U.S. Outbound Tourism Market

U.S. Outbound Tourism Market Outlook – 2022-2032

The U.S. outbound tourism market is estimated at US$ 101,697.0 Mn in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 458,986.8 Mn by 2032, with overall demand accelerating at 16.3% CAGR throughout the forecast period (2022-2032). Rising popularity of outbound tourism among general people is a key factor driving sales of outbound tourism in the U.S.

Outbound tourism is a kind of tourism wherein people of one country visit or travel to other regions of the world for several purposes including business meetings, holidays, or medical treatments.

In recent years, outbound tourism has gained immense traction across countries like the U.S. Germany, China, and the U.K. due to increasing disposable income, growing popularity of medical tourism, and rise of escapism.

Hectic lifestyles and work schedule of Americans has resulted in increased incidence of mental disorders such as depression. As a result, people often opt for tours and travels as a means of seeking distraction and relief from unpleasant realities of life. This is acting as a catalyst for the growth of outbound tourism market in the U.S..

According to the Tourism Academy, Americans take 93.0 million international outbound trips each year and this number is likely to further rise during the forecast period, amid growing popularity of escapism and increasing preference of Americans to spend their holidays outside the country. This in turn will make the U.S. a happy hunting ground for outbound tourism companies during the forecast period.

Similarly, increasing penetration of digital technology, flourishing medical tourism due to rising demand for less expensive medical care, and growing curiosity of Americans to travel to other places for various purposes such as religious, cultural, educational, recreational and medical are expected to boost the U.S. outbound tourism market.

In addition to this, growing influence of social media is likely to boost sales in the market during the forecast period. The way tourist industry operates has been revolutionized by social media and other new technologies. Social media's introduction has caused a paradigm shift in communication methods globally by enabling users to connect, observe, and share information.

It is predicted that actively promoting sustainable, medical, and educational tourism locations on social media platforms will increase the exposure and accessibility of the destination to tourists. Therefore, information shared by both locals and visitors via social media will significantly contribute to boosting the market.

2017-2021 U.S. Outbound Tourism Market Outlook Compared to 2022-2032 Forecast

The U.S. outbound tourism market is projected to expand at a stupendous CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. Growing zest among millennials for wanderlust, availability of attractive travel and tour packages, and favorable government initiatives are some of the key factors driving the outbound tourism market of the U.S..

The tourist sector in America is booming. Currently, domestic and international travel contributes more than $1.1 trillion annually to the US GDP.. Following the historical US tourism trends, there were 79.6 million Americans who travelled abroad in 2017, an increase of 3.5% from the year before. However, this number was considerably lower than in previous years.

In America, leisure travel makes up 73.8% of total tourism, leaving business and other travel at 26.2%. According to the U.S. Travel Association, travel spending improved considerably in September and is now at its highest mark since the pandemic started at 6%. Furthermore, around 32% of American travelers indicate leisure travel will be a high budget priority. This will create lucrative prospects for the outbound tourism market in the U.S during the forecast period.

Similarly, surge in corporate travel and flourishing medical tourism sector are expected to boost the U.S. outbound tourism market over the next ten years.

According to the most recent US outbound travel statistics, millennials are the generation most likely to travel for an average of 35 days annually, compared to Generation X's average of 26 days.

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Comparative Analysis of Adjacent U.S. Outbound Tourism Markets

U.S. Outbound Tourism Market:

Hong Kong Outbound Tourism Market:

India Outbound Tourism Market:

Sneha Verghese

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What are the Key Trends Driving the U.S. Outbound Tourism Market?

“Hectic Lifestyle and Work Schedule Boosting the Outbound Tourism Market of U.S.”

In recent years, there has been a rapid surge in cases of diseases like anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes across the U.S. due to hectic lifestyles and work schedules. An increasing number of young people are falling with stress due to a mismanaged lifestyle. In order to escape from routine and stressful environments, people opt for various travel and tourism packages. This is emerging as a key trend boosting the U.S. outbound tourism market.

Travel has been linked to stress reduction and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. It allows people to escape from the busy lifestyle, enjoy the beauty of nature, and explore new places. As a result, majority of Americans frequently travel to different parts of the world. This will continue to boost sales in the outbound tourism market in the U.S. during the forecast period.

Country-wise Insight

Which is the Most Visited Destination by the U.S. Tourists?

“Mexico to be the Most Visited Destination by Americans”

As per FMI, the U.S. outbound tourism market is expected to grow at a prolific CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. Growth in the market will be driven by rising number of Americans opting for outbound tourism packages across countries like Mexico.

Mexico was by far the top destination for American travellers even during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in more visitors than the sum of all the other nations on the list. As a result, the North American nation accounted for the bulk of Latin America's inbound travel expenditure that year.

Around 11.5 billion US dollars were spent by international tourists in Mexico overall, nearly four times more than in Brazil, which is the largest travel market in South America. Mexico has placed foreign tourism high on its list of goals, improving airport infrastructure and calibrating new direct flights. The FONATUR, or Mexico's National Fund for Tourists Development, is at the vanguard of the country's recent surge in foreign tourism.

The tourism organisation contributed to the expansion of Cancun's airport and the nation's other four major tourist airports. Additionally, the airport in Mexico City increased the number of direct international flights in the 2010s, making it the finest international airport in Latin America by 2019. Thanks to its rich culture and increasing infrastructural development, Mexico is becoming a popular outbound destination for American people.

