North American travelers remain committed to international vacations, but they are becoming more deliberate about where they go and how they spend, according to MMGY’s annual Portrait of American and Canadian International Travelers.
The study revealed that U.S. travelers expect to spend $11,808 on international vacations during the next 12 months, down from $13,130 in 2025, while still planning an average of 2.7 international vacations over the next two years. Canadian travelers are showing stronger momentum, expecting to spend $8,800, up from $8,179 last year, while planning 2.3 international trips. Together, the findings point to continued appetite for international travel but a growing expectation that destinations deliver greater value, reassurance and experiences worth the investment.
“From shifts in currency exchange to updated border-crossing fees and requirements, international travelers find themselves in an environment of fluidity and change, which can have a real impact on booking behavior,” said Craig Compagnone, President at MMGY Global. “Despite the new complexities of international travel, demand remains strong. However, understanding how cost, destination stability and travel friction shape that demand is more important than ever.”
Key findings of the study include:
- Safety and Stability Become the New Price of Entry – Global unrest, personal safety and political climate now rank ahead of cost as barriers to international travel in both markets. More than three-quarters of U.S. and Canadian travelers say they are more conscious of the political climate when making travel decisions than they were two years ago, signaling a growing need for destinations to provide reassurance, transparency and visitor care.
- Budget Pressure Is Reshaping Where Travelers Spend – A destination fitting within their vacation budget is influential to 84% of Americans and 86% of Canadians. The pressure varies significantly by market and income: U.S. households earning $50,000–$99,000 expect to reduce international travel spending by 14.7% compared to the previous year, while Canadian households earning less than $50,000 anticipate a 21.1% decline.
- Travelers Still Pay Up for Luxury – Even as travelers scrutinize their budgets, 73% of Americans and 55% of Canadians remain willing to pay more for luxury when traveling internationally. Demand is particularly strong among younger Americans, including 85% of Millennials and 80% of Gen Zers, suggesting travelers are cutting back selectively rather than sacrificing the experiences they value most.
- Younger Travelers Want a Feeling, While Older Travelers Want a Plan – Among Gen Z travelers, a “feeling of inspiration or wonder” is the top desired trip outcome, cited by 45% of Americans and 46% of Canadians. Gen Xers and Boomers, meanwhile, show stronger interest in specific activities such as food experiences, cultural sites and guided tours, highlighting the need for travel brands to tailor how they inspire different generations.
- Travel Planning Is Becoming More Fragmented – Travelers increasingly rely on multiple sources when planning international vacations, including social and video platforms, AI tools and traditional travel resources. Younger travelers are particularly receptive to AI-assisted planning, while older travelers continue to favor more established and self-directed sources, requiring travel brands to maintain visibility across an increasingly diverse discovery ecosystem.
The report’s findings are based on a June–July 2026 survey of 2,518 adults living in the U.S. or Canada who have taken at least one vacation outside of North America or the Caribbean in the past three years and expect to take at least one vacation outside of that region in the next 12 months. Respondents were selected randomly and participated in a 25-minute online survey. The sample has been weighted based on age, gender, ethnicity, household income, geography and education to ensure the data is representative of American and Canadian households. Due to the small percentage of travelers in the Silent Generation (81+), we did not include their individual results in this report.
The 2026 Portrait of American and Canadian International Travelers™ is available for purchase or through an all-access subscription to EurekA!, MMGY’s AI-powered research platform. To learn more, visit mmgyintel.com.
