According to MMGY Global's 2018-2019 Protrait of American Travelers, more than half of respondents consider shopping to be a desireable vacation feature. And interest in browing and buying is fairly universal across all age groups, running highest amoung Gen Xers (57 percent) and Millenials (54 percent), followed by Boomers (51 percent) and Matures (50 percent).

In talking to travel advisors and other industry experts, we've learned that there's so much more to shopping abroad than finding a desirable object and flashing a credit card. 

Travel Agent also reached out to top supplier executives and industry experts for some of their favorite shopping stories.

USTOA president & CEO, Terry Dale

"I always look for a local market that includes artisans and native crafts. One of my favorite pieces I unearthed was a market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The artist picks up flip-flops that have washed up on their beaches and then presses the soles into a solid block. She then carves sculptures from the flip-flops! I love anything that recycles and has a local story attached to it."

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