Travel Trends: Where Are People Flying To The Most?
Let the trip planning commence. I’m sure you noticed that many people are either planning or already on trips abroad. According to the International Trade Administration, the number of U.S. citizens flying to international destinations reached nearly 6.5 million passengers in March. NerdWallet reported that in every month of 2024 so far, more Americans left the country than last year and 2019.
According to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted online by The Harris Poll and commissioned by NerdWallet, nearly half of Americans (45%) plan to travel by air and/or stay in a hotel this summer and expect to spend $3,594 on average, on these expenses. About 22% of those choosing not to travel this summer cite inflation making travel too expensive as a reason for staying home, according to the poll.
Where are people flying and traveling?
The poll points out that nearly every region in the world saw an increase in U.S. visitors in March 2024 compared with March 2023. Only the Middle East saw a decline of 9%. U.S. visitors to Asia saw a 33% jump, while Oceania and Central America each saw a 30% increase.
Central America received 50% more U.S. visitors in March 2024 compared with March 2019. Nearly 1.5 million Americans visited Mexico, up 39% compared with before the pandemic.
Destinations that were more open to U.S. visitors during the pandemic, such as Mexico, have remained popular, while those that were closed, such as Australia, have fallen off travelers’ radars said the survey.
Travelers looking to avoid crowds of people would want to avoid Japan, which has seen a 50% increase in U.S. tourists between March 2019 and 2024.
Travel costs
For many places, the cost of travel including airfare, hotels, and rental cars have begun to sneak up in price. About 45% of U.S. travelers say cost is their main consideration when planning their summer vacation, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans by the travel booking platform Skyscanner.
Some people have been planning trips around tour stops of their favorite artists. It’s also referred to as “gig-tripping.” The CEO of ToursByLocals told HuffPost “This might be because they can’t get tickets for their home show, to save money, or simply to combine their love of travel and music into one adventure.”
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour as many know is far from cheap. For the Oct. 18 show in Miami, for example, the cost of a single ticket ranged between $1,615 and $8,524 on StubHub.com. USA TODAY reported that in the past month searches for “Taylor Swift Europe tour 2024 tickets” have increased by 300% in the U.S., indicating that some people are ready to take a long-haul flight to see the wildly popular artist live, according to travel website Islands.com.
They also mentioned that concert-goers who head to Europe for their Swift experience may actually save more money in the long-run. “Not only are ticket prices across the pond cheaper, but many European cities, like Warsaw and Lisbon, are also budget-friendly, offering inexpensive food and lodging,” they said.
Take a look at more places people are flying and travel insights here.
