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Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism satellite account for 2017-2021.

The travel and tourism industry—as measured by the real output of goods and services sold directly to visitors—increased 64.4 percent in 2021 after decreasing 50.7 percent in 2020, according to the most recent statistics from BEA’s Travel and Tourism Satellite Account.

Data & Articles

• U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2017–2021 By Sarah Osborne - Survey of Current Business February 2023
• "U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2015–2019" By Sarah Osborne - Survey of Current Business December 2020
• "U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2015-2017" By Sarah Osborne and Seth Markowitz - Survey of Current Business June 2018
• Tourism Satellite Accounts 1998-2019
• Tourism Satellite Accounts Data Sheets A complete set of detailed annual statistics for 2017-2021 is coming soon -->
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Previously Published Estimates

• Data Archive This page provides access to an archive of estimates previously published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Please note that this archive is provided for research only. The estimates contained in this archive include revisions to prior estimates and may not reflect the most recent revision for a particular period.
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What is Travel and Tourism?

Measures how much tourists spend and the prices they pay for lodging, airfare, souvenirs, and other travel-related items. These statistics also provide a snapshot of employment in the travel and tourism industries.

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• News Media Connie O'Connell (301) 278-9003 [email protected]

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U.S. Travel & Tourism Statistics 2020-2021

The ultimate fact guide to america's tourism industry including outbound, inbound, domestic & business travel figures..

The American tourism industry is thriving, International and domestic travel is currently contribution over $1.1 trillion to the United States GDP every year. When looking at the annual travel split of domestic and international travel, Americans domestically traveling within the country last year made up the lion's share, totaling 2.29 Billion, a 2% increase from the previous year. Following past US tourism trends, the volume of Americans outbound traveling internationally was of course much less, amounting to 79.6 Million, which was a 3.5% increase from the previous year.

Leisure based travel accounts for 73.8% of all tourism in America, leaving 26.2% for business and other reasons. Overall the tourism expenditure accounts for $1,089 Billion a year, and the industry provides a direct source of employment for 5.29 million jobs.

RELATED: 2022 Tourism Trends & Outlook

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TOP U.S. TOURISM STATISTICS:

US Citizen domestic tourism:   Americans take 2.29 Billion domestic trips each year.

US Citizen outbound tourism:   Americans take 93.0 Million international outbound trips each year.

International Inbound Tourism:   Annually, there are currently 79.6 Million international visitors to the US.

$1,089 Billion:   Yearly American tourism expenditure ($932.7b domestic / $156.3b international)

Expenditure sources:   $267.7B on food services, $232.2B on lodging, $200.4B on public transport, $166.5B on auto transportation, $112.6B on recreation, $109.6B on retail.

15.7 Million   American jobs were supported by travel in 2018.

By 2028,   yearly U.S. tourism is estimated to hit the $2.4 trillion mark.

Days/yr. traveled by age group: Gen Z   (29 days) , Millennials   (35 days) , Gen X   (26 days)   and Baby Boomers   (27 days).

Top 5 inbound countries:   Mexico (19.1m), Canada (12.3m), UK (4.9), Japan (3.4), China (2.9)

Top 5 outbound by continent:   Europe (17.7m), Caribbean (8.7m), Asia (6.2m), South America (2.1m), Central America (3.2m)

Top US cities visited:   New York (9.8m), Miami (5.38m), LA (4.98m), Orlando (4.47m), San Francisco (3.57m), Vegas (3.33m)

Business vs. leisure:   U.S. travelers took 466.2 million domestic trips for business (26.2%), and 1,779.7 million for leisure (73.8%)

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Quick links: navigate our statistic topics, how many americans travel out of their country a year, how much did americans and tourists spend on travel last year, how much is the travel industry worth to america, which american age groups travel the most, why do americans travel, what are the popular trending activities in america, how do americans book their travel.

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US INBOUND & OUTBOUND TOURISM STATISTICS

US domestic travel increased by +2%  YTD in 2019 with Americans taking 2.29 Billion domestic trips.

Domestic leisure travel increased 1.9%   in 2019 to 1.9 billion.

80% of all US domestic trips  were for leisure travel in 2019.

Domestic business travel in 2019   accounted for 464 million trips.

US Citizen outbound tourism:   Americans take 93.0 Million international outbound trips each year. (+6.3% YTD Change)

International Inbound Tourism:   Annually, there are currently 79.6 Million international visitors to the US. (+3.5% YTD Change)

Top 5 inbound countries:   Mexico (19.1m), Canada (12.3m), UK (4.9), Japan (3.4), China (2.9).

Top 5 outbound by continent:   Europe (17.7m), Caribbean (8.7m), Asia (6.2m), South America (2.1m), Central America (3.2m).

Top US cities visited:   New York (9.8m), Miami (5.38m), LA (4.98m), Orlando (4.47m), San Francisco (3.57m), Vegas (3.33m).

Each year,   35% of American families   plan vacations 50 miles or more from home.

In a Travel Leaders Group survey,   24%   of Americans stated they plan to travel to Europe.

22%   of American vacations are via road trips.

USA’s top 5 road trip routes:   #1 Las Vegas – National Parks, #2 Northern California - Southern Oregon Coast, #3 Northern New England, #4 Blue Ridge Parkway #5 Black Hills.

The lion’s share of the United States tourism is from its own citizen’s domestic travel, with over 2.29 billion Americans taking trips within the country. This saw a +2% year to date increase, which is enormous considering that domestic travel spend was worth $932.7 Billion.

As you can see from the US outbound travel statistics above, the number of Americans traveling out of the country is remarkably low compared to domestic travel. According to Trade.gov, outbound tourism hit 93 Million last year and saw a sizable +6.3% year to date increase, showing more Americans are willing to take an outbound trip and travel out the country.

The outbound travel expenditure of these 93 million people was worth $156.3 Billion to America’s tourism industry, so 6.3% is a very significant outbound tourism statistic! The hottest US outbound destinations were Europe, Caribbean, Asia, South America, and Central America.

The US inbound tourism statistics also paint a fascinating picture of America’s continued tourism industry growth, with visitors flocking from Mexico, Canada, UK, Japan, and China. International visitors totaled 79.6 Million with a 3.5% year to date increase, with the top US vacation destinations being cities such as New York, Miami, LA, Orlando, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.

Sources :   Statista ,   AAA ,   TravelLeadersGroup ,   TravelAgentCentral ,   MMGY

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AMERICAS TOURISM INDUSTRY SPEND STATISTICS

American’s spent around   $930 billion USD   on domestic travel in 2018.

