Anecdotal evidence from travel agents suggests that a trend toward increased travel by minorities, first reported in January 2004 by the Travel Industry Association of America, is continuing.

"With the economy the way it is, you'd think only people with a lot of money are doing a lot of travel, but we haven't noticed a change like that," said Robert Reed, owner of Black America Travel, an African-American full-service agency in Eatonville, Fla.

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Most popular cities for African-American travelers Atlanta Las Vegas Washington, D.C. Orlando Houston Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport, Va. Chicago New York Atlantic City, N.J. Los Angeles Most popular cities for Hispanic-American travelers Las Vegas Orlando Los Angeles San Diego Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif. Atlanta San Antonio Chicago San Francisco Phoenix Most popular cities for Asian-American travelers Las Vegas Los Angeles San Francisco San Diego Orange County, Calif. Boston Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif. Sacramento, Calif. Phoenix Atlanta Source: Travel Industry Association of America --------------------

According to a survey of 300,000 U.S. households conducted for TIA in 2002, increases in travel among Hispanics, Asian-Americans and African-Americans from 2000 to 2002 were significantly higher than the 2 percent growth in U.S. travel overall. In that period, Hispanic travel volume increased 20 percent, Asian-American travel volume increased 10 percent and African-American travel volume increased 4 percent.

TIA's report found that minority travelers in general are more likely than average to include a rental car as their primary mode of transportation, attend cultural events or festivals, participate in nightlife activities and gamble as a form of recreation.

While Las Vegas was a popular destination for all three groups, African-Americans were more likely than other groups to travel to Southern U.S. destinations. That rings true for Reed, who has also noticed a rise in popularity among Central American and South American destinations as well.

"When I got into this business [in 1996], just about the only thing I can remember booking for black people was the Bahamas and Jamaica," he said. "And now we are getting a lot of requests for Brazil ... and some of the other islands in the Caribbean."

Cruises are by far the company's most popular booking, followed by all-inclusive resorts.

The two hottest destinations, he said, are Punta Cana, an island on the Dominican Republic's east coast, and Salvador da Bahia in Brazil.

Punta Cana has done a good job of promoting itself, he said. "Over the years we've been hearing more and more about it, and just about everything there is all-inclusive. And the people are very friendly, and I think that's what black travelers are looking for, is friendly destinations."

Although Salvador da Bahia can be expensive to reach, with airfare usually running $750 to $1,000, the location is particularly of interest because of its strongly African-influenced culture, Reed said.

Among domestic destinations, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C., were most popular with African-Americans, TIA reported. Asian-Americans were most likely to pick Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Hispanics most often chose Las Vegas, Orlando and Los Angeles.

You can bet the travel industry has been keeping a close eye on that soaring figure for Hispanic travel, and tourism councils all over the Americas are looking for ways to promote their charges as heritage destinations. Here are a few hot picks for heritage-minded Hispanic travelers:

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico: The second-oldest city in the Americas boasts more than 400 restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings, along with beaches, casinos and a tropical climate. Stunning plazas, cathedrals and forts dating to the early 1500s anchor the city's architectural intrigue.

San Antonio: Visit San Antonio Missions National Park, where four Spanish frontier missions from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are preserved, and then remember the most famous mission of all, San Antonio de Valero, now known as the Alamo. The city's Office of Cultural Affairs offers tours of historic neighborhoods.

California Missions Trail: Stretching from San Diego to Sonoma and roughly following Highway 101, El Camino Real traces 21 Spanish missions built between 1769 and 1823. Illustrating California's wilderness path, the missions were built roughly a day's journey apart by mule — but you can use a car. Many still operate as Catholic parishes.