The 2024 Economic Impact of Motorcoach Group Travel report, recently released by the American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF) and conducted by Tourism Economics, shows that group travel is not just rolling again—it’s thriving. Last year, motorcoach travelers logged 14.9 billion passenger-miles across the US and spent $39.8 billion along the way. That includes $13.2 billion on food and drinks, $8.7 billion on transportation, $7.5 billion on shopping, and $7.2 billion on recreation. The biggest winners were California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Florida—states where motorcoach tourism packed the biggest economic punch.
ABAF says that all that activity added up to a total economic output of $89.7 billion once the ripple effects were factored in, meaning every travel dollar generated more than double in overall business sales. The industry also supported more than 561,000 jobs nationwide. And the benefits didn’t stop there: Motorcoach travel generated $16 billion in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments.
Overall, group and charter travel are powerful economic engines—and the demand for comfortable, well-coordinated ground transportation is growing fast, offering real opportunity for operators who can deliver exceptional service and smooth logistics. In short, the wheels of group travel are turning—and they’re taking the economy (and the industry) along for the ride.
Some key points from the report:
Robust Traveler Activity: Motorcoach group travelers logged an estimated 14.9 billion passenger-miles in the US during 2024, reflecting the extensive reach of motorcoach tours and charter trips nationwide.
Major Direct Spending: Travelers spent approximately $39.8 billion on trip-related expenses in 2024. This figure encompasses spending on motorcoach transportation as well as associated purchases like accommodations, food/beverages, recreation, and retail shopping during their trips. For example, travelers spent about $13.2 billion on food/beverages, $8.7 billion on motorcoach transport, $7.5 billion on retail, and $7.2 billion on recreation in 2024.
Top five states that benefited the most from group travel:
California: $11.9 billion total economic impact statewide
New York: $7.2 million total economic impact statewide
Texas: $6.8 million total economic impact statewide
Massachusetts: $4.7 million total economic impact statewide
Florida: $4.3 million total economic impact statewide
Total Economic Footprint: When accounting for indirect and induced effects, the total economic output attributable to motorcoach group travel reached $89.7 billion for the year.
Jobs Supported Nationwide: Motorcoach group travel supported approximately 561,665 US jobs in 2024. This includes direct employment (jobs with motorcoach companies, hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc., serving these travelers) and additional jobs supported through supply-chain and spending impacts—in fact, accounting for roughly one in every 385 jobs in the United States.
Significant Tax Contributions: The industry’s growth translated into $16 billion in tax revenues for federal, state, and local governments in 2024.
The full report is available here.
Visit buses.org for more information.
[10.07.25]
