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The political climate is the number one reason cited by international travelers for being less likely to visit the United States.
President Donald Trump told NBC News that his administration is planning an operation similar to the 'metro surge' in Minneapolis in five other U.S. cities.
The availability of AI-powered price comparison tools is making brand loyalty highly conditional, with a survey showing a strong willingness among travelers, especially in India, to switch brands for a better deal.
Skift Research's base case forecast for the global travel industry is 5% revenue growth in 2026, a figure derived from multiple models including a top-down economic forecast, Wall Street estimates, and consumer spending intentions.
Skift Research predicts that in 2026, travel markets in Asia and the Middle East will grow much faster than those in North America.
Federal immigration officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have withdrawn from Minneapolis following sustained protests.
A survey found that 51% of Chinese travelers cited safety and geopolitical concerns as reasons holding them back from traveling outside of Asia.
Canadian airlines have recently canceled flights to Cuba due to jet fuel shortages.
Finnair was forced to rework its entire airline network to Japan to avoid flying over Russian airspace due to geopolitical sanctions.
In Skift's Travel Confidence Index, India leads all surveyed countries with an 18-point gap over the more cautious United States.
Travelers in India and China tend to respond to higher prices by taking fewer but higher-quality trips, whereas travelers in the US and UK focus on maximizing value by optimizing affordability and timing.
Consumers have begun using AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and Google Gemini for travel planning, fragmenting the traditional discovery and booking funnel.