FIFA World Cup games in South Africa

Forecasts for 2010 predict more people will be traveling, but the numbers are still well below what they were before the recession. Still, if you can afford to get away, interesting events will draw visitors to destinations around the world, from Shanghai to South Africa to Orlando.

And here's a surprise: Mexico is turning up on some top 10 lists for 2010, despite the swine flu epidemic and worries over drug violence.

Several destinations will be in the tourism spotlight in 2010 because of headline-grabbing events, including the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Feb. 12-28; the FIFA World Cup soccer games in South Africa, for a month beginning June 11; and the Shanghai World Expo, May 1-Oct. 31, a 21st century world's fair that organizers are hoping will attract as many as 70 million visitors.

Another destination that will get attention in 2010 is Oberammergau, Germany, where the oldest continually acted Passion play in Europe has been performed by the locals roughly every 10 years since the 1600s. The show will be staged May through October, and it is typically seen by a half-million people.

Spain is expecting more pilgrims traveling the Camino de Santiago, an ancient route to Galicia, where the cathedral is said to house the remains of St. James the Apostle. Typically the route draws more visitors when the saint's Feast Day, July 25, falls on a Sunday, as it will in 2010.
Orlando opens the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure this spring. For theme-park fans keeping an eye on new attractions for 2010, "the Harry Potter project at Universal is in a category of its own in terms of scope," said David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

The marquee attraction will be a high-tech ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which will take guests through scenes and rooms from the blockbuster Potter movies.

Universal Hollywood also has news for 2010. Its King Kong attraction, which burned down in 2008, is swinging back onto the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tram tour next summer. The new 3-D attraction, King King 360, will transport visitors to Skull Island, where they will witness "the eighth wonder of the world" tussling with dinosaurs and other critters.

Disneyland's California Adventure Park is also debuting a big new attraction in 2010 called World of Color. This unique nighttime water show uses a kaleidoscope of color, powerful fountains and audio and visual effects to take viewers on a journey through animated Disney classics like "The Lion King," "Toy Story" and many others.

Disney

Nanjing Road, Shanghai's most famous shopping street, will attract even more visitors during the World Expo in 2010. (Associated Press: Eugene Hoshiko)

also will be offering a free day's admission to parks on both coasts to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work in the new year. The "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. Disney is partnering with HandsOn Network, a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, to connect people with projects and to certify that the work was done.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

And finally, never mind that worries about swine flu and drug violence led to a 12.5 percent decline in air travel to Mexico by U.S. citizens for the first nine months of 2009 compared with 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Lonely Planet's U.S. staff's top 10 list for 2010 declares that "H1N1 is so 2009," and puts Mexico as the No. 4 destination for the new year, adding it's "still a good bargain, easy to get to for most Americans."

Yahoo's list of most popular cities for 2009, based on consumer interest and activity, includes Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. And Mexico City was on Frommer's top destinations list for the new year.

George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com, says if flying to Mexico is too expensive, just drive to a port and take a "crazy cheap" cruise to Cancun. "Get the vaccine and don't tangle with any drug lords," he added.

But if even a cruise is

Soccer City Stadium, under construction in Johannesburg, South Africa, will be the scene of the World Cup finals in 2010. The new stadium will seat 94,000 fans. (Associated Press: Denis Farrell)

beyond your budget, you can still be a trendy traveler by hopping in your car and driving to the nearest national park. Visits to national parks in 2009 were up 4.13 percent over 2008 — 286.2 million compared with 274.8 million — and that's without even counting attendance for the entire month of December.

The inauguration of President Obama helped draw visitors to park sites in Washington, but millions of Americans traveled to parks elsewhere, too, recognizing them as perfect destinations for a recession vacation.