U.S. travel volume grew 3.2 percent year over year in January, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Despite the 35-day partial federal government shutdown, international inbound travel, domestic business travel and domestic leisure travel all saw positive growth. "The story remains the same for all travel segments in January: All segments reported growth slightly above the previous six-month average," said USTA SVP of research David Huether.
Compared with January 2018, total domestic travel grew 3.2 percent; domestic business travel rose 2.8 percent and domestic leisure travel rose 3.4 percent. International inbound travel grew 3.2 percent year over year in January.
From February through July, total domestic travel will grow 1.8 percent year over, USTA forecasts. Due to increased financial market volatility and lasting trade and manufacturing uncertainty, business investment growth will moderate but not stall in 2019. Business confidence also will cool, and domestic business travel will grow at a decelerated rate of 1.6 percent, according to USTA. Leisure domestic travel will grow 2 percent as wage growth firms up and low gasoline prices offset falling consumer confidence. A cooling global economy and a stronger U.S. dollar will dampen international inbound travel to a decelerated rate of 2.2 percent.
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