A recent survey by MMGY’s Travel Intelligence indicates that 80% of active leisure travelers in the United States are interested in taking an international trip within the next two years. This finding, part of the Summer Edition of MMGY’s quarterly Portrait of American Travelers study, suggests a potential growth period for Americans traveling abroad.
“With traveler interest and intent holding steady into summer, it’s evident that Americans are eagerly making their plans to travel and escape in the near future, despite — or because of — world events and financial burdens,” said Chris Davidson, executive vice president of Travel Intelligence. “While it’s encouraging to see strong interest in international outbound travel, we’re also cognizant that the national political climate and global tensions could temper this enthusiasm as the year progresses. That said, we remain quite optimistic about the overall travel forecast based on what consumers are telling us.”
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Travel intentions have increased across most household income levels compared to last year, with travel spending intentions reaching the highest level recorded by MMGY since the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase is primarily driven by Baby Boomers and households earning $100,000 or more annually.
The study also revealed a significant rise in road trips, with 64% of travelers reporting they took a road trip in the last 12 months, nearly double the 33% reported in 2015. Younger generations and families with children are most likely to plan road trips in the coming year.
Domestically, Hawaii (67%), Florida (64%), Colorado (59%) and California (59%) remain the top destinations of interest for leisure travelers. Florida, Colorado and California have shown statistically significant increases in interest year over year.
The survey also touched on cannabis tourism, with more than a third of travelers expressing interest in cannabis-related activities during their vacations. Half of these interested travelers would consider visiting a cannabis shop, and a quarter of them are not regular cannabis users but are open to such experiences while traveling.
Generational differences in travel intentions were also noted, with Gen Z showing a steady decline, possibly due to increased inflation and trip costs affecting younger travelers with less discretionary income.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by MMGY’s Travel Intelligence. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.