Skift Research Global Travel Outlook 2026

Perhaps the one word to define travel in 2026 will be: Resilience​. Skift Research forecasts 2026 to be a year of growth for the travel industry, supported by enthusiastic consumers.  But this year won't be a walk in the park. We face significant risks, ranging from geopolitical to economic. This report starts with our global travel growth forecasts, then looks in depth at four key travel sectors: destinations, accommodations, airlines, and online travel. Each section outlines what to expect for the sector this year, the key events to watch for, and the data to back it all up.

What’s the Skift Research forecast for travel in 2026? Skift Research uses four techniques to create a forecast: extrapolating past performance, macro-economics and sectoral drivers, company-side revenue analysis, and consumer-side spending expectations. Adding it all up gives us a range of growth estimates. Skift Research expects 2026 to be a year of resilient travel growth, likely in the low-to-mid single digits. Our forecasts point to about 5% top-line expansion as the most likely outcome.

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