Last year marked a turning point for global travel. Unlike the two prior years, which focused on recovering back to pre-pandemic levels, 2024 saw the industry shift its focus to real growth.
The latest Skift Travel Health Index reveals strong performance for the travel industry throughout 2024, growing both year-on-year and compared to pre-pandemic levels. As of December 2024, the index marked a 10% rise above 2023 levels and a 13% increase over 2019 levels.
This growth spans across all the sectors tracked by the index. Compared to December 2023, aviation was the strongest performer growing 17%, while hotels and vacation rentals also experienced robust growth. Car rentals, however, saw a slight dip of 1%.
Comparing performance reveals the real gains in 2024. Vacation rentals have seen the most dramatic growth, surging by 72%. Airlines and car rentals also show double-digit growth compared to 2019. Hotels too have grown 9% above 2019 levels. These figures highlight the significant progress the travel industry has made since the pandemic and point to an optimistic outlook in 2025.
Skift Travel Health Index Scores by Sector
| Sector | Dec-24 Y-o-Y Index Score | Y-o-Y Growth (vs Dec-23) | Growth Above 2019 (vs Dec-19) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation | 117 | 17% | 15% |
| Hotels | 109 | 9% | 9% |
| Vacation Rentals | 112 | 12% | 72% |
| Car Rental | 99 | -1% | 13% |
Read the latest Travel Health Index Highlights for more insights.
2025 Outlook: Sustained Growth Ahead
Looking to 2025, travel confidence is high, particularly in emerging markets like China and India. China leads, with 88% of respondents expressing strong travel intent, followed closely by India at 82%. Germany (70%) and the UK (67%) also show robust travel intentions. Americans, however, show low travel confidence at 54%.
Skift Research forecasts moderate growth across all travel sectors in 2025, with online travel and cruise lines leading the way. All other sectors are projected to witness moderate growth in 2025.
Read the 2024 in Review report for more insights and the Travel Health Index dashboard to visualize the data.
