Trips to or within the U.S. grew 3.6 percent year over year in December, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Domestic travel demand rose 3.6 percent, and leisure grew 4 percent compared with business travel's 2.6 percent growth. From January through June, USTA projects, domestic travel will grow 2.6 percent year over year and business will outpace leisure with 3.4 percent growth compared to business travel's 2.2 percent. In the months ahead, domestic business travel growth will be supported by strong but decelerating business investment.
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International inbound travel to the U.S. expanded 2.8 percent year over year in December. From January through June, USTA forecasts, international inbound travel growth will slow to 2 percent year over year. International inbound travel will benefit from a projected weaker U.S. dollar and the expected de-escalation of the U.S.-China trade conflict. However, slowing global economic growth and the U.S.'s persistent trade tensions with other countries will threaten that growth.
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