2026 Travel Developments: Tour Operator Predictions

With a brand new yr comes a brand new batch of client developments, shaping how purchasers guide journey, once they wish to depart, and the place they wish to go.

The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) annual members survey confirmed development in 2025, with many members predicting additional development in 2026. In reality, practically 9 in 10 (88%) members acknowledged they anticipate gross sales development in 2026, and 84% stated they count on passenger development.

With a bullish outlook forward, what are these tour operators predicting would be the greatest shifts to be careful for within the coming 12 months?

Travel Market Report spoke to C-suite executives and trade leaders from throughout the tour operator section to achieve their perspective on how 2026 is shaping up.

CIE Tours

Prediction: modifications in reserving habits.

“One of the theories that we now have is that someone who’s going to guide 12 months out, 15 months out—these folks that basically wish to plan nicely forward—a proportion of these [customers] have determined to carry off somewhat bit to see what occurs…

In phrases of individuals reserving far out, there’s a little bit of a change there due to the economics and the best way issues are.

And then we’re seeing extra folks reserving shut in.”
– Stephen Cotter, managing director

“We have last-minute specials, that are very interesting for people who find themselves able to make a extra spontaneous determination… we’ve observed that pattern final yr and this yr [2025]. We have been shocked how far into the yr we continued to get bookings for a similar yr...

It could be that the window for superior bookers has narrowed and we’re seeing extra last-minute bookings.“
– Rosanne Zusman, chief business officer

Prediction: client confidence restoration.

“It’s just such an unpredictable time, and things that are completely outside of our control can put fear or caution or hesitancy in the mind of the consumer.”
– Rosanne Zusman, chief business officer

“Normally you’d be saying you’re ‘quietly confident’ or ‘cautiously optimistic’—we’re not saying these issues [yet].

I believe we can say that… we’re coming into this actual crunch interval now after Thanksgiving, into December, January, and February. The bookings ramp up a lot.

So far, we’re proud of the place we’re. Consumer confidence has declined, but it surely’s coming again up.”
– Stephen Cotter, managing director

Tauck

Prediction: vacationers craving the human contact.

“I believe 2026 shall be an excellent yr…

When you speak about AI and also you speak about the entire turbulence and also you speak about the entire volatility, I stay satisfied that the human connection is as essential as ever. And I imagine that tour operators— the overwhelming majority of whom depend on the human connection—I believe that could be a aggressive power that may proceed to assist us prosper and develop…

I actually do imagine that now folks crave human connection.“
-Jeremy Palmer, president, Tauck

Alexander + Roberts

Prediction: Growth in luxurious guided journey.

“I think privately guided is going to continue to expand. I think it’s going to be a good year. We’re all, of course, cautiously optimistic until we see what the first quarter brings, but I predict 2026 is going to be a strong year for land. You know cruise is already up there, but I think land is blossoming quite quickly as well, and I think that [the] luxury segment is where the growth is going to be.”
– Scott Avera, president, Alexander + Roberts

Prediction: Egypt’s comeback, and an increase in off-the-beaten-track locations

“Right now, Japan and East Africa are booming, as is Peru and Italy…. Another one which we see creeping in is Borneo. We’re joyful to see that and folks branching out into different areas of Italy, getting off the Rome, Florence, Venice and doing the Dolomites—issues like that. It’s somewhat bit off the overwhelmed monitor.

The different one is Egypt. I believe we’ll see Egypt come again now… I believe the autumn shall be superb there.”
-Scott Avera, president, Alexander + Roberts

Collette

Prediction: Stability and development.

“I believe 2026 is gonna be an ideal yr for the trade, and we see it within the [USTOA member survey]. We’re as much as nearly $25 billion in financial affect now as an affiliation, and I believe that’ll proceed to develop…

People are largely anticipating development for subsequent yr, and their companies are doing nicely. They’ve seen every little thing stabilize and begin to level upward for subsequent yr.“
– Jeff Roy, government vp and chief income officer, Collette

Prediction: A resilient Canadian market.

“Canada, we have been apprehensive about earlier this yr as a result of they have been extra deeply affected by among the politics which are happening proper now. But the Canadian market, they’re fairly resilient. They weren’t down for very lengthy, and we had a report yr there in 2025. For 2026, [bookings we’re] up fairly a bit once more…

I believe the Canada outbound market will proceed to do nicely, not a lot trans water coming into the United States, however going outbound to all the identical locations that Americans are touring to.“
– Jeff Roy, government vp and chief income officer, Collette

Perillo Tours

Prediction: More A.I. adoption.

“A.I. is de facto helpful. It’s very helpful for writing brochures, for doing summaries of brochures… It’s been an ideal to assist us… We’re gonna train our chat system on the pc to be an skilled in our enterprise.“
-Steve Perillo,  CEO and proprietor, Perillo Tours