A new report reveals the breadth of the U.S. bus and motorcoach industry, from group tours to scheduled line runs, and shows how it quietly fuels the nation’s economy.
The study, released by the American Bus Association Foundation, found that group travel via motorcoach generated nearly $90 billion in economic activity in 2024 and supported more than 500,000 U.S. jobs. When scheduled service is included, the industry’s annual output rises to $158 billion, supporting 885,000 jobs and contributing $27.7 billion in tax revenue.
The states seeing the biggest impacts from motorcoach group travel were California ($11.9 billion), New York ($7.2 billion), Texas ($6.9 billion), Massachusetts ($4.7 billion), and Florida ($4.3 billion).
The analysis, conducted by Tourism Economics, examined direct spending by travelers and operators and the ripple effects on jobs, wages, and tax revenues.
ABA President and CEO Fred Ferguson said motorcoach travel is helping redefine the Great American Road Trip, offering an affordable, social, and sustainable alternative to flying or driving solo.
“These are impressive numbers,” Ferguson said. “It’s something the entire industry can be proud of.”
Online tool shows impact
Ferguson said the report can help lawmakers understand the industry’s importance.
“People don’t realize how often buses move sports teams, students, seniors, and corporate groups,” he said. “Our coaches are full because communities rely on us.”
To help visualize those benefits, the foundation launched an online Motorcoach Economic Impact Interactive Map that shows how group travel supports spending, jobs, and tax revenue in each state and congressional district.
He said the information gives operators and advocates a stronger way to show their impact.
“During COVID, our industry didn’t have the visibility it needed,” Ferguson said. “Now we can walk into an office in Minnesota or Alabama and show exactly what our industry means to that community.”
He said the interactive map gives advocates and policymakers local data they can use.
“When you walk into an office with district numbers, you’re speaking their language,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson wants that visibility year-round, not only in times of crisis.
“Lobbying isn’t complicated. It’s showing up,” he said. “Other industries are always on Capitol Hill, and UMA has set the bar with their annual Motorcoach Fly-in. We’re proud to help support the build out of this same presence.”
The research also strengthens partnerships beyond government, he said, including hotels, attractions, and destinations that depend on group travel.
“If you have a bus program or support group tours, we’ll bring visitors and revenue, and now we can prove it,” Ferguson said.
Scott Michael, president and CEO of the United Motorcoach Association, said the report captures the scale of an often-overlooked industry.
“The ABA Foundation study is a great resource we use to help educate Congress about our industry,” he said. “We are grateful to our members who participated in providing data.”
Measuring financial impact
The study includes both direct traveler spending and the broader impact on wages, employment, and tax revenue. Motorcoach travel in the U.S. recorded 37.6 billion passenger miles in the U.S. in 2024, supporting significant economic impacts nationally. Direct spending by motorcoach travelers amounted to $69.8 billion in 2024, including spending on motorcoach transportation as well as a range of goods and services, such as accommodations, and food and beverages.
“Motorcoaches aren’t just moving passengers; they’re fueling local economies in every corner of the country,” Ferguson said. “From hotels and restaurants to attractions and Main Street businesses, communities thrive when motorcoach groups arrive.”
Lew Myers, the ABA Foundation’s director of research, policy, and impact, said the numbers make the industry’s contribution clear.
“Buses bring business,” Myers said. “When travelers choose motorcoaches, they’re not just enjoying a comfortable, safe trip — they’re supporting jobs and driving spending in every state.”
Ferguson said the findings come as travelers look for more affordable and sustainable ways to get around. “Every tour and charter trip matters,” he said. “It means real jobs, real tax revenue, and real opportunities for communities.”
“There are 1,800 operators across the country, in every corner of the U.S.,” he said. “With the right focus and a regulatory framework that treats buses as part of short-route mobility, we can rethink regional travel.”
He pointed to companies already experimenting with new models, from airport transfers to multimodal routes.
“There’s innovation out there,” he said. “We just need to scale it.”
Vital emergency support
The report clarifies the essential nature of the industry, Ferguson said. He said the motorcoach industry often steps in when the nation needs to move people fast.
“When the National Guard needs to move troops or communities need to evacuate during a storm, they call us,” he said. “That’s who we are. We show up. Moving troops or helping during disasters is a national security responsibility.”
Operators regularly work with emergency planners and state safety officials to prepare for storms and evacuations.
“When a hurricane forms off the coast, our companies already know to get ready,” he said.
The industry also contributes directly to the nation’s infrastructure, Ferguson added.
“We pay fuel taxes into the Highway Trust Fund,” he said. “Public transit doesn’t. That’s a big distinction.”
Ferguson added that younger travelers are driving the push toward cleaner, more efficient transportation.
“There’s no greener way to travel than by motorcoach,” he said. “Per mile, we emit less carbon than cars, planes, or trains. That’s a message we need to amplify.”
Building relationships
Ferguson credited ABA Board Member and policy committee chair Mike Canine, CEO of Lorenz Bus Service in Minneapolis, for showing how advocacy starts locally.
“Mike’s built relationships with state and federal officials,” he said. “That’s where it begins, in your own backyard.”
Ferguson, a former Capitol Hill staffer, said cooperation in Congress is often stronger than it appears.
“At the staff level, it’s less partisan than people think,” he said. “The key is showing up and building trust.”
He wants more operators to do the same.
“When a local business owner walks into an office, it carries more weight than any lobbyist,” Ferguson said. “We’ll back them up, but the message is strongest coming from the people on the ground.”
The ABA Foundation’s full report and interactive map are available online.
