Traveler carrying an American flag. Travel Pulse
The National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) predicts that 77.1 million international travelers will visit the United States in 2025. This marks a 6.5% increase compared to 2024. The report, released on March 10, includes data from past years and forecasts up to 2029.
According to the projections, an additional 4.7 million people from other countries will visit the US this year. The number is expected to keep rising, with 85 million visitors anticipated in 2026 and 90.1 million in 2027. These figures align with the five-year goal set in the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy.
If 90 million travelers visit in 2027, they could contribute about $279 billion to the US economy. Major global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place across the US, Mexico, and Canada, and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles are expected to attract more international visitors.
In 2024, the US saw a 9.1% increase in international travelers, reaching 72.4 million visitors. While the numbers are rising, they are still slightly below the 2019 pre-pandemic peak of 79.4 million. The US has taken longer to recover compared to European countries and other parts of the world.
Some countries have shown significant increases in visitors to the US. India and Italy have seen major growth, with Indian travelers increasing by 552% since 2020. Italian visitation is expected to grow by 7.5% this year.
Other countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Canada are also expected to contribute to the growing tourism numbers. However, the US Travel Association has warned that trade tensions with Canada could impact travel. Canada has imposed restrictions on some American goods and encouraged citizens to avoid traveling to the US.
