Editor’s Note – November/December 2025

For those who missed its release, the American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF) recently shared results of what it calls its “most comprehensive analysis to date of the motorcoach industry’s economic footprint,” adding the findings underscore how essential motorcoach travel remains to the U.S. economy.

According to the revised “2025 Economic Impact of Motorcoach Travel in the United States” report, motorcoach activity generated $158 billion in total economic impact in 2024, supporting more than 890,000 jobs nationwide. New data from scheduled service operations augment previous research results from the initial impact report released in September.

According to ABAF, the study was conducted by Tourism Economics and highlights the combined strength of group travel, charter operations, sightseeing, scheduled service, and intercity bus travel. Together, those sectors accounted for 37.6 billion passenger miles last year (2024) — an indicator of substantial demand for both leisure and essential transportation services. Direct spending totaled $69.8 billion and expanded significantly as it moved through the U.S. economy, fueling revenue, wages, and tax receipts in nearly every sector.

Here are some other key findings:

• The ABAF report shows how significant motorcoach travel plays in sustaining jobs. In 2024, direct spending supported 516,000 jobs, with the broader economic effects adding another 374,000 jobs across industries such as food and beverage, retail, entertainment, lodging, and transportation. The food and beverage sector benefited most, with more than 225,000 jobs tied to motorcoach-related spending.
• According to ABAF, this job creation mirrors the findings of the American Bus Association’s (ABA) 2024 Motorcoach Census, which documented strong workforce demand and continued recovery across companies of all sizes. That report noted increased hiring, expanded service capacity, and rising demand for both charter and scheduled service — trends reinforced by the economic impact study.
• Within the broader sector, group travel remains a cornerstone of the motorcoach economy. In 2024, group travel alone generated $39.8 billion in direct spending and an $89.3 billion total economic impact, supporting more than 515,000 jobs. Travelers contributed significantly to local tourism economies: $13.2 billion in food and beverage spending, $7.5 billion in retail, and $7.2 billion in recreation.
• Scheduled service — representing intercity and airport-to-city routes — also delivered notable economic gains. Travelers using scheduled services generated $30 billion in direct spending and a total impact of $68.7 billion in 2024, supporting 374,121 jobs. Food and beverage, transportation, and retail sectors again ranked among the top beneficiaries, according to ABAF.
• Across all segments, motorcoach travel generated $27.7 billion in total tax revenue, including nearly $16 billion in state and local taxes. The report notes that every U.S. household would need to pay an additional $209 annually to replace these state and local revenues — underscoring the industry’s essential role in funding public services. Visit buses.org/aba-foundation/.

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