Findings from the association’s report, which was launched yesterday (25 November) using market information and consumer insight, also forecast a rise in slow and personalised travel, the development of electric aircraft, increased focus on climate change and further spotlight on digital customer service.
It said package holidays will maintain appealing because of their value, citing Egypt and Turkey as package destinations which saw double digit growth in 2019.
"In last year’s report, we also predicted that 2019 would be the year that sustainability issues would go mainstream and that has proved to be the case, with a spotlight thrown on climate change in particular," said Mark Tanzer, Abta’s chief executive.
"Sustainability issues are now firmly in the minds of holidaymakers and are a continued thread throughout the report – from cruise industry initiatives to influencing three of our five trends. The travel industry continues to develop plans and initiatives which support local communities, their economies and the environment, so that tourism is a benefit to everyone."
Now in its ninth year, the report also names 12 destinations to watch for 2020, including Chicago, Georgia, Grenada, Madrid, Morocco, Namibia, The Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Uruguay, Vienna, and Basilicata.
Victoria Bacon, Abta’s director of brand and business development, said: "Historic cities, idyllic beaches, rugged landscapes, welcoming people and delicious cuisines feature in our choices and we hope they will provide some inspiration for holidaymakers looking to travel somewhere a little different, but also very special in 2020."
The report also found that despite Brexit uncertainty, 27% of people are planning to spend more on their holiday this year. This is up from 25% last year.
Speaking at the event, Helen Coop, head of PR at Four Travel, said holidays remain a priority because customers have reached "peak stuff" and are looking for meaningful experiences.
The report also found Europe remains the most popular destination, with almost two-thirds of people planning a visit.
There was also a record-breaking number of overnight trips from January to July 2019 and domestic holidays are expected to continue to perform well.
