U.S. Travel Continues to Grow Despite Slowing Global Economy
Statistics show consistent growth in bookings from both the U.S. and abroad as reported by wholesale travel distribution company, Tourico Holidays, Inc.
In spite of rising fuel costs, fluctuating exchange rates, airline route consolidations and a global credit crunch, Americans and international consumers are still setting aside valuable time and money to make travel plans within the United States. In fact, nearly one in four U.S. travelers agree that a vacation is their birthright according to the Ypartnership/Yankelovich National Leisure Travel Monitor, supporting global data recently...
ORLANDO, Fla. | In spite of rising fuel costs, fluctuating exchange rates, airline route consolidations and a global credit crunch, Americans and international consumers are still setting aside valuable time and money to make travel plans within the United States. In fact, nearly one in four U.S. travelers agree that a vacation is their birthright according to the Ypartnership/Yankelovich National Leisure Travel Monitor, supporting global data recently compiled from wholesale travel distribution company, Tourico Holidays, Inc.
The company’s bookings show an optimistic year ahead for the American travel industry, citing a ten percent increase in domestic trips reserved by U.S. consumers for this year’s second quarter compared to the same time last year, and a 58 percent increase in U.S. reservations made by travelers from abroad. The majority of these bookings were surprisingly made during the first quarter of 2008, when rumors of a global recession first began to circulate, and reveal a 27 percent increase from the same period in 2007.
“The consistent increase we’ve seen in our clients’ sales show that both American and international audiences still view travel as a desirable component of everyday life,” explains Amir Kalmar, Executive Vice President of Global Sales for Tourico Holidays, a Travel Holdings, Inc., company. “Following this trend, without a doubt, we forecast another busy travel season for our clients and hotel partners here in the U.S.” On a global scale, Travel Holdings reported a growth in reservations of an astounding 31 percent in 2007 compared to 2006.
The top domestic destinations that American consumers will visit during the second quarter of 2008 remain consistent with years past, including locales in Florida, Nevada, New York, and California. When booking internationally, U.S. travelers will check-in most often to Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Spain.
The majority of international visitors entering the U.S. from abroad in the coming months originate from the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and China, having booked their trips most often to hotels in New York City, followed by Miami, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Los Angeles.
“The U.S. dollar has great strengths and weaknesses in today’s global travel climate. According to our records, the American travel economy will remain strong with increased visitation from international consumers, as well as a consistent level of travel inspiration from within our own country,” states Kalmar.
Tourico Holidays’ data is a result of New Horizons Systems, a proprietary technology that reports the bookings, sales, and trends of over 2,000 global distribution channels, including the world’s most prominent travel agents, tour operators, and retail websites like that of Tourico Holidays’ sister company,