To say that travel is back might be an understatement, as we have seen a massive increase in both trips and travelers of all kinds. It appears that with the pandemic finally behind us, people are ready to get out there and travel again.
Numbers and bookings are up across the board, and more people all over the world are dusting off their passports and heading out on those trips that they had to delay previously.
One area that has seen a huge boost amongst American travelers is international travel, especially travel to Europe. A recent report by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) illustrates just how many U.S. citizens flew abroad in February 2023.
Taking into account the trends seen in the data, five countries emerged as the leaders in U.S. air passenger travel this past month. The findings conclude that in February 2023, U.S. citizen air passenger departures to foreign countries originating from the United States were up about 53% from last February 2022.
Clocking in at a whopping 4.25 million people, it’s clear that people were traveling much more than this time last year when the pandemic was still very much on people’s minds.
While the numbers do reflect both arrivals and departures within the routes specified, past data shows us that these destinations have been popular with American travelers in recent years.
So the numbers do take into account inbound traffic to America from each location, yet it’s likely that most of that inbound traffic are return flights from U.S. travelers.
Here Are The Top 5 Countries That Americans Are Flying To Right Now:
Mexico – 3.04 Million Passengers
With just a little over three million people traveling between the U.S. and Mexico in February 2023 alone, our neighbor to the south is a highly popular destination for American travelers. Despite some recent bad press, including travel warnings and pesky seaweed infestations, Americans keep flocking to Mexico, and who can blame them?
With postcard-worthy beaches, cosmopolitan big cities, and no end of charming small towns packed with culture, the list of reasons to visit Mexico just keeps growing. American travelers will continue to favor this stunning country for the aforementioned reasons, as well as its proximity to the U.S., meaning no jet lag or pesky crazy time differences.
Canada – 2.13 Million Passengers
It might not be too surprising to find that the second most popular route for air travel this past month is our other neighbor, this time to the north. Travel to Canada was a popular choice in February 2023, and just over 2 million passengers flew this route.
Air travel between the U.S. and Canada has always been popular, as there are more and more airlines operating, the flights do not have to be too long (depending on where you go, of course), and there isn’t likely to be any major time difference. Of course, there are many reasons that Americans like to visit Canada, no matter the season.
The United Kingdom – 1.004 Million Passengers
With more and more low-cost airlines taking to the skies between London and major U.S. cities, it’s not surprising to see so many Americans flying this route recently. With just over a million passengers flying between the U.S. and the U.K. in February 2023, it’s clear the United Kingdom’s popularity with U.S. travelers is just as strong as ever.
Coupled with the fact that the U.K. is full of stunning places to see and classically British pubs to visit, traveling across the pond is a trip worth taking. Let’s remember that the United Kingdom is more than just England, and Scotland and Wales offer so much to do and scenery to take in, including gems such as this unmissable top-rated city.
Dominican Republic – 747,000 Passengers
If you have been keeping an eye on U.S. travel trends this year, you will not be surprised to see the Dominican Republic on this list. The island country has been shattering tourism records recently. American travelers especially are choosing to visit this tropical paradise, many in part to escape the winter and flee to warmer weather.
While a large number of these travelers head right to the white sand beaches of Punta Cana, don’t sleep on the other underrated gems that you can find all over this country. Las Terrenas and Cabarete are both solid choices for beaches worth visiting that don’t see the crowds (and massive resorts) of Punta Cana.
A visit to The Dominican Republic should also include a few nights in the vibrant, safe, and historic capital of Santo Domingo, a highlight that often gets overlooked by those rushing to get to the beach.
Germany – 492,000 Passengers
In a late 2022 report analyzing which European countries Americans most wanted to visit in 2023, Germany made the list of the top four, and it looks like people stuck to their word. In February 2023, the total number of passengers between Germany and the U.S. totaled just under half a million people.
A popular destination for many reasons, Germany is one of those countries that are just as picturesque in the winter as it is in the Summer. Of course, to avoid any headache, it’s best to be fully prepared and make sure you have covered all the necessary basics.
