The trend: US consumers plan to take more trips this summer, according to Deloitte’s latest travel survey. But those getaways will be shorter, less expensive, and most likely domestic—a considerable shift from the travel trends that dominated in 2024.

By the numbers: Over half (53%) of Americans have summer vacation plans, up from 48% last year, with the average consumer planning at least three trips (compared with 2.3 in 2024). While that might seem like good news for the beleaguered hospitality industry, Deloitte’s travel survey reveals an undercurrent of strain as economic uncertainty threatens consumers’ financial security.

• Tariffs are causing consumers across income levels and demographics to rethink their travel budgets. While a poll conducted in late March found that travelers were on average planning to spend 21% more on summer trips, that dropped to 13% in a span of two weeks, a clear indication that consumers viewed tariffs as a threat to their wallets.
• Fewer lower- and middle-income consumers are traveling. Consumers with household incomes of below $50,000 will make up just 18% of travelers this summer, down from 31% in 2023. Meanwhile, the share of travelers with incomes over $100,000 will rise to 49%.
• Higher prices and affordability concerns are reshaping how people travel. More travelers are opting for road trips over flights (and domestic destinations over international locales). Many are also looking to save money by cutting back on paid experiences and finding cheaper airfare and lodging.

Our take: US consumers’ enthusiasm for summer travel could give the hospitality industry a needed boost as it grapples with a pullback from international visitors. But that won’t plug the $12.5 billion hole, given that domestic travelers spend a mere fraction of what their overseas counterparts do—not to mention that many are hesitant to spend freely on restaurants and other discretionary categories.

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