When the data speaks loud and clear, no crystal ball is needed to predict short term travel trends. All indicators point to a busy summer and fall 2024, as any concerns about traffic jams, air travel headaches, or overcrowding doesn’t seem to be detering Americans from enjoying their vacations.

Record Breaking Travel Forecast

In a press release issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency says they are prepared for the highest passenger volumes the agency has ever experienced during the 2024 summer travel season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

The latest travel survey by market research company Future Partners indicates that 62% of American travelers are prioritizing spending on leisure travel in the next three months with nearly three-quarters (73.5%) likely to take at least one leisure trip during this period. Nearly two-thirds (65.2%) indicate having a leisure trip planned for June, July, and/or August 2024.

Forecasting fall travel trends, overall demand continues with 93% of American travelers indicating plans to go somewhere on vacation during the next six months, according to a May 2024 survey by market research firm Longwoods International.

On Amtrak, ridership was up significantly (24.6%) in 2023 and projections for growth in passenger train travel are strong, too. “Amtrak has rebounded from the pandemic and is growing again as part of our plan to double ridership by 2040,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner.

Memorial Day

At the unofficial start to summer, more than 3.5 million people took to the skies over Memorial Day weekend. The holiday saw record breaking numbers at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints nationwide, up more than 6% from 2023. Road trips accounted for an additional 44 million travelers driving 50 miles or more from home, up 4% over last year, signaling “a very busy summer travel season ahead,” according to a AAA spokesperson. Another 2 million people used other modes of transportation, including buses, trains, and cruises.

July 4th 

Traditionally a popular holiday for travel, higher numbers than usual are expected, especially considering that Independence Day 2024 falls on a Thursday. Over the Fourth of July holiday in 2023, TSA screened a record number of travelers, and those passenger figures are likely to be broken in 2024. Airlines are bracing for strong travel volume this summer. On a quarterly earnings call in April 2024, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian announced, “We expect a record spring and summer travel season…demand is the healthiest I’ve ever seen.” United Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella referred to 2024 as the biggest “…summer travel season in United’s 98-year history.”

Labor Day and Beyond

According to a travel survey by Deloitte, the busy 2024 travel season is extending into fall, with 17% of Americans planning post-Labor Day vacation trips in September, up from 12% in 2022. Officials encourage Americans to plan and book early for fall travel, keeping in mind that the days before and after Thanksgiving are historically among the nation’s busiest both on the roads and at U.S. airports.

As summer and fall 2024 travel interest and booking trends heat up, the expert team at Advance Travel and Tourism is providing DMOs with marketing solutions using data-driven insights to develop a customized audience engagement strategy that delivers. Get in touch today to talk about how we can help your destination capture interest at each and every stage of the traveler funnel that we call “Dream, Plan, Book, Share.”