In 2017 the amount spent on summer vacations was around   $101.1 billion USD , up from $89.9 billion in 2016.

$1.1 Trillion   / $1,089 Billion: Yearly U.S. travel and tourism expenditure ($932.7b domestic / $156.3b international).

U.S. leisure spend totalled   $761.7 billion   in 2018 from domestic and international travellers.

U.S. business sped totalled   $327 billion   in 2018, with $136 Billion from travellers attending conventions or meetings.

Expenditure Sources:   $267.7B on food services, $232.2B on lodging, $200.4B on public transport, $166.5B on auto transportation, $112.6B on recreation, $109.6B on retail.

Behind nightlife/dining,   travel was voted   America’s most popular choice for spending disposable income at   36%.

$101.1 Billion   is spent every year in America on summer vacations alone.

The average American spends   $6,080 on international trips.

Inbound overseas tourists stay an average of 18 nights and   spend $4,200   while in America.

Overseas travellers account for   84%   of international tourist spend, despite being half of all international arrivals.

Canadian tourists are the biggest spenders with   £22.2 billion   in the U.S. every year.

New York brings in  $16.1 Billion   a year from international visitors.

If you’re wondering how much Americans spend on travel each year, it was huge; International and domestic travelers spent $1.1 Trillion US dollars ($1,089 Billion). Americans spending through domestic travel increased by a massive +5.8% year to date, whereas international tourism spends only saw a 0.3% bump from the previous year. To break this down, this sort of spending would support 8.9M jobs, which in turn would generate $171 Billion in tax and $268 Billion in payroll.

Out of the $1.1 Trillion spending, leisure travelers from both international and domestic spent $762 Billion in 2018, which was a +6.1% increase from the previous year. When looking at business travel spend, it had risen +2.4% to $327 Billion, with 41.5% coming from

What are American tourists spending this $1.1 Trillion on? According to the latest US travel spending statistics, food services such as restaurants, bars, and grocery stores were the most popular spending category at 26.7%. This was followed by 23.1% on lodging, 20.0% on public transport, 16.6% on auto transportation, 11.2% on recreation, and 10.9% on retail.

Furthermore, this $1.1 Trillion spending isn’t the only financial impact of the tourists. When you look at the inputs used to supply or produce the goods travelers desire, and take into account the spend of the employees of travel businesses – there is a considerable multiplier of the financial impact to the US economy, estimated to be a total of $2.5 Trillion.

Sources :  US Travel ,  US Travel 2 ,  Phocuswright ,  TravelAgenctCentral ,  Squaremouth ,  Statista

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US TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY JOB STATISTICS  

The travel industry accounts for   7.1%   of America’s private employment.

15.7 Million American jobs   were supported by travel in 2018.

8.92 Million   American travel-related jobs were supported by tourism in 2018 (7.73M domestic / 1.19M international)

$1 Million   in travel revenue directly produces eight jobs with the industry.

1 in 10 jobs   in the U.S. depend on the travel industry (Excluding farming).

$267.9 Billion   in payroll is generated yearly by U.S. travel and tourism ($234.6 Billion domestic / $33.3 Billion international).

$170.9 Billion   in tax revenue is generated yearly by U.S. travel and tourism ($147.3 Billion domestic / $23.6 Billion international).

A massive   $117.4 billion   of the $170.9b in tax revenue was spent on leisure travel, $53.5b on business.

International and domestic business travel generated   $327.3 billion   in 2018 through direct spending.

In 2018, U.S. residents recorded   463.6M   trips for business (38% being events and meetings).

The tourism industry is vital to the US economy, so much so that it accounts for 7.1% of the countries private employment. Overall, 15.7 Million American jobs were supported by the tourism industry last year, making one in eight non-farm jobs dependent on it in some way, direct and indirectly. The trend is on the up, the 15.7 Million American jobs in the travel industry had a +1.3% increase from the previous year.

Jobs, where workers are supplying goods or services directly to visitors, would be classed as ‘direct’ - this supported 8.9 million U.S. travel-specific jobs. The remaining 6.8 Million jobs were classed as indirect, these would include areas whereby workers created goods or services which helped produce the goods or services (sold or used by the 8.9M direct jobs).

The travel industry is known for being extremely labor intensive, its upwards trends have the power to develop new career opportunities much fast than any other niche. If you exclude the farming industry, one in ten jobs would be dependent on the travel industry – as an example, one in five non-farming industry jobs would be created from $1 million sales, but the same value in the travel industry would create one in eight.

Sources :  US Travel 1 ,  US Travel 2

US TRAVEL STATISTICS BY DEMOGRAPHIC

42%   of Americans own a passport, up from 27% 10 years ago.

Days a year traveling by age: Millennials ( 35 days ), Gen Z ( 29 days ), Baby Boomers ( 27 days ), and Gen X ( 26 days ).

Millennials :   62%   of parents travel with kids under five.

Millennials :   58%   prefer traveling with friends, 49% book last-minute vacations.

Millennials :   58%   want to solo travel,   26%   already have.

Solo Travel Women:   Take 3 more trips a year and are the most likely to travel alone.

Solo Travel: 43%   take over three trips a year.

Solo Travel: 50%   have a college or university diploma/degree.

Family: 4 out of 10   plan a trip with a family each year.

Family: 80%   take summertime trips to travel with family.

Family: 42%   opt for spring break vacations.

Baby Boomers:   Aim to take 4+ leisure vacations a year.

Baby Boomers: 30%   opt for a cruise as their vacation choice.

When analyzing the latest US outbound travel statistics by age, it was clear that millennials are the group willing to travel for the most extended period at 35 days a year, while generation X vacationed an average of 26 days.

Millennial Americans that are without children are now less of the typical ‘tourist’ and more of the ‘experience’ generation. Most of their booking habits are focused on exploring cultures, booking retreats, or activities rather than visiting theme parks and tourist trap areas. Their freedom and spontaneity let almost half of them book last-minute vacations, with or without friends as, to them, solo travel means cultural growth and meeting new people.

These travel age statistics also show us that half of the solo travelers take up to 3 more trips a year, have a college or university degree, and American solo travel is more prominent in women. What percentage of Americans own a passport? The myth was only one in ten do which appears in many blogs across the web, but now the Census and State department confirm that over 42% of Americans own a passport.

