Whether you are planning a trip to the United States or simply curious about how the world’s most economically powerful tourism destination is performing, the numbers tell a fascinating story. The United States remains one of the top three most visited countries on earth — but the landscape is shifting, and the US tourism statistics for 2025 and 2026 reveal some important trends worth understanding.
Where Does the US Rank Among the World’s Most Visited Countries?
When comparing the most popular tourist destinations globally, the United States consistently holds third place. France has held the top spot as the most visited country globally for more than 30 years, reaching 102 million arrivals in 2024. Spain followed closely with 93.8 million arrivals, while the United States ranked third, attracting 72.4 million tourists.
That said, the US punches well above its weight when it comes to money. While France and Spain led in terms of the number of arrivals, the United States excelled in total receipts — generating $215 billion in tourism revenue, which made up 12% of global tourism receipts, with each tourist spending approximately $2,970 on average during their visit. This makes the US the most revenue-receiving country in the world for tourism.
For readers comparing destinations, here is how the top 10 most visited countries looked in 2024, along with tourism revenue earned from international visitors:
| Rank | Country | Int’l Arrivals (2024) | Tourism Revenue (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 102.0 million | $77.0 billion |
| 2 | Spain | 93.8 million | $106.5 billion |
| 3 | United States | 72.4 million | $215.0 billion |
| 4 | Turkey | 60.6 million | ~$61.0 billion |
| 5 | Italy | 57.8 million | $58.7 billion |
| 6 | China | 65.7 million* | ~$39.7 billion |
| 7 | Mexico | 45.0 million | ~$32.0 billion |
| 8 | Thailand | 39.8 million | $42.7 billion |
| 9 | Germany | ~39.0 million | ~$43.0 billion |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 39.4 million | $84.5 billion |
*China figures vary by source due to methodology differences. Revenue figures sourced from UNWTO, Visual Capitalist / UN Tourism 2024 data. ‘~’ indicates estimates where official figures are pending.
Sources: UNWTO World Tourism Barometer 2024, UN Tourism, Visual Capitalist, roadgenius.com
How Many Tourists Visit the US Each Year?
The United States welcomed 72.39 million international visitors in 2024, marking a 9.1% increase from 2023 (66.34 million) but remaining 8.9% below the pre-pandemic peak of 79.44 million recorded in 2019.
The recovery from COVID-19 has been gradual. The pandemic caused a dramatic decline, with just 19.2 million visitors in 2020 compared to 79.4 million in 2019. Tourism spending also plummeted that year, falling 63.5% to around $72.5 billion. The country welcomed 22.3 million international visitors in 2021, rising to 50.8 million in 2022 and continuing to climb through 2023 and 2024.
Which Countries Send the Most Tourists to the US?
In 2024, Canada and Mexico remained the top two sources of visitor arrivals to the United States, with 20.24 million and 16.99 million visitors respectively. Excluding Canada and Mexico, the top source countries were:
- United Kingdom — 4.04 million visitors
- India — 2.19 million visitors
- Germany — 1.99 million visitors
- Brazil — 1.91 million visitors
- Japan — 1.84 million visitors
- France — 1.71 million visitors
India’s growth is particularly notable. Among the top 10 countries sending visitors to the US, only India surpassed its 2019 benchmark, recording a 48.6% increase. This reflects both the growth of the Indian middle class and the strong Indian-American community ties that drive visiting-friends-and-relatives travel.
What Is the Economic Impact of Tourism in the US?
Tourism is one of the largest sectors in the American economy. The US travel industry is valued at $1.35 trillion in 2025, contributing approximately 9% to GDP and supporting over 15 million jobs.
International visitors spent approximately $253.9 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and activities in the United States in 2024. This level of spending underscores why even a modest decline in international arrivals has large downstream consequences for hotels, airlines, restaurants, and attractions.
Why Is US Tourism Declining in 2025?
After a strong 2024, 2025 has brought a notable reversal. Through May 2025, year-to-date international arrivals to the United States were down 2.4% from the same period in 2024. In April 2025, the head of the U.S. Travel Association testified before the House Homeland Security Committee that the United States was no longer the top global tourist destination.
The decline is not uniform across all markets. International travel to the US declined in 2025 especially from Western Europe, Canada, and Asia, due to factors including political polarization, affordability concerns, and negative perceptions of US leadership. However, states like Puerto Rico, Florida, and Hawaii continued to see gains in overseas visitors, while New York, California, and Washington D.C. faced declines.
Among the 20 countries with the most arrivals to the United States year-to-date through May 2025, the percentage increase was highest for Argentina (24.6%) and Israel (16.8%), while Canada (-16.8%) and South Korea (-11.3%) had the biggest decreases.
The economic cost is significant. According to the US Travel Association, every 1% drop in international visitor spending equals $1.8 billion lost in export revenue annually.
What Are the Most Visited US States and Cities?
In 2024, the top domestic destinations for US travelers included California, Florida, New York, Nevada (Las Vegas), and Hawaii. For international visitors, New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, and Las Vegas consistently rank as the most visited cities.
John F. Kennedy International Airport handled 34.8 million international arrivals in 2024 — around 11.4 million more than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the next busiest at 23.4 million — making JFK the leading gateway for overseas visitors entering the United States.
What Is the Outlook for US Tourism in 2026?
The National Travel and Tourism Office forecasts that international visitor arrivals will reach 85 million in 2026, surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 visitation of 79.4 million, and are projected to reach 96.7 million by 2029.
Based on current trends, France is expected to remain the number one most visited country in the world in 2026, followed by Spain and the United States. Whether the US can close the gap with Spain will depend significantly on how quickly it can reverse the 2025 perception challenges and streamline the visa and entry process for international visitors.
US Tourism Statistics: Key Takeaways
For anyone comparing global tourism destinations, the US holds a unique position. It ranks third by arrivals, first by revenue, and is home to some of the most diverse attractions in the world. However, the 2025 data makes clear that perception and policy matter — the US is losing visitors from key markets even as global tourism sets new records. For visa applicants and travel planners, this means entry processes may be evolving, and it is worth checking current US visa requirements before making travel arrangements.
Sources: National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), US Travel Association, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), International Trade Administration, Visual Capitalist.