May 07, 2026
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The Spring 2026 U.S. Travel update projects travel spending growth at low but positive rates, continuing the trend seen in late 2025 and early 2026. Bolstered by domestic travel, spending is expected to grow 1% (inflation-adjusted) in 2026, accelerating to 3% growth in 2027 and 2028. Resilient domestic demand is partially offset by ongoing economic pressures, including inflation and geopolitical uncertainty.
Travel’s footprint remains massive, and it is an essential part of the U.S. economy. Total travel spending is forecast to reach $1.37 trillion in 2026 and $1.42 trillion in 2027 (inflation-adjusted). Domestic travel accounts for 87% of the total and, at $1.20 trillion, has returned to 2019 inflation-adjusted levels. International inbound travel is projected to rebound from a 2.4% decline in 2025 to 1.6% growth, reaching $178 billion in spending, supported by increased travel tied to the World Cup.
This update extends the forecast horizon through 2030, offering greater visibility into longer-term trends. All data is driven by Tourism Economics’ travel forecasting model and presented in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars for consistency.
To complement the travel forecast table, U.S. Travel has released an accompanying slide deck, which provides context and details for the latest projections. This document, which appears on the right under “downloads,” is available exclusively to U.S. Travel members.
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(Inflation Adjusted 2025 Dollars, in Billions)
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