One travel by age group statistic shows almost one in three baby boomers opt for a cruise as their vacation and aim to take at least 4 trips per year. When it comes to families, the majority go during summer break (80%), and only 4 in 10 plan trips with their family. However, millennial families are far more likely to travel with younger children, at 62%.

Sources : Expedia, Resonanceco,  InternetMarketingInc ,  PRNewswire ,  SoloTravelWorld ,  TravelAgentCentral ,  NYU 1 ,  NYU 2 ,  AARP ,  TripAdvisor

REASONS AMERICANS TRAVEL FACTS & STATISTICS

Business/Leisure: U.S. travellers took   466.2 million   domestic trips for business (26.2%), and   1,779.7 million   for leisure (73.8%).

Family:   95%   prioritized their family to be happy and entertained.

Family:   89%   prioritized vacation deals and value.

Family:   85%   needed planning around school holidays.

Family:   85%   wanted outdoor activities for their family.

Gen Z:   55%   travelled to increase their knowledge and experience.

Gen Z:   40%   travelled to avoid stress and relax.

Millennials:   43%   want to find themselves.

Millennials:   23%   want to meet new people.

57%   of U.S. travellers would choose a free heritage vacation over alcohol for a year.

56%   of global international travellers agree it taught them life skills.

51%   want to escape normal life and recharge mentally.

42%   take trips to visit friends and family.

35%   are travelling to experience local delicacies.

Top   bucket list vacations   are volunteering trips (39%), food travel adventure (38%), mystery journey (38%), ancestry/heritage trip (36%), and sabbatical (36%).

59%   of solo travellers stated the reason they went alone is to see the world without waiting for others.

Why do Americans travel? When looking at the data from several survey sources, it was clear that the gender and age of respondents had little impact on the three most important factors.

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The most important reasons why Americans travel were:

Being with friends and family

Fun experiences (did index higher in younger generations)

Relaxing and unwinding

In terms of gender-based travel reasons, men indexed higher than women overall for exploring the great outdoors or outdoor activities that fall into that category. Generation Z, Millennials, or general age groups from 18-35 had higher responses around wanting to travel for music events or festivals than people aged 35 and over.

The most important trend we’ve noticed from reviewing multiple studies around American’s desires for travel is that younger generations are factoring in ‘experience tourism,’ this was very common in their responses. Experience tourism can be defined by people wanting to book activities or retreats, meet new people and ‘find themselves’. This is popular among solo travellers, like a cultural trip to Thailand for a detox retreat rather than visiting a traditional tourist attraction like a theme park.

Americans over 35 were keen on finding a vacation where food and drink was priority. Visiting a town or city that had cultural foodie scenes or breweries were very trendy.

Sources : ShortTermRentalz,  Wysetc ,  Trekksoft ,  TravelNews ,  USTravel ,  Booking.com ,  HospitalityNet ,  SoloTravelWorld

US TOURISM & TRAVEL ACTIVITY STATISTICS

Top 5 culture activities:   #1) 65% visit history/art museums, #2) 59% visit aquariums, #3) 56% visit science museums, #4) 55% visit theme parks, #5) 55% visit zoos

73%   of families take their children to a theme park, 34% aim for a world famous one.

Overseas visitors top 5 activities:   #1) 54% Shopping, #2) 49% visit historical/cultural sights, #3) 49% Restaurants, #4) 46% Monuments / National Parks, #5) 46% Sightseeing tours.

Trending:   89% increase in sunset cruise excursions trips since last year.

Trending : 64% increase in snorkelling activities since last year.

Trending : 55% increase in sailing trips since last year.

Trending : 49% increase in kayaking and canoeing experiences since last year.

33%   of visitors will get spa or beauty treatments while on vacation.

15%   of travellers book mindfulness or meditation retreats.

One of the reasons Americans do not travel abroad that much is that there is so much to offer in their own country. There is a wealth of cultural activities such as art galleries, museums that index high on the popular activities list, not to mention the volume of theme parks, zoos, and aquariums across the country.

Families want to book all-inclusive trips where everything is taken care of, and they can focus on shopping or taking their children sightseeing. An overwhelming volume of people wanted to book a cruise in the future, which pairs well with relaxing is one of the most popular reasons for travel data above. Cruises were particularly popular in respondents over the age of 45, as well as self-guided tours, whereas group tours were one of the least popular options for booking.

Even though sporting related activities are trending up, going to a physical sporting event was one of the least popular reasons Americans book travel, with most wanting to support their team… from home.

Sources :  MMGY ,  NYU , StatisticBrain,  TripAdvisor ,  Booking.com

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US TOURISM BOOKING STATISTICS

65%   of hotels are booked on the smartphone the same day as it was researched.

79%   of Americans researching trips will eventually book on their smartphone via app or online.

90%   of U.S. travellers use apps at their destination to make life easy.

#1 factor   in Americans booking travel is price, but reviews and amenities are close runners up.

Americans aged 18-24 classed   reviews   as the second most crucial factor in the booking.

Overall, travel is most commonly booked between   1 to 3 months   in advance.

Men are more likely to last-minute book their trips   2 to 4 weeks   out.

Excluding price as the main factor for Americans booking travel, amenities, and reviews were the most popular choices. So when comparing hotels, resorts or cruises of similar price, these are the factors that will sway the booking decision.

Popular amenities people look for when booking hotels are free breakfasts, pool access, fitness centers, and on-site restaurants. Public transportation was the least influential factor for people considering amenities when booking; this increased with ride-share options.

Only 11% of travellers book trips 6 months out; the most standard booking periods were for trips within 1 to 3 months.

Demographics wise, travelers without children would be the target market for last-minute booking, the no strings attached lifestyle leaves their schedules open. This makes them the ideal target for using last-minute deals to sign them up to hotel or travel loyalty programs.

Sources : StatisticBrain,  ThinkWithGoogle ,  Trekksoft

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Tourism in the United States of America

Development of the tourism sector in the united states from 1995 to 2021.

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New york city, grand canyon, san francisco, yellowstone national park, revenues from tourism.

All data for the United States of America in detail

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U.S. Department of Commerce

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Fact sheet: 2022 national travel and tourism strategy, office of public affairs.

The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy was released on June 6, 2022, by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo on behalf of the Tourism Policy Council (TPC). The new strategy focuses the full efforts of the federal government to promote the United States as a premier destination grounded in the breadth and diversity of our communities, and to foster a sector that drives economic growth, creates good jobs, and bolsters conservation and sustainability. Drawing on engagement and capabilities from across the federal government, the strategy aims to support broad-based economic growth in travel and tourism across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia.

