% increase in entertainment spent on fees and admissions,” the PRweek article reads.  Keep in mind sometimes we have to distinguish between Colombian, Argentine, Dominican travelers and U.S. Latino travelers; this is another topic.  So how do you travel? Do you base it on income, reach, advertisements? Either way, fly safe and remember to always have fun.

by Eric Cortes