The United States drew fewer foreign visitors in 2025, with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) saying visitor numbers fell 5.5% from 2024 even as 80 million more people traveled internationally.
The council said international visitor spending in the US slipped 4.6% to $176 billion, with a decline in foreign visitors, which underscores a broader slowdown in inbound travel.
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Analysis for Subscribers: Millions fewer visitors, billions in lost tourism dollars. The impact of how the world perceives the US right now.https://t.co/UwZ1rr7Q0R
— Kellie Keesee (@KellieProduces) May 25, 2026
The northern route has cooled
Canada has emerged as the biggest drag on US tourism. Arrivals from Canada, Mexico, and Europe all weakened, with roughly 4 million fewer international visitors in 2025 and more than $8 billion in lost foreign visitor spending.
The data from mobile tracking firm Cuebiq suggested Canadian travel to major U.S. cities may have fallen by as much as 42%, far steeper than the official estimate of a 25% decline in border crossings.
Senate footage proves Trump’s 2025–26 tourism goals failed.
— Sara Abrams (@SaraAbrams1990) May 25, 2026
Fans skip US World Cup games for Canada/Mexico due to harsh entry.
US bookings drop—Trump’s policies caused the boycott. #SportsWashing2026pic.twitter.com/aCZKrls3xN
Policy concerns have clouded the picture
Industry officials and analysts pointed to politics, border enforcement, and the tone of US policy as important factors.
WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara linked the shift to concerns including US anti-immigration policies, which she said were pushing some travelers toward destinations such as Spain, France, and Japan.
Guevara also said the U.S. should “change perception and position the U.S. as a welcoming destination,” while Harvard Kennedy School faculty chair Juliette Kayyem warned, “The long-term harm is that the world will not know America.”
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Domestic demand keeps the market afloat
Despite the downturn, the U.S. remains the world’s largest travel and tourism market, helped by strong domestic demand.
WTTC said domestic visitor spending stayed resilient at $1.54 trillion in 2025, while the US Travel Association projected international inbound spending would edge up 1.6% to $178 billion in 2026, supported in part by major events including the FIFA World Cup.
Even so, the association said inbound visits remain sensitive to policy conditions, global sentiment, and geopolitical stability, suggesting the recovery may be uneven.