The federal government will work to implement the strategy under the leadership of the TPC and in partnership with the private sector, aiming toward an ambitious five-year goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 90 million international visitors, who we estimate will spend $279 billion, annually by 2027.

The new National Travel and Tourism Strategy supports growth and competitiveness for an industry that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, generated $1.9 trillion in economic output and supported 9.5 million American jobs. Also, in 2019, nearly 80 million international travelers visited the United States and contributed nearly $240 billion to the U.S. economy, making the United States the global leader in revenue from international travel and tourism. As the top services export for the United States that year, travel and tourism generated a $53.4 billion trade surplus and supported 1 million jobs in the United States.

The strategy follows a four-point approach:

• Promoting the United States as a Travel Destination Goal : Leverage existing programs and assets to promote the United States to international visitors and broaden marketing efforts to encourage visitation to underserved communities.
• Facilitating Travel to and Within the United States Goal : Reduce barriers to trade in travel services and make it safer and more efficient for visitors to enter and travel within the United States.
• Ensuring Diverse, Inclusive, and Accessible Tourism Experiences Goal : Extend the benefits of travel and tourism by supporting the development of diverse tourism products, focusing on under-served communities and populations. Address the financial and workplace needs of travel and tourism businesses, supporting destination communities as they grow their tourism economies. Deliver world-class experiences and customer service at federal lands and waters that showcase the nation’s assets while protecting them for future generations.
• Fostering Resilient and Sustainable Travel and Tourism Goal : Reduce travel and tourism’s contributions to climate change and build a travel and tourism sector that is resilient to natural disasters, public health threats, and the impacts of climate change. Build a sustainable sector that integrates protecting natural resources, supporting the tourism economy, and ensuring equitable development.

Travel and Tourism Fast Facts

• The travel and tourism industry supported 9.5 million American jobs through $1.9 trillion of economic activity in 2019. In fact, 1 in every 20 jobs in the United States was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. These jobs can be found in industries like lodging, food services, arts, entertainment, recreation, transportation, and education.
• Travel and tourism was the top services export for the United States in 2019, generating a $53.4 billion trade surplus.
• The travel and tourism industry was one of the U.S. business sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and travel restrictions, with travel exports decreasing nearly 65% from 2019 to 2020. 
• The decline in travel and tourism contributed heavily to unemployment; leisure and hospitality lost 8.2 million jobs between February and April 2020 alone, accounting for 37% of the decline in overall nonfarm employment during that time. 
• By 2021, the rollout of vaccines and lifting of international and domestic restrictions allowed travel and tourism to begin its recovery. International arrivals to the United States grew to 22.1 million in 2021, up from 19.2 million in 2020. Spending by international visitors also grew, reaching $81.0 billion, or 34 percent of 2019’s total.

More about the Tourism Policy Council and the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

Created by Congress and chaired by Secretary Raimondo, the Tourism Policy Council (TPC) is the interagency council charged with coordinating national policies and programs relating to travel and tourism. At the direction of Secretary Raimondo, the TPC created a new five-year strategy to focus U.S. government efforts in support of the travel and tourism sector which has been deeply and disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full strategy here

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77+ us travel & tourism statistics (2023).

A huge country with 50 states, the U.S. is undoubtedly one of the strongest nations in the world.

It’s also a very popular destination amongst global travellers, thanks to the sheer diversity of its attractions that include manmade wonders and natural landmarks alike.

From financial metropolis to star-studded cities, there’s something for everyone!

For instance, the epic national parks found when exploring Utah and the epic coastal views and nightlife in Santa Barbara .

Did you know that 79.3 million people visit the U.S. in 2019 alone?

The direct domestic and international traveller spending in 2019 totaled to roughly $1.1 trillion.

Yes, travel and tourism plays a key role in the country’s economy.

Below, we’ve summed up some of the most important statistics about U.S. tourism, including the number of outbound travellers, its most popular destinations, and the effects of the recent Covid-19 pandemic .

Let’s dive in!

Sources : Attached with each stat is the source article or data. For a full list of all the sources used, head to the bottom of the post.

Travellerspoint

How many people visit the US each year?

There were around 79.3 million international visitations to the U.S. in 2019.

How big is the tourism industry in the US?

The direct domestic and international traveller spending in 2019 was $1.1 trillion, which resulted in $2.6 trillion of economic output.

Which country visits USA the most?

The country that visits the USA the most is Canada , with 20.7 million trips recorded in 2019 alone. This is followed by Mexico with 18.1 million trips.

How much money do US tourists spend abroad each year?

The average U.S. tourist spends $6,080 abroad.

US Travel & Tourism Key Statistics

• The average overseas traveller spent $3,700 during their visit to the U.S. 
• The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy aims to welcome 90 million international visitors annually by 2027.
• The most popular travel destination for U.S. resident travellers in 2019 is Mexico, with 39.3 million visitors.
• The travel and tourism industry was the largest services export in 2019, producing a trade surplus of $53.4 billion in.
• In 2019, there were 9.5 million jobs in the American travel and tourism industry.
• 1 in every 20 jobs in the U.S. was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. 
• With 5.42 million foreign visitors in 2020, New York is the most popular city destination in the U.S.
• In 2021, the U.S. hotel and motel market size was valued at $171.1 billion.
• A third of the 9 million direct travel jobs were lost when the pandemic hit in 2020.
• In 2020, the number of outbound tourists from the United States fell to 33.5 million, only one third of the 2019 figure.

International inbound tourism in the US

1. there were around 79.3 million international visitations to the u.s. in 2019..

[U.S. Travel]

2. 20.7 million of those were made by Canadian residents.

Canada had the largest share of global visitations to the U.S.

The closest US state to Canada is Alaska, and there lots of interesting things to do there !

3. The second largest share of global visitations to the U.S. in 2019 was from Mexico.

This was followed by the UK (4.8 million) , Japan (3.8 million), and China (2.8 million).

4. Excluding Canada and Mexico, the U.S. received 40 million overseas visitors in 2019.

5. the average overseas traveller spent $3,700 during their visit to the u.s. , 6. each overseas traveller stayed an average of 17 nights., 7. however, international arrivals in the u.s. declined to 29 million in 2021. this is a 36% decrease from 2019., 8. the 2022 national travel and tourism strategy aims to welcome 90 million international visitors annually by 2027..

