Rising costs, inflation, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping travel habits in 2025—prompting a growing reliance on advisors to design flexible, budget-conscious trips
Jun 10, 2025
Consumer uncertainty about the economy, inflation, and global instability is prompting travelers to rethink their plans, according to a new survey conducted by TravelSavers and NEST agency affiliates in the U.S. and Canada. Presented at the Travel Market conference in June 2025, the findings highlight a shift in traveler behavior: while demand for travel remains strong, concerns about cost and safety are driving clients to seek expert help from travel advisors to make smarter, more budget-conscious decisions.
Key takeaways
- Cost is the primary concern: 50% of advisors reported that high travel costs are the top concern among clients. Inflation (41%) and economic uncertainty (34%) also weigh heavily.
- Geopolitical worries rising: 29% of advisors said clients are anxious about global tensions, and 26% mentioned safety concerns in specific regions.
- Travelers seek cost-cutting strategies: Advisors are helping clients save by recommending cheaper destinations (35%), adjusting travel dates (35%), using loyalty points (34%), traveling less often (32%), or taking shorter trips (26%).
- Sales outlooks tempered: Only 46% of advisors expect higher sales in 2025—down from 79% last fall. About a third now expect lower sales, reflecting growing caution.
- Summer travel: Flat but focused: Summer bookings are mixed: 36% report increases, 39% see declines, and 25% say levels are unchanged. Popular destinations include Italy, Alaska, the Dominican Republic, Cancun, and Greece.
- Domestic and nearby destinations gain appeal: To ease client anxiety, advisors are steering travelers toward North American destinations like Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and Orlando.
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