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Category-wise Insights

Which Booking Channel is Preferred by the U.S. Customers?

“Online Booking Gaining Wider Popularity Among the American Population”

Based on booking type, the online booking segment is expected to generate the highest revenues in the U.S. outbound tourism market. This can be attributed to the rising consumer preference for booking their tours through online modes to save time as well as money.

Americans enjoy taking holidays, but for many, planning the trip is also a big part of that enjoyment. It usually takes a lot of time and effort to research and make a decision before purchasing travel tickets, accommodations, tours, or any other supplementary services or modes of transportation.

However, the existence of online travel agencies has unquestionably both sped up the procedure and offered clients access to more choices. In recent years, the majority of American visitors made reservations for their lodging, vacation package, or customized trip through online mode.

People who booked their vacations online preferred to compare travel on booking portals and hotel websites. The "Hashtag Generation," which includes Millennials and Generation Z, is more likely to try new things and seek out new experiences. This will further boost the popularity of online booking mode during the forecast period.

Which Tour Type is Famous Amongst Tourists in U.S. Outbound Tourism Market?

“Packaged Traveler is the Most Prominent Category”

As per FMI, packaged traveler segment will continue to lead the outbound tourism market in the U.S. during the forecast period owing to the growing popularity of package holidays among America population.

Despite the growing popularity of individual travellers, group or package holidays are still very frequent in the U.S.. More than 50% of tourists participate in group excursions, including semi-independent tours, outings with friends in small groups, and tailored tours. Families, elders, visitors from smaller cities, and tourists all like taking traditional package excursions. Specialized travel options, like closed-door tour groups, are also popular.

What Age Group Contributed Most to the U.S. Outbound Tourism Market?

“Popularity of Outbound Tourism Remains High Among 26-35 Age Group”

Based on age group, the 26-35 years segment is likely to retain its dominance in the U.S. outbound tourism market during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increasing preference of Millennials or Generation Z for outbound tourism.

People belonging to age group of 18 and 35 have the desire to travel more frequently than people over the age of 35. They are ready to travel and explore islands and new adventures like scuba diving, water rafting, kayaking, surfing, etc. They also prefer to visit popular sites according to their destination rating.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players Are Butterfield & Robinson, Expedia Inc, Priceline Group, America Express Global Business Travel, BCD Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, HRG North America, FC U.S., America Express Travels, Travel Leaders Group.

These players are continuously introducing new attractive tourism packaging to expand their customer base. Further, they are expanding their presence across several countries to present multiple choice destinations for the U.S. travellers.

Butterfield & Robinson Luxury and America Express Travels: Duo Changing the Face of Outbound Tourism in the U.S.

As the popularity of outbound tourism continues to grow among the American population, various companies are coming up with attractive packages, customized tour trips, and services to expand their customer base. Among these companies, Butterfield & Robinson Luxury and America Express Travels top the list.

Founded in 1966, Butterfield & Robinson (B&R) has become the World’s premium active travel company that designs exciting journeys to the world’s most amazing places. The company specializes in offering biking & walking trips, custom guided trips, family travel, corporate travel, custom unguided travel services, and small active travels, among others.

B&R provides more than 100 world-wide vacations that are both energising and fascinating. They stand out for their creative trip plans in particular. To offer top-notch amenities to their travellers, they have also worked with businesses like Cavalry Travel Insurance and CIBT Visa & Passport Services.

Butterfield & Robisnon is guided by its fundamental value i.e., “to opt for quality over quantity” and has gained immense popularity among Americans. The trips that the company values aren’t the most expensive or grandiose, but the ones where something can be learned, shared, and experienced. Thanks to its attractive packages and services, Butterfield & Robinson Luxury was named the World’s Best Tour Operators by Reavel+Leisure Co. in 2022.

The company is focused towards expanding its customer base by launching new luxury trips. For instance, in 2020, Butterfield & Robinson launched a new portfolio of luxury trips, including brand wellness expedition trips, new active itineraries for families with older kids, and new trips in the less-explored Balkans.

Another company that is dominating the U.S. outbound tourism is American America Express Travels. America Express Travels has become America’s most trusted and reliable provider of travel and tour packages. The company employs various tactics to expand its customer base as well as to increase its revenue share.

For instance, in 2019, American Express acquired LoungeBuddy, a digital platform that enables travelers to discover, book and access airport lounges worldwide. In September 2022, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card was launched by American Express and Marriott Bonvoy®, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program.

American Express Travels is also focused on supporting its employers to ensure that the company reaches new heights in near future. For instance, in March 2022, American Express officially launched Amex Flex, the company’s new way of working where colleagues can work in the office, at home, or can take a hybrid approach that combines both.

Scope of Report

The U.S. Outbound Tourism Market by Category

By Purpose Type:

• Business
• Holiday/Leisure
• VFR & Others

By Booking Channel:

• Phone Booking
• Online Booking
• In Person Booking

By Tourism Type:

• Cultural & Heritage Tourism
• Medical Tourism
• Eco/Sustainable Tourism
• Sports Tourism
• Wellness Tourism & Others

By Tour Type:

• Independent Traveller
• Package Traveller
• Tour Group

By Age Group:

• 15-25 Years
• 26-35 Years
• 36-45 Years
• 46-55 Years
• 66-75 Years