The long-range forecast for the luxury travel sector now through 2010 is mixed - Bright and sunny for travel providers catering to the pleasure market; Storms and changing winds ahead for marketers that rely primarily on the business travel segment.

According to popular cruise reviews and news site CruiseCritic.co.uk, the cruise industry stayed buoyant in 2009, due to cruise lines’ willingness to slash prices - and the fact that the British love a good bargain, and similar trends are expected to attract record numbers in 2010.

Decline in demand for European destinations in 2009 will ease, with some instances of growth in 2010. But any upturns in demand from emerging markets in Asia won’t be enough to offset continued flat or negative demand from American and European markets.

Decline in demand for European destinations in 2009 will ease, with some instances of growth in 2010. But any upturns in demand from emerging markets in Asia won’t be enough to offset continued flat or negative demand from American and European markets.

While many signs suggest the economy is stabilizing and the global recession is ending, the majority of business travel managers will continue to seek out alternatives to travel provided by technology in 2010.

AAA is projecting that 87.7 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holidays, a 3.8 percent increase from the 84.5 million Americans who traveled during the same Christmas/New Year period one year ago, and is the largest projected increase for any major holiday this year.