Domestic leisure and business travel are streaking

Domestic leisure and business travel both remain strong this year, but international travel to the U.S. is not keeping pace with the boom in global long-haul travel, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

U.S. Travel's Travel Trends Index (TTI) found that domestic business and leisure travel were strong in June, up 4% year over year. Domestic travel is expected to increase about 2.6% in the next six months, with U.S. Travel citing the nation's near-historic highs in consumer confidence and growth in forward-looking bookings and searches as factors.  

Inbound travel to the U.S. is also expected grow, by about 2.2% for the remainder of the year, falling short of worldwide long-haul travel growth, which U.S. Travel said is projected to increase 6% this year.

Despite the good news on the domestic travel front, U.S. Travel researchers say that trade tensions and rising oil prices could have a negative impact.

"Facing these potential headwinds, we urge officials to support policies and messaging that will make clear to the world that the U.S. is open and eager for business," said U.S. Travel senior vice president for research David Huether in a statement.

Source:  Travelweekly.com