Sightseeing Transportation in the US - Industry Market Research Report

New Adventures: Rising Demand for Sightseeing Services and Increasing Profit Are Expected to Encourage New Operators to Enter the Industry

The Sightseeing Transportation industry provides a variety of ground, nautical and aerial sightseeing transportation for everyday consumers. Industry operators generally offer services such as bus tours, whale watches, helicopter rides, boat and dinner cruises and locomotive excursions. Over the five years to 2019, the industry benefited from improving economic conditions, including rising levels of per capita disposable income, which resulted in many consumers increasing their recreational expenditure. As an industry that generates revenue through nonessential vacation and recreational expenses, industry operators benefit significantly from rising disposable income. This trend has enabled consumers to take more vacations, purchase more sightseeing tours and upgrade to luxury forms of sightseeing transportation, such as cruises and aerial tours. Moreover, nearly all industry operators switched to online booking platforms during the five-year period, reducing their operating costs, while the price of diesel, one of the largest purchase costs incurred by operators, declined. Over the five years to 2024, the industry is anticipated to continue to grow as disposable income levels increase further, resulting in more consumers enlisting industry services. Moreover, travel activity is forecast to continue increasing over the next five years. Most notably, international travel to the United States is anticipated to grow at a much faster rate than during the previous period and at a more stable rate.

Operators in this industry provide ground, nautical and aerial sightseeing transportation for everyday consumers. Examples of services include: sightseeing buses and trolleys; steam train excursions; horse-drawn sightseeing rides; helicopter rides; hot air balloon rides and boat and dinner cruises. The services provided are usually local and involve same-day return to the place of origin. This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.