Travelers Aren’t Giving Up on Going Abroad—But They’re Choosing More Carefully
A new survey finds safety concerns outranking cost, even as many travelers remain willing to pay more for luxury.
Photo: Alicia Steels / Unsplash
North American travelers still plan to vacation abroad, even as safety concerns and tighter budgets influence their choices, according to MMGY’s 2026 Portrait of American and Canadian International Travelers.
U.S. respondents expect to spend an average of $11,808 on international vacations over the next 12 months, down from $13,130 in 2025. They plan an average of 2.7 international vacations over the next two years. Canadian respondents expect to spend $8,800, up from $8,179 last year, and plan an average of 2.3 trips.
Safety has become a more pressing concern than price in both markets. Global unrest, personal safety and the political climate ranked ahead of cost as barriers to international travel. More than three-quarters of respondents in each country said they are more conscious of a destination’s political climate than they were two years ago.
“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 of MMGY Global. “Despite the new complexities of international travel, demand remains strong.”
Price still matters when travelers choose a destination: 84% of Americans and 86% of Canadians said fitting within their vacation budget influences their choice. The expected pullback is sharper among some lower-income groups. U.S. households earning $50,000 to $99,000 anticipate spending 14.7% less on international travel than last year, while Canadian households earning under $50,000 anticipate a 21.1% decline.
That scrutiny has not erased interest in premium experiences, though: nearly three-quarters of American respondents and 55% of Canadians said they remain willing to pay more for luxury on international trips. Among Americans, the figure rose to 85% for Millennials and 80% for Gen Z travelers.
MMGY surveyed 2,518 U.S. and Canadian adults in June and July 2026. All had vacationed outside North America and the Caribbean within the past three years and expected to do so again within the following 12 months. The findings therefore reflect travelers already inclined to take long-haul international trips, rather than the broader population.