[U.S. Commerce]

9. There were approximately 5.4 million arrivals to the U.S. by overseas business travellers in 2019.

Us outbound travel statistics, 10. there were 99.74 million outbound tourists from the united states in 2019..

11. The most popular destination for U.S. resident travellers in 2019 is Mexico, with 39.3 million visitors.

We can see that a huge proportion of U.S. residents who travel internationally prefer to visit nearby countries like Mexico, with 39.3 million visitors in 2019 .

12. This is followed by Canada (15 million), the UK (3.9 million), Italy (3.2 million), and France (3.1 million).

France is the fifth most popular destinations for US residents, with 3.1 million trips made in 2019 .

13. Barbados received six times the number of U.S. visitors in 2019 than it did in 2014.

14. over the same five year period, the number of american tourists travelling to iceland and morocco rose threefold..

In comparison, 177 thousand Americans travelled to Peru in 2021.

15. As of July 2022, a survey reported that 36% of Americans plan to travel over the next three months.

16. in 2019, 9.4 million trips were taken to the caribbean from the united states..

[TourismAnalytics]

17. 19 million trips were made in 2019 from the U.S. to Europe . This decreased by 86.4% in 2020.

There were a total of 19 million European trips made by Americans from the U.S. in 2019, while only 2.58 million such trips were taken in 2020.

18. The total trips taken to Mexico by air fell from 10.2 million trips in 2019 to 5 million trips in 2020.

19. 63% of adults in the united states have taken a staycation, while 37% have not..

Staycation refers to a holiday spent in one’s home country or city, often involving visits to local attractions.

According to Thrillist, Moab is one of the top staycation destinations in 2023. Surrounded by scenic landscapes and national parks, the best things to do in Moab are centered around its nature.

American travel & tourism economy

20. the travel and tourism industry was the largest services export in 2019, producing a trade surplus of $53.4 billion in..

It’s an extremely important industry with a huge role in lowering the country’s overall trade deficit.

21. Without the tourism industry, the U.S. trade deficit would be 9.3% higher at $630 billion, instead of $576 billion.

22. in 2025, international travel spending in the u.s. is predicted to reach $198 billion., 23. overall, domestic and international travellers spent over $680 billion in 2020., 24. this number comprises of $642.2 billion by domestic travellers and $38.1 billion by international travellers., 25. the direct domestic and international traveller spending in 2019 was $1.1 trillion, which resulted in $2.6 trillion of economic output., 26. the total domestic and international expenditure on business tourism in the united sates was $354 billion in 2019 alone..

The G20 member country with the highest business travel spending in 2019 was the U.S.

Jobs in American travel & tourism industry

27. in 2019, there were 9.5 million jobs in the american travel and tourism industry., 28. 1 in every 20 jobs in the u.s. was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. .

Jobs varied in different fields, including food services, arts, entertainment, and transportation.

29. In 2022, 5.1 million people are employed in the U.S. tourism industry.

[IBIS World]

30. In terms of employment growth, the number of employees in the travel industry has decreased by 2.9% on average between 2017 and 2022.

This decline is mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

31. Tourism businesses in the United States have an average of 10.4 employees.

32. in terms of employment, travel was within the top 10 industries in 49 states and d.c..

This became only in 25 states in 2021.

33. The American glamping industry was worth $463.7 million in 2021, or 28.9% higher than 2020.

[Grand Review Research]

A subsector in the US travel and tourism industry that is on the rise is the glamping industry, which had a market share of $463.7 million in 2021 .

Popular travel destinations in the US

34. with 5.42 million foreign visitors in 2020, new york is the most popular city destination in the u.s., 35. new york is the city with the fourth most cultural attractions worldwide, with 2,119 attractions open to the public..

The city with the highest number of cultural attractions is Tokyo.

36. After New York, the most popular city destinations in the U.S. are Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.

As the fourth most popular city destination in the US, there are surely many things to do in San Francisco .

Likewise, there are also lots of things to do in Las Vegas that would cater to different types of travellers.

Read more: Las Vegas Travel & Tourism Statistics

37. The cheapest city in the U.S. for backpacking is New Orleans, with an average cost of $94.7 dollars per day.

New Orleans is reportedly the most affordable city destination for backpacking in the country.

This includes a dorm bed in a hostel, three budget meals, two rides on public transportation, one paid visit to a cultural attraction, and a small entertainment fund.

38. The second cheapest U.S. city for backpacking is Miami Beach ($97.9 per day).

And surprisingly, LA is the fourth cheapest city for backpacking in the US . There are quite a lot of things to do in Los Angeles that are free or affordable.

US travel & tourism activities

39. the most popular cultural activity for travellers in the u.s is visiting history or art museums (65% of respondents)..

[CondorFerries]

40. For overseas visitors to the U.S., shopping is the most popular activity (54%), followed by visiting historical or cultural sights (49%) and dining in restaurants (49%).

Shopping is one of the things you must do when in Seattle , as it's full of independent shops and major department stores alike.

41. 33% of visitors will usually book a beauty and spa session during their stay in the U.S.

42. 15% of people who visit the united states will stay at a mindfulness or meditation retreat., 43. in 2020, magic kingdom (walt disney world) had 7 million visitors, making it the world’s most visited amusement park. .

It received 20.96 million visitors in 2019, much higher consider the pre-pandemic circumstances. This was also the highest number of visitors compared to other amusement parks worldwide.

44. Disney’s Animal Kindgom recorded 4.17 million visitors in 2020. It’s the fifth most visited amusement park in the world.

45. the most visited waterpark worldwide is the typhoon lagoon at disney world, in orlando, fl. it welcomed 2.25 visitors in 2019., 46. as of march 2020, 51% of travellers in the u.s. believed there were not enough sustainable travel options available., sports impact on us travel industry, 47. the total size of the north american sports market (united states, canada and mexico) was $71.1 billion in 2018., 48. in 2018, over 150 million people attended professional events for the five major sports leagues..

The five major sports leagues include MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLS.

49. With 190 million domestic trips, sports travel constituted 8% of the domestic travel market in 2018.

50. travellers attending or participating in a sports event spent an aggregate of $41 billion..

51. In 2019, 37% of international travellers in the U.S. said they were interested in an NBA, NFL or MLB experience. 

This was an increase from 24% in 2018, which indicates a growing demand from international travellers to attend American sporting events.

US hotels statistics

52. in 2021, the u.s. hotel and motel market size was valued at $171.1 billion..

