Aaron Szyf is an Economist with the U.S. Travel Association where he focuses on the economic impact of travel to and within the United States. 

Before joining U.S. Travel, Aaron worked at the World Bank, concentrating on youth employment and entrepreneurship in Jamaica, and public-private partnership development in Grenada. Prior to that, while at Centennial Group International, Aaron led a number of international macroeconomic assignments, including country-risk assessments in Bosnia and Bangladesh.

Aaron graduated from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Massachusetts with a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) and concentrations in Development Economics and International Business.

Prior to graduate study, Aaron held a community leadership role as the program director for the Joint Distribution Committee in Oradea, Romania. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance Summa Cum Laude from the Sy Syms School of Business of Yeshiva University.

All Posts By Aaron Szyf

THE ITINERARY April 26, 2023

The Travel Industry’s Vital Role in Bolstering Our Economy

content media

The industry’s outsized role in bolstering the U.S. economy is clear. Direct travel spending totaled $1.2 trillion in 2022, which produced an economic footprint of $2.6 trillion—a return to 2019 levels. However, while impressive, these numbers should be even higher.

THE ITINERARY March 31, 2023

Inbound Travel in an Increasingly Competitive Global Landscape

Visa Close up

Many countries have laid new visions and concrete plans to facilitate international travel and gain larger shares of the global travel market. With demand for global travel high, and international inbound travel to the U.S. being years away from a full recovery, we must address the current challenges and deterrents to remain competitive as a destination.

THE ITINERARY March 13, 2023

National Travel and Tourism Office Projects Inbound Travel Will Fully Recover by 2025

Travelers at Baggage Claim

The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) recently released an international visitation forecast, its first since the onset of the pandemic. The forecast, which extends until 2027, projects that inbound travel will fully recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2025—consistent with U.S. Travel’s fall 2022 forecast. U.S. Travel's Economist Aaron Szyf breaks down the numbers.

THE ITINERARY February 16, 2023

Restoring Travel’s Role in Reducing America’s Trade Deficit

content media

In 2022, travel exports were 32% below 2019 levels and the travel trade surplus was a staggering 92% down, at just $4 billion. With the huge increase in Americans traveling abroad, inbound travel to the U.S. is more essential than ever so that we can ensure a meaningful travel trade surplus moving forward.