Allianz's Thanksgiving travel index shows Punta Cana rebound

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is the top destination for international travel over Thanksgiving, according to Allianz Global Assistance’s Top 10 Thanksgiving Destination Index.

It's an indication that the destination is recovering following heavy media coverage of tourist deaths there.

To compile its lists of top domestic and international destinations, Allianz analyzed 2.4 million Thanksgiving trips sold through its partners. Thanksgiving travel is defined as outbound travel between Saturday, Nov. 23, and Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28.

Cancun has been the top destination since Allianz started indexing destinations in 2015. This year, it’s the No. 2 spot, eclipsed only by Punta Cana.

"Americans' return to the Dominican Republic comes at a critical time for the country's tourism industry, a vital sector for the local economy," Allianz said in a statement. "The island nation, which suffered a decline in tourism numbers earlier this year due to swirling suspicion over a string of vacationer deaths, was recently buoyed by Federal Bureau of Investigation toxicology report findings that the deaths were unrelated and resulted from natural causes."

In addition to Punta Cana and Cancun in spots No. 1 and 2, the rest of this year's top international destinations are, in order, London; Paris; San Juan; San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Mexico City.

Domestically, the top destinations are New York, Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Seattle, Detroit, Chicago and Phoenix.