This has increased from the total of $127 billion in 2020 , and is expected to rise to $258.13 billion in 2022.

53. The U.S. hotel occupancy rate in 2021 is 57.6%, an increase from just 44% in 2020.

54. There were 33.9 million adults using Airbnb in the United States in 2017. This is expected to reach 45.6 million in 2022.

In 2017, 33.9 million adults used Airbnb in the United States. 

55. As of January 2022, an average hotel room in Miami cost $304, the highest out of all other American cities.

The average rate for a hotel room in New York was $235, which is the second most expensive in the country.

56. The revenue per available room (RevPAR) of the American hotel industry was $72 in 2021, compared to $45.48 in 2020.

The revenue per available room is calculated from the average daily rate (ADR) and the occupancy rate.

57. The leading hotel company in the Americas is Wyndham Hotel Group, with approximately 7,000 properties there. 

The second and third place fall to Choice Hotels International and Marriott International respectively.

58. In terms of number of guestrooms, Marriott International takes the title with 985,756 guestrooms in the Americas alone.

This is followed by Hilton Worldwide with a total of 757,431 rooms.

59. 3 in 4 hotels in the US allow pets.

Approximately 75% of all hotels in the United States allow pets , which is a huge encouragement for people who want to travel with their pets.

US tourism booking

60. 48% of all experience bookings are made after travellers arrive at their destination..

[TrekkSoft]

61. In 2019, “near me” searches on Google Maps grew 150% from the previous year.

62. 51% of us travellers spend less than a week researching once they decide to go on a trip..

[Facebook IQ]

Just over half of travellers from the U.S. spend less than one week to research and plan their trip .

63. The most bookings are made at 10am CET, while 6am CET is the time of the day with the least amount of bookings made.

The highest number of online bookings for US travellers are made at 10am CET.

Why Americans travel

64. 55% of gen z travel to expand their knowledge and experience, while 40% travel to avoid stress and relax., 65. 37% of millennial and gen z travellers are most willing to splurge on food and drink experiences..

Taking food tours is one of the best things to do in Portland , as it's a true haven for foodies.

In fact, 37% of millennial and Gen Z who travels are willing to spend more on culinary experiences.

66. They are least willing to splurge on accommodation and airfare upgrades.

67. 66% of solo travellers travel alone because they want to see the world without having to wait for others..

[SoloTravelerWorld]

In the US, 66% of solo travellers say that they like to travel alone because of the ability to explore without waiting for other people.

68. 48% of solo travellers like the feeling of freedom and independence.

69. other popular reasons for solo travelling include wanting to meet new people, for personal growth, and having different interests than their friends., 70. in 2019, u.s. travellers took 464 million domestic business trips., 71. 28% of family travellers travel for play vacation, while 27% are for a relaxing trip. 13% say that their trips are a holiday to visit family or friends, and 11% are for a sightseeing vacation..

[ShortTermRentalz]

Family vacation is one of the major reasons for travelling in the U.S. In fact, 28% of family travellers travel for play vacation.

Covid-19 pandemic impact on US travel & tourism

72. from february to april 2020, 8.2 million jobs were lost in the leisure and hospitality industry..

This accounted for 37% of the total decrease in nonfarm employment during this period.

73. A third of the 9 million direct travel jobs were lost when the pandemic hit in 2020.

74. In 2021, 2.3 million jobs generated by travel were still lost, which means it was back to only 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

75. international arrivals rose back up in 2021, rising to 22.1 million from just 19.2 million in 2020..

This was a huge effect of the global vaccination programs and lifting of international and domestic travel restrictions.

76. In 2020, the number of outbound tourists from the United States fell to 33.5 million, only one third of the 2019 figure.

77. in 2021, that figure rose to 49.1 million., 78. travel exports decreased dramatically by almost 65% from 2019 to 2020., 79. in terms of how many personal trips baby boomers are planning to take within the next year, 34% answer 4 or more..

34% of baby boomers in America wanted to take 4 or more personal domestic trips in the next year.

As a global finance and culture center, it’s only natural that tourism in the United States will continue to grow, especially as we transition into a post-pandemic era.

Hopefully, this post has been comprehensive enough to help you understand more about travel and tourism in the U.S.A.

Did we miss any interesting aspect?

Drop us a comment below!

And check out these other insightful statistics…

• Airbnb Statistics
• Booking.com Statistics
• Female Travel Statistics
• U.S. Commerce
• U.S. Travel
• Facebook IQ
• ShortTermRentalz
• SoloTravelerWorld
• TourismAnalytics
• CondorFerries

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100 US tourism statistics (2024 update)

The big picture: us travel spending in figures.

• Travel spending in the US stood at $1.2 trillion in 2022, matching pre-pandemic levels
• The economic footprint produced by this was $2.6 million
• In 2019, the total direct domestic and international traveler spending was $1.1 trillion.
• In 2022, travel accounted for 1.2 trillion in spending nationwide
• In 2022, the average price for a round-trip domestic flight was $378
• On arrival, the daily average cost for travel in most major US cities was $354.55 including a hotel, car rental and meals

Incoming! Inbound travelers on the rise

• 2018 saw the highest number of international inbound travelers to the US of the decade: nearly 80 million people came to the US from overseas.
• In 2021, international arrivals to the United States totaled 22.1 million. This was a 15% increase from 2020 (19.2 million).
• In 2019, the average overseas traveler spent $3700 during their visit to the US
• Each overseas traveler stayed an average of 17 nights
• However, international arrivals in the US declined to 29 million in 2021, representing a 36% decrease from 2019
• Williamsburg is the cheapest US city to travel to, with an average daily cost of $89. Rapid City in South Dakota follows, with Dallas coming in third with a daily cost of $102.
• The 2022 National Travel and Tourism strategy aims to welcome 90 million international visitors annually by 2027.
• New York City is the preferred destination for international arrivals, welcoming 5.42 million in 2020. Even in such a fraught year, NYC continued to appeal to inbound tourism. That year, Miami came second, with 3.43 million international arrivals, and Los Angeles welcomed 3.38 million.
• The United Kingdom is the leading overseas inbound tourism generator. In 2019, around 4.8 million UK citizens traveled to the US.
• Cultural activities tend to be a priority for both inbound and outbound travelers. 65% of respondents wish to visit history museums and art galleries, while 59% prefer aquariums and 56% prefer science museums.
• Backpacking is a popular activity, but not all US cities are very affordable. New Orleans is one of the most backpacking-friendly, with an average daily price of $94.7. It is followed by Miami Beach at $97.9 and Washington Beach at $106.6.

