Squaremouth Report: Domestic Travel Growing Slower Than International

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- International travel is outpacing domestic travel among U.S. residents, according to sales data from leading travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.

"The United States remains the top destination among our American customers," said Squaremouth spokesperson Rachael Taft. "However, travel to popular international destinations, including Mexico and Canada, is growing at a much greater rate than domestic travel."

Growth Among Top 5 Destinations for U.S. Travelers

1. United States (+11.3%)                                 
2. Mexico (+20.3%)                                                       
3. Italy (+21.5%)                                                            
4. Canada (+43.3%)                                                      
5. United Kingdom (+14.7%)

Includes percentage change in American customers purchasing travel insurance over the previous year

Domestic Travel Spending Increases Despite Slower Growth

Of the top 10 destinations for U.S. travelers, only France and Germany experienced slower growth rates than the United States. Overall, the percentage of U.S. residents buying travel insurance policies for domestic trips compared to those buying policies for international trips has decreased for three straight years. The average trip cost for domestic travel, however, is steadily increasing.

Table 1: Squaremouth Customers Traveling Within United States

U.S. Travelers Show Increased Concern About Terrorism

The number of Americans searching specifically for Terrorism coverage when purchasing a travel insurance policy for domestic travel more than doubled year-over-year.

• 127% increase in customers searching specifically for Terrorism coverage for domestic travel using Squaremouth's "Terrorism" filter
• The percentage of domestic travelers searching specifically for Terrorism coverage is still below the percentage for international travelers, which nearly tripled this year

Summer Travel Dominates Other Seasons

Summer remains the most popular season for domestic travel.  Squaremouth customers spent more than $11.6 million on domestic trips this summer, nearly totaling the amount they spent on domestic travel during the previous three seasons combined.

• 23% increase in the number of Americans that traveled domestically this summer compared to Summer 2015
• 17% of Squaremouth customers who traveled this summer took domestic trips

Table 2: Domestic Travel During Each Season

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH
Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare insurance products side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com.

Available Topic Expert:
Rachael Taft
rtaft@squaremouth.com
(727) 264-5174

SOURCE Squaremouth