- Trip.com: Travel demand to World Cup host cities rose.
- International bookings to World Cup host cities rose 70 percent.
- Knockout-round international bookings rose about 40 percent.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DEMAND to North American host cities rose ahead of the FIFA World Cup, according to Trip.com. The tournament is underway across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and runs through July 19.
The online travel agency said international bookings to the 16 World Cup host cities rose nearly 70 percent year over year during the group stage, reflecting demand from fans attending matches.
Trip.com data showed demand is concentrated in the tournament's opening weeks. International bookings during the knockout rounds are up about 40 percent from a year earlier, compared with nearly 70 percent growth during the group stage, indicating fans are traveling for matches involving their national teams.
Japan recorded the highest growth among the source markets analyzed by Trip.com. Flight bookings from Japan to host cities rose 250 percent year over year during the group stage and remained more than 100 percent above year-earlier levels during the knockout rounds.
Travel patterns tracked match schedules. Dallas was the most-booked host city among Japanese travelers during the group stage, while Los Angeles led during the knockout rounds. More than 30 percent booked trips covering multiple host cities, the highest share among the markets studied and nearly 10 percent traveled across more than one host country.
Mexico's host cities saw a rise in accommodation demand. Hotel bookings in Monterrey increased more than 40-fold year over year during the group stage, while Guadalajara recorded more than 10-fold growth and Mexico City more than 150 percent.
Dallas also saw a rise in accommodation demand, with hotel bookings up more than 1,400 percent during the group stage, driven mainly by travelers from Japan and South Korea. Three- and four-star hotels accounted for most bookings across markets. Among Japanese travelers, more than 61 percent of group-stage hotel bookings were for three-star properties.
Demand for five-star hotels increased during the knockout rounds across most markets, with French travelers recording the largest increase in bookings. New York was the top destination for four- and five-star hotel bookings across most source markets during both phases of the tournament, according to Trip.com.
The findings contrast with a recent Reuters report that said the World Cup tourism boost expected in the U.S. has yet to materialize. Hotels and airlines in host cities reported weak demand, citing high costs, visa requirements and travel logistics.
Hotels have cut room rates, while flight bookings remain weak as ticket prices rise, Reuters reported.
