Domestic leisure and business travel both remain strong this
year, but international travel to the U.S. is not keeping pace with the boom in
global long-haul travel, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
U.S. Travel's Travel Trends Index (TTI) found that domestic
business and leisure travel were strong in June, up 4% year over year. Domestic
travel is expected to increase about 2.6% in the next six months, with U.S.
Travel citing the nation's near-historic highs in consumer confidence and
growth in forward-looking bookings and searches as factors.
Inbound travel to the U.S. is also expected grow, by about
2.2% for the remainder of the year, falling short of worldwide long-haul travel
growth, which U.S. Travel said is projected to increase 6% this year.
Despite the good news on the domestic travel front, U.S. Travel researchers say that trade tensions and rising oil prices
could have a negative impact.
"Facing these potential headwinds, we urge officials to
support policies and messaging that will make clear to the world that the U.S.
is open and eager for business," said U.S. Travel senior vice president
for research David Huether in a statement.