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ABA Report: Motorcoach Travel Generates $161.6B Economic Impact

The 2025 analysis finds motorcoach travel supported nearly 900,000 jobs and generated $28 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

Alex Roman
Alex RomanExecutive Editor
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August 31, 2026
The Economic Impact of Motorcoach Travel in the U.S.
Credit:

American Bus Association

3 min to read


  • The 2025 Motorcoach Economic Impact Report reveals the motorcoach industry contributed $161.6 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 897,449 jobs.
  • Motorcoach travel led to $28.0 billion in tax revenues and $72.5 billion in spending, marking a 3.9% increase from the previous year.
  • For the first time, the report includes detailed county-level data, enhancing the industry's understanding of regional economic contributions.

*Summarized by AI

The American Bus Association (ABA) Foundation released its 2025 Motorcoach Economic Impact Report, detailing the motorcoach industry’s contribution to the U.S. economy. Conducted by Tourism Economics, the report adds county-level data for the first time, alongside state- and congressional-district-level analyses.

The analysis found that motorcoach travel generated a total economic impact of $161.6 billion in 2025, up from $158.0 billion the year before. The industry supported 897,449 full- and part-time jobs and generated $28.0 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

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According to the report, motorcoach travelers spent $72.5 billion in 2025, a 3.9% increase from 2024, across transportation, lodging, food, recreation, and retail. Travelers logged an estimated 41.1 billion passenger miles.

“We’re giving our members better intelligence about where motorcoach travelers are going, what they’re spending, and what that activity is worth in their markets — and then helping them turn those findings into more day trips, overnight stays, and group business,” said Fred Ferguson, president and CEO of the ABA and ABA Foundation. “At the same time, this research gives ABA a stronger case on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across the country, expanding our credibility and our voice on behalf of the motorcoach and group travel industry.”

Key Findings from the Report

Key findings include:

  • $72.5 billion in direct spending by motorcoach travelers in 2025, up from $69.8 billion in 2024.
  • $161.6 billion in total economic impact nationwide, including indirect and induced effects.
  • 897,449 jobs supported across all sectors.
  • $51.0 billion in wages and salaries generated.
  • $28.0 billion in total tax revenue, including $15.8 billion for state and local governments.

The analysis separates the motorcoach sector into two components:

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  • Group Travel: Generated $92.6 billion in total economic impact and supported 524,000 jobs.
  • Scheduled Service: Generated $68.9 billion in total economic impact and supported 373,000 jobs.

Additional Industry Data to Come

Alongside the national report, the ABA Foundation is releasing a state snapshot for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The three-page infographics cover the total economic impact of motorcoaches and provide separate breakdowns for group travel and scheduled service, including direct spending, passenger miles, jobs, wages, and state, local, and federal taxes.

The study also measures motorcoach travel at the county level for the first time, in addition to the state and congressional district results produced in prior years. The county-level data includes information on jobs, wages, business activity, and tax revenue associated with motorcoach travel.

An updated 2025 Motorcoach Economic Impact Interactive Map is scheduled to launch Sept. 23. The online tool will provide economic impact data by U.S. state, county, and congressional district, including business sales, jobs supported, wages, and tax revenue.

The map will also break down results by direct, indirect, induced, and total economic impact.

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“A national number tells us the size of the industry. Local data gives DMOs, attractions, and operators something they can actually use,” said Lew Myers, ABA Director of Government Relations and Research. “For the first time, we can show what motorcoach travel supports in an individual county — the jobs, wages, business activity, and tax revenue tied to that market. That helps our members make a stronger case locally for access, infrastructure, and investment, and it gives us better evidence on Capitol Hill when we advocate for policies that support group travel and the broader travel economy.”

ABA Foundation officials said the report and accompanying data are intended to provide industry members, policymakers, and the public with information about the economic impact of motorcoach travel in the U.S.

Quick Answers

The total economic impact of the motorcoach industry in 2025 is $161.6 billion.

*Summarized by AI

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