Americans traveled abroad in record numbers last year, seemingly undeterred by fears of terrorism, Ebola or Zika.
The number of U.S. residents traveling internationally in 2015 was up 9 percent, to 74 million, from 2014. Last year was fourth straight year of increases, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The number of Americans traveling abroad climbed despite the threat of terrorist attacks in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia.
The U.S. State Department issued a warning after terrorists in Paris killed 130 people and injured hundreds of others in November.
In addition, travelers last year faced the spread of the Zika virus in South America and the Caribbean and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Still, nearly 33 million Americans traveled overseas ? that is, to countries not including Mexico or Canada?which set a record and was up 7 percent over 2014, according to the Department of Commerce.
The top five international destinations for U.S. travelers last year were Mexico (28.7 million), Canada (12.5 million), the United Kingdom (2.9 million), the Dominican Republic (2.8 million) and France (2.4 million).
The top five points of departure last year were New York, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Newark, N.J.
(Source: TNS)