Domestic tourism: travel within the US

• Nearly five in 10 Americans (48%) opt for domestic tourism because of high inflation and rising prices
• In 2022, domestic leisure travel generated $837 billion, while domestic corporate travel stood at $234 billion.
• 80% of trips in the US are leisure trips.
• Normally, a domestic vacation trip lasts 3-4 days. Only 5% of domestic travelers travel for over two weeks at a time.
• The top destinations for domestic tourists are Miami, Las Vegas, and New York City.
• Trips are generally booked 1-3 months in advance, with Gen Z getting much of their travel inspiration from social media.
• The most popular airlines in the United States are Delta, Southwest, and United. In 2023, domestic airlines in the US are seeing revenue increased by 2.4% from 2022.

Heading off! And that’s on outbound travel

• The number of outbound tourists is increasing. In 2019, 99.74 million US residents traveled outside the country. During 2020, this number fell sharply to 33.5 million.
• However, by the end of 2021, outbound tourism showed some recovery, with 49.1 million people traveling outside the borders once more.
• Before the pandemic hit, the number of outbound tourists had stayed below 55 million since 2002.
• The USA is the largest inbound travel market for Canada, with 15 million total tourist arrivals in 2019. US residents took over 1.2 million trips to Canada in December 2022, more than double the number of trips taken in December 2021. (Stat Can)
• By the end of 2022, almost 14 million people traveled to Europe. This was by far the top destination for outbound US tourism travel outside the Americas. This was a significant increase from 2021, when just over 4 million people traveled to Europe due to the coronavirus restrictions.
• Mexico is also a highly popular destination for US tourists. In 2019, around 8 million traveled to Mexico via air travel, while over 23 million traveled through different means of transport.
• In 2022, over 3 million US residents traveled to the Central America region, to countries including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Belize.
• Africa has consistently been the least chosen option for travel outside the US, with just over 500,000 US tourists traveling to Africa in 2022.
• July is the month that consistently sees the most outbound travel. In July 2022, around 9 million US residents traveled outside the country.

The rocketing popularity of hiking tourism

• In the US, hiking is the 4th most popular outdoor activity. Running is number one followed by fishing and biking.
• The National Scenic and Historic Trails are maintained and managed by over 1 million volunteers.
• Close to 59 million people in the US participated in hiking activities at least once in 2021. This was the highest figure recorded in North America since 2010 and represents a growth of 80.4%.
• 45% of hikers are female, and 55% are male.
• The US National Trails System consists of around 193,000 hiking miles on federal land.
• The most dangerous hike in the US is Mount Rainier. This is due to quickly changing weather, falling rocks, avalanches, and an unpredictable volcano.
• An estimated 881,000 US residents began hiking in 2022 alone.
• There are plenty of hiking trails to choose from in the US, with Yosemite National Park in California and the Tongass National Forest in Alaska two of the most popular destinations.

Medical tourism: rising on a global scale

• In 2020, China was the leading country of origin for medical travelers in the US (15%)
• About 0.5% of all air travelers entering the United States annually—between 100,000 and 200,000 people—list health treatment as a reason for visiting.
• The most common procedures that people undergo on medical tourism trips include dental care, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, organ and tissue transplantation, and cancer treatment.
• China was the largest source market for medical tourism in the US in 2020, representing 15.1% of total expenditure.
• Medical tourists make up between 0.2% and 0.6% of all outbound US air travelers annually.
• US outbound medical tourists are thought to make up about 10% of the worldwide total.
• South America represents the largest destination market for such travelers (26% of the total), followed by Central America (18%) and the Caribbean (19%).

Sports tourism: from basketball to baseball

• In 2018, sports travel made up 8% of the total domestic travel market, resulting in 190 million domestic trips to attend or participate in a sporting event.
• In 2019, there were 179 million sports travelers across the US. After a dip during the pandemic, the sector bounced back with 175 million travelers by the end of 2021.
• On average, sports travelers spend 3.9 nights in a destination.
• The average party size for sports travelers was 3.2 people – slightly larger than for leisure travelers overall.
• Nearly half (47%) of sports travelers bring children on their trips.
• 10% of sports travelers are first-time visitors.
• 25% of sports travelers included a flight on their travels – slightly higher than leisure travelers overall.
• Travelers attending or participating in a sporting event spent over $41 billion in 2018.
• Sports travel spending reached almost $40 billion in 2021 as the sports travel industry recovered. Of this figure, $9.7 billion went into transport (including airfare, car rentals, public transport, parking, etc). Accommodation made up $8.4 billion, food and beverages $7.5 billion, $5 billion in retail.
• With direct, indirect, and induced jobs in mind, sports tourism across the United States supported 635,061 jobs in 2021. Of those, 357,017 were direct jobs.
• In 2018, 24% of international travelers showed interest in participating in sports tourism while in the US. In 2019, that figure rose to 37%. Over 50% of South Korean international travelers to the US wished to attend a professional sports event. Sports events in the NBA, NFL, or MLB were the most cited.

Business tourism: in-person meetings are still around

• In 2019, 5.4 million business travelers arrived in the United States from overseas.
• Air travel accounts for 16% of all business trips in the US.
• An estimated 1.3 million business trips are taken in the US every day.
• US businesses spend $31.6 billion on international travel every year.
• In 2020, the number of domestic business trips in the United States dropped by more than 60% over the previous year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
• In the US, nearly $328 billion was spent on international and domestic business trips in 2018.
• In the US, around 81% of all business trips are taken by car, while 16% are taken by plane.
• While business travelers account for only 12% of flight tickets, they generate roughly twice as much money per person for airlines as non-business customers.
• Business tourism spending in the US currently stands at an impressive $121.9 billion annually.
• The US is full of booming business hubs, but major cities New York and Chicago come in at the top of the list.
• New York City is the most expensive city for business travel, with daily costs adding up to ($799), followed by Geneva, ($716 per day), Zurich ($661 per day), Washington DC ($621 per day), and Paris ($617 per day).
• 26% of all business trips are one day long, according to international travel statistics.
• Nearly 40% of millennials travel for business.
• Travelers aged 18 to 29 take 16% of all business trips.
• For every trip, US businesses spend nearly $950 per traveler who travels inside the US, while the average cost for an international business trip is $2,600 per person.

