In October, travel to and within the United States increased 3.2 percent year-over-year, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s latest Travel Trends Index, making it the 106th consecutive month of growth.
Despite this report, the association is cautious when predicting 2019 travel rates.
“A worrying trend of deceleration has taken root in the second half of the year,” David Huether, U.S. Travel senior vice president for research, said. “Weakening global economic conditions, combined with rising trade tensions and a strengthening dollar, will continue to spell trouble for the international segment.”
International inbound travel grew year-over-year in October by 2.4 percent, but this growth is slower than Septembers’ rate. The association’s Leading Travel Index shows international inbound travel will continue to drop through April 2019.
Softening growth in the international inbound market is blamed for this slowdown, according to the association’s economists. This softening makes it difficult for the United States to recapture its share of the global international travel market.
In September, business and leisure travel was 50.8 on the Current Travel Index. This travel increased to 51.9 in October, boosted by growing consumer confidence.
Year-over-year through April 2019, the association forecasts that domestic travel, led by business travel, will grow 2.4 percent, barring market and trade volatility.