Though only approximately 30 percent of Americans currently hold a U.S. passport, a new study by Visa Inc. and Oxford Economics concludes nearly half of all households internationally will belong to a new rising traveling class by 2025. The new group includes those households earning $20,000 or more per year and will account for 90 percent of international travel spending. The growth of the rising travel class is primarily driven by the worldwide growth of the middle class and the increasing affordability of international travel. It’s estimated travelers in 2025 will spend an average of $5,300 or more while abroad, not including transportation. The top country for spending currently is China, followed by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia. In 2025, 282 million households will enjoy at least one international trip per year, but their budget isn’t the only trait setting them apart. The study also points toward a growing aging group of travelers. While millennials are forming their own travel trends, it’s expected travelers aged 65 and up will more than double their international travel in the next nine years. Typically, the prime traveling population is considered those aged 25–65. However, as those travelers age, they’re not discontinuing their travel, as expected. As these travelers continue to increase in age, travel needs previously unpredicted by hotels, airlines and other hospitality providers will suddenly become apparent, as will new travel trends, such as medical travel. Medical tourism in itself is expected to increase by 25 percent during the same time period. “Traveling internationally will become more common and attainable in the future thanks to changing demographics, combined with technology advances that make traveling abroad easier and less expensive. What will emerge is an expanding ‘traveling class’ that will spend a growing portion of their household income on cross-border travel. Tomorrow’s traveling class will likely be older and hail from emerging markets — looking very different from today’s typical international traveler,” said Wayne Best, chief economist, Visa Inc. Are you a part of this growing class of travelers? If you find yourself in the group of travelers aged 65 and up, do you see your travel increasing, decreasing or staying the same? Is medical tourism on your radar as a possible option? Email us and let us know. Please include your full name and location with your email.