How does Rich Harrill, director of the University of South Carolina's International Tourism Research Institute, characterize the travel motivations of Baby boomers/Gen X versus younger generations?
Harrill states that Baby boomers and Gen X view travel as "something they have to do," with relocation potentially being a factor for older generations with more discretionary income. Younger generations prioritize "experiential tourism," viewing it as having a better return on investment than buying new products.
Q&A ID 0de11a7e-1d3e-41a2-a086-e6bbc815083b
How many passports did the U.S. issue in FY 2025?
The U.S. issued a record-shattering 27.3 million passports in FY 2025.
Q&A ID c5734011-af38-4a84-bb28-8e9586e1161e
Which income brackets and age groups are leading the trend in overseas travel?
The wealthiest income bracket is driving overseas travel, followed by those with a combined income of $100,000 to $119,000. In terms of age, older travelers in the 55-64 range and above led the pack, followed by the 18-24 age group.
Q&A ID 93b431d7-b310-4153-9aff-d7c714d29d93
Which European countries received the largest share of U.S. travelers, and which saw the most growth between 2015 and 2025?
The largest share of travelers went to the United Kingdom, Italy, or France. However, Portugal and Greece saw the biggest growth in U.S. visits between 2015 and 2025 according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of SIAT data.
Q&A ID 566eedf3-ea5d-45ac-9d2d-b7c9bd15e068