- Americans took 29.1 million international trips between January and May 2026, up 23% compared to 2019.
- Travel to Asia, Africa, Central & South America, and the Pacific grew even faster, collectively increasing 37.2%, highlighting growing interest in emerging and long-haul destinations.
- While North America continues to account for nearly half of all U.S. outbound travel, established markets are seeing new competition as traveller preferences diversify.
- Beyond the largest established markets, several long-haul regions are steadily gaining market share in U.S. travel demand.
International travel by Americans is stronger than ever.
Between January and May 2026, U.S. travelers made 29.1 million international trips, up 23% compared with the same period in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.
The latest data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) shows that Americans are not only traveling again—they’re traveling more often, spending more money overseas, and exploring a wider range of destinations than ever before.
Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean Still Lead
Traditional favorites continue to dominate U.S. outbound travel.
Europe remained the top destination, welcoming 7.97 million American travelers during the first five months of 2026. That’s nearly 25% higher than 2019 and almost 4% above 2025. Europe accounted for about 27% of all international trips taken by U.S. citizens.
Mexico stayed in second place with 5.54 million trips, representing nearly one in every five international journeys. Although travel to Mexico fell 9.1% compared with 2025, it remained almost 27% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The Caribbean attracted 4.93 million U.S. travelers, up 16% from 2019 and only slightly below last year’s figures. The region continues to be one of America’s favorite holiday destinations.
Asia Continues Its Strong Comeback
Travel to Asia is gathering momentum.
Americans made 3.39 million trips to the region in early 2026, an increase of 25.4% over 2019 and nearly 10% higher than 2025. The numbers show that Asia has moved beyond its slower post-pandemic recovery and is once again one of the fastest-growing travel markets.
Africa Sees the Fastest Growth
Africa may still attract fewer visitors than larger markets, but it’s growing faster than anywhere else.
U.S. travelers made around 338,000 trips to Africa during the first five months of the year. That’s an impressive 66.6% increase compared with 2019, making Africa the fastest-growing destination region for American travelers.
The strong growth suggests more Americans are looking beyond traditional holiday destinations and adding new experiences to their travel plans.
Middle East Holds Steady
The Middle East welcomed just over 1.06 million U.S. travelers during the period.
While regional tensions have slowed growth in recent months, travel remains 9.4% above pre-pandemic levels, showing that demand for the region remains resilient.
Americans Are Choosing More Diverse Destinations
One of the biggest travel trends in 2026 is the growing interest in destinations outside the traditional tourism hotspots.
Regions including Asia, Africa, Central America, South America and Oceania attracted a combined 7.85 million U.S. departures, up 37.2% from 2019.
Together, these emerging destinations now account for roughly 27% of all U.S. international trips—matching Europe’s share for the first time.
The fastest-growing regions include:
- Africa
- Central America
- South America
These destinations are expanding faster than the overall outbound travel market, reflecting changing travel preferences among Americans.
Americans Are Spending More Abroad
Travel isn’t just increasing in volume—it’s also generating more spending.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), American travelers spent approximately US$16.5 billion overseas in April 2026 alone, continuing a steady upward trend in international travel spending.
Key Takeaways
The latest data highlights four major trends shaping U.S. outbound travel:
- International travel has fully recovered and continues to reach new record highs.
- Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean remain the most popular destinations.
- Emerging destinations are growing faster than traditional markets.
- Many travelers are adding new international trips rather than replacing their usual vacations, creating more opportunities for destinations worldwide.
The numbers point to a clear shift in travel habits. Americans are traveling more frequently, spending more during their trips, and showing greater interest in exploring new parts of the world alongside their favorite destinations.
