The Future Big Spenders in Travel and Tourism

Many factors contribute to shopping habits abroad, but a strong currency certainly helps. Of the top five countries for outgoing expenditure on shopping per departure, only Venezuela saw its currency weaken against the US dollar with a devaluation in 2010. Shopping, though, is the largest expense for Venezuelans abroad since they access dollars at the official exchange rate, which is much cheaper than the black market rate, and goods are cheaper abroad due to high domestic inflation.