A recent survey by MMGY Travel Intelligence indicates that 80% of active leisure travelers in the U.S. want to travel internationally within the next two years. The findings, part of the summer edition of MMGY's quarterly “Portrait of the American Traveler” survey, suggest a potential period of growth for Americans traveling internationally.
“Travel interest and intent remained steady through the summer, making it clear that Americans are eager to make plans to travel and getaway in the near future, despite — or because of — global events and economic strains,” said Chris Davidson, executive vice president at Travel Intelligence. “While we're encouraged by the strong interest in international travel, we also recognize that domestic political developments and global tensions may dampen this enthusiasm as the year progresses. That said, based on what consumers are saying, we remain fairly optimistic about the overall travel forecast.”
Related: International event travel is booming despite rising costs
Travel intentions are up across most household income levels compared to last year, and travel spending intentions are at their highest level recorded by MMGYs since the COVID-19 pandemic, driven primarily by Baby Boomers and households earning over $100,000 per year.
The survey also found a significant increase in road trips: 64% of travelers said they took a road trip in the past 12 months, nearly double the 33% in 2015. Younger generations and families with children are most likely to plan a road trip in the next year.
Nationally, Hawaii (67%), Florida (64%), Colorado (59%) and California (59%) continue to rank as the top destinations of interest for leisure travelers. Florida, Colorado and California have seen statistically significant increases in interest year-over-year.
The survey also touched on cannabis tourism, with over a third of travelers expressing interest in cannabis-related activities while on vacation. Half of those interested travelers would consider visiting a cannabis store, and a quarter are not regular cannabis users but would be open to such an experience while traveling.
Generational differences in travel intentions are also evident, with Gen Z seeing a steady decline, likely due to inflation and increasing travel costs impacting younger travelers with less disposable income.
Editor's note: This article was AI-generated based on a press release distributed by MMGY's Travel Intelligence and has been fact-checked and reviewed by editors at TravelAge West.
