US travellers spent $3,580 per person on overseas tourism in 2021
The country was the most valuable for average overseas tourism expenditure that year, with US travellers favouring long haul destinations and beach holidays
US average overseas tourism expenditure reached US$3,580 per person in 2021, says market analyst GlobalData. The figure makes the US market the most valuable globally in terms of average overseas tourism expenditure for the year.
In addition, GlobalData says that of the top 10 outbound destinations favoured by the US market in 2021, six would be classified as long-haul destinations, with an average flight time of more than six hours.
European destinations were particularly popular with Americans. In addition, 42 per cent of US respondents to GlobalData’s survey said that they typically undertake sun and beach holidays – the most popular type of trip taken.
The company says that the heightened demand for long haul destinations is driven by the substantial levels of disposable income of many US travellers – in 2021, the country had more millionaires than any other nation.
US travellers are expected to drive the recovery of the global tourism industry
According to GlobalData, the number of US citizens worth between US$1 million and $1.5 million is projected to be 237.4 per cent higher than its nearest competitor, China.
The analyst says that US travellers are expected to be a driving force behind a forecast rise in global outbound tourist expenditure, which is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 22 per cent between 2021 and 2024, with expenditure expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels before the end of the period.
“The average length of stay for an international trip from the US market was 18 days in 2021, showcasing that Americans will stay in a destination for a lengthy period of time,” said Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData.
“The US market’s high average overseas expenditure, willingness to travel long-haul, tendency to stay for long periods of time, demand for a range of different experiences, and a solid number of high-net-worth individuals means it will drive the international tourism recovery,” he added.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.