Are Americans still traveling despite economic turmoil? This is a brand new poll
Although you may have heard of it, Americans are still traveling…and plan to spend more on travel. This is the word for the latest poll conducted by Harris poll on TPG.
After warning of softening demand from airlines like American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Southwest, we wonder if the bullish travel sentiment we found earlier this year will be met in our recent polls. Have done it.
Traditionally, travel is the first thing to cut during a downturn, because it is a disposable expense. But the numbers so far have not been tolerated. As my colleague Sean Cudahy reported, in March and April, the Transport Safety Administration screened nearly as many months as in 2024.
Still, there are some warning signs about travel sentiment, including that most Americans say the current economic situation has caused them to rethink their travel plans in some form or way.
Most Americans plan travel the same or more than last year
Our new survey found that more than a quarter of Americans plan to travel in 2025, almost the same as the travel plans captured earlier that year. We also found that about one-third of Americans intend to travel more and/or increase their travel spending, indicating that there is still a strong interest in travel despite the economic and political environment.
New TPG/Harris polls found:
- More than three quarters of Americans (77%) plan to travel in 2025 (compliant with the February 76% grade).
- One in 10 Americans (70%) intend to travel domestically, and 28% plan to travel internationally.
- About one-third of Americans (32%) plan to travel more in 2025 than last year (similar to the 35% score in February), while 42% plan to travel about the same, with only 9% expecting 9% less in 2024.
- About one-third of Americans (34%) plan to spend more travel in 2025 than last year, while 37% will spend about the same, with only 10% saying they will see less travel this year.
Overall, the TPG/Harris poll shows that men are more likely to plan travel this year than women (80% vs 73%) and says they plan to spend more on travel than last year (41% vs 27%).
Travelers have some emotional warning signs
But that’s not good news for traveler sentiment – there are some clouds on the horizon.
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About one in 10 Americans say they have less time traveling (9%) or less travel than last year (10%). Why? Among those who reduce spending, the top financial attention list is 61% of the reason for financial attention.
Among those planning to travel less or spend less this year, for other reasons:
- Their trip last year was more than usual: 16%
- Security issues, such as crime and political unrest: 14%
- Health Causes: 14%
- Personal situation: 11%
- Weather Problems: 8%
- Work Obligation: 8%
- Other reasons: 15%
According to the Harris poll, “current economic conditions, including tariffs and inflation, have affected the travel plans of more than half of Americans this year.”
Related: Need to know: 6 Top Travel Trends in 2025
More than half of Americans say they will reduce the frequency of travel or reduce the duration of travel due to economic problems. Others have considered or are considering postponing or canceling their travel plans or changing their destination.
- More than half of Americans (52%) say the current economy (such as tariffs, inflation/higher prices, etc.) has impacted travel plans this year.
- Due to the current economy, about one in five Americans have traveled less than previously planned (20%) or will shorten the duration of their trip (19%).
- About one in seven Americans say they have postponed or canceled their travel plans, or will do so (14%) and the same percentage changes travel destinations due to the current economy.
- About a quarter of travelers travel/travel less than previously planned (26%), or shorter/will shorten the duration of travel due to the current economy (25%).
U.S. foreign policy is having an impact
Changing U.S. foreign policy is also affecting American travel plans. The shift in U.S. foreign policy has affected their international travel plans, with 16% of Americans considering postponing or canceling international travel (or already doing so).
- One in 10 Americans (30%) show that changing U.S. foreign policy has affected their international travel plans this year.
- One in eight Americans (16%) said they have postponed or canceled/will postponed or cancelled international travel plans.
- About 7% say they have changed/will change international destinations, shortened/will shortened international travel periods, or traveled/will travel internationally less than previous plans.
Among those who actually plan to travel abroad, the number is even steeper: more than half are affected by changes in foreign policy.
- More than half (58%) of international travelers (i.e. those planning to travel internationally in 2025) said changing U.S. foreign policy has affected their international travel plans this year.
- About a quarter of international travelers said they have changed/will change their international travel destinations (25%), shortened/will shortened their international travel duration (24%) or expected to do/will do less international travel than previously planned international travel (24%), due to changes to U.S. foreign policy.
- Due to changes in U.S. foreign policy, about one in five international travelers (22%) said they have postponed or canceled/will postponed or cancelled international travel plans.
Why any slowdown in travel bookings may be good news for prices
Although the travel sentiment we found persisted, so far in 2025, actual demand has indeed declined. But from a passenger’s perspective, this is not necessarily bad news. Actually, if you are 32% of Americans planning to travel more this year, this may be in your favor.
The latest report from Travel Data Company OAG shows that airlines are still increasing their capabilities in places like the United States and Europe (more flights).
“Despite the background of supply chain issues and some economic uncertainty, the overall capacity of North American total airlines (domestic and international) increased by 2% this summer with the summer of 2024,” the report said.
According to Cirium, another aviation data company, the number of seats arrived in Europe from the United States this summer increased by 3.9% year-on-year.
Indeed, this summer, we have seen a large number of transaction alerts for flights to Europe, priced under $500. Just an example? 30% off sales from discount carrier games are available from U.S. Gateway flights for as low as $326. Or, does American Airlines flight from Chicago to London have only 55,000 miles from Alaska Airlines?
If we really see demand continue to decrease, then such transactions may become richer.
Related readings:
Methods of the Survey: This survey was conducted by a Harris poll conducted on May 15-19, 2025 in the United States by 2,077 adults over the age of 18 in the United States. The sampling accuracy of Harris online polls is measured by using Bayesian reliable intervals. For this study, using a 95% confidence level, the sample data could be accurately included in Plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
