In spite of the challenging economy, the latest travel research shows that shopping remains a desirable activity for leisure travelers, ahead of other popular vacation pastimes.According to the just-released Ypartnership/Yankelovich Inc. 2009 National Travel MONITORSM, more than one-quarter of all leisure travelers (26 percent) cite shopping as an activity of interest when on vacation. In fact, shopping outranks other favorites, such as:

—Visiting an amenity spa (cited by 18 percent of respondents)

—Attending a professional sporting event (16 percent)

—Boating for recreation (11 percent)

—Playing golf (8 percent)

—Snow skiing/boarding (7 percent)

Another recent study reveals shopping is desirable for international travelers visiting the United States, too. More than half (50 percent) of international travelers surveyed who have visited this country and shopped here during the last 12 months say they are likely to return and shop here again during the next year, according to the inaugural 2009 International Shopping Traveler study. This online survey, conducted early this year, was commissioned by Taubman Centers and Shop America Alliance in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries*.
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