Could the Trump administration’s travel ban attempts be chilling international travel? A new report by the U.S. Travel Association suggests that possibility.
The association’s monthly Travel Trends Index for April 2017 shows that travel to and within the United States increased 1.6 percent between April 2016 and April 2017 — a period that included efforts to restrict inbound travel from several Muslim-majority countries.
However, the Leading Travel Index, which projects future travel activity, indicates a weakening in inbound international travel through October 2017.
“Domestic travel is expected to grow by about 2 percent, while international travel may decline slightly,” the Travel Trends Index states. “Looking ahead, a variety of factors, including the strength of the U.S. dollar, a fragile global economy and a turbulent political environment are expected to negatively impact international inbound travel.”
The Current Travel Index, which tracks present travel involving hotel stays and/or air travel, dipped slightly from March 2017 but remained positive overall.
“The CTI has registered at or above the 50 mark for 88 straight months, as the industry settles into its eighth year of expansion,” the report notes.
Leisure travel rose in April, while business travel fell; the report suggests the decline in business travel may reflect the timing of the Easter holiday rather than a sustained trend.