Music tourism: as vibrant as ever

• In 2022, the music tourism market value stood at $5.5 billion.
• A third of US millennials say music is the main factor when choosing a destination, which is higher than the global average.
• 40% want to attend music festivals abroad, and one in four Americans would travel to a different country to watch their favorite artist perform.
• Number of tourists visiting the US for music-related events, concerts, or festivals.
• Austin, Texas, is the most popular destination for music lovers. Home to some of the most famous music festivals in the US, Austin is known as the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’.
• New Orleans is the chosen destination for jazz lovers, while New York offers everything from hip-hop to musical theater to soul.
• In New York City, the average music tourist spends around $400-500.

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By Bastian Herre, Veronika Samborska and Max Roser

Tourism has massively increased in recent decades. Aviation has opened up travel from domestic to international. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international visits had more than doubled since 2000.

Tourism can be important for both the travelers and the people in the countries they visit.

For visitors, traveling can increase their understanding of and appreciation for people in other countries and their cultures.

And in many countries, many people rely on tourism for their income. In some, it is one of the largest industries.

But tourism also has externalities: it contributes to global carbon emissions and can encroach on local environments and cultures.

On this page, you can find data and visualizations on the history and current state of tourism across the world.

Interactive Charts on Tourism

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United States Tourist Arrivals

Tourist arrivals in the united states decreased to 5279813 in november from 5966539 in october of 2023. tourist arrivals in the united states averaged 4499239.24 from 1996 until 2023, reaching an all time high of 8418370.00 in august of 2014 and a record low of 248486.00 in april of 2020. source: office of travel and tourism industries, tourist arrivals in the united states is expected to be 5700000.00 by the end of this quarter, according to trading economics global macro models and analysts expectations. in the long-term, the united states tourist arrivals is projected to trend around 5580000.00 in 2025, according to our econometric models.,   markets,   gdp,   labour,   prices,   money,   trade,   government,   business,   consumer,   housing,   taxes,   energy,   health,   climate.

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US tourism top states stats round-up post

The most notable trend is travelers’ desire to spend more time outdoors. They’re helping revive the tourism industry in states like Utah and Arizona, where state and national parks are plentiful. Meanwhile, Florida’s booming theme park industry and accessible beaches are driving an exceptional recovery for the state.

This is good news for tour and attraction operators. The uptick in visitors to your state will translate to more bookings and revenue for your travel business.

If you’re not sure how your state is faring, here are all the U.S. tourism statistics by state that you need to know.

What US states spend the most on tourism? 

Historically, Hawaii, Florida, and California were the top three states that spent the most on tourism. Texas, Michigan, and New York were also among the top spenders.

Over the past five years, state tourism funding has increased by 20% across the board. States spend, on average, $22 million on tourism initiatives to attract tourists and generate visitor spending.

Most states took a major step back in tourism spending during the pandemic, but now, they’re jumping back into the marketing game.   Twenty-nine states ramped up their tourism budgets during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, including Colorado, Florida, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

Hawaii and Florida were among the top spenders: In 2022, Hawaii secured a $60 million tourism budget, while Florida had over $80 million to work with, including $30 million in federal stimulus money. 

How much of Florida’s economy is tourism-driven?

Nationwide, travel and tourism are major drivers of economic activity. The tourism industry is responsible for 2.9% of the U.S. GDP.

That number is even higher in Florida, where tourism represents 10% of the state’s overall GDP. The industry supports nearly 13% of the state’s jobs.

In 2019, Florida welcomed 131 million out-of-state visitors, 10% of which were international. In total, visitors spent $98.8 billion and helped generate $27.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.

The total economic impact amounted to $96.5 billion in 2019.

How much of Hawaii’s economy is tourism-driven? 

Hawaii is also heavily reliant on tourism. The travel industry represents about a quarter of the state’s economy.

Over 10 million tourists traveled to Hawaii in 2019, which is over seven times the state’s population. Visitors spent $17.8 billion and contributed over $2 billion in tax revenue.

What are the top 20 US states with the most tourists?  

New York, California, and Ohio are among the most popular states in the U.S. In 2021, many states experienced a strong rebound in visitors as domestic travelers started to venture out of their home states.

These were the top-visited states in 2021; numbers are shown for the year 2021 unless otherwise noted.

• 265.5 million visitors (2019)
• $73.6 billion in visitor spending (2019)
• $117.6 billion in economic impact (2019)
• 219 million visitors
• $47 billion in visitor spending
• 213.5 million visitors
• $100 billion in visitor spending
• 211 million visitors (2019)
• $46 billion in visitor spending (2019)
• $4.8 billion in state and local taxes (2019)
• 159.6 million visitors
• $34.4 billion in visitor spending
• $4.2 billion in state and local tax revenues
• 126 million visitors (2019)
• $24.2 billion in domestic and international travel spending in 2021
• $1.9 billion in state and local tax revenue
• 122 million visitors
• $96.5 billion in revenue (2019)
• $27.6 billion in taxes (2019)
• 110 million visitors
• $43 billion in visitor spending (2019)
• $2.5 billion in state tax revenue (2019)
• 102 million visitors
• 20.9 billion in total economic impact
• $1.4 billion in state and local taxes
• 96.6 million visitors
• $37.3 billion in visitor spending
• $4.6 billion in state and local taxes
• 84.2 million visitors
• $21.9 billion in visitor spending
• $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue
• 72.5 million visitors (2018)
• $83 billion in visitor spending (2019)
• $7.8 billion in state and local taxes (2019)
• 56 million visitors
• $60.6 billion contribution to the economy just in Southern Nevada
• Over $36 billion in visitor spending in Southern Nevada
• 49.3 million total visitor volume
• 13.6 billion in visitor spending
• $1.7 billion in state and local taxes
• 44 million visitors (2019)
• $25.2 billion in visitor spending
• $1.8 billion in state and local taxes
• 45 million visitors
• $28.9 billion in visitor spending 
• $2.3 billion in state and local taxes
• 41 million visitors
• $1.1 billion in local, state, and federal taxes
• 40.9 million visitors
• $23.6 billion in visitor spending
• $3.4 billion in tax revenue
• 28.2 million visitors
• Nearly $20 billion in visitor spending
• $1.1 billion in state and local taxes
• 21 million visitors (2019)
• 15.8 million people visited Utah’s parks in 2021
• $1.6 billion in visitor spending at Utah’s parks

Top 10 fastest-growing US states for tourism 

Theme parks, casinos, and parks are fueling a strong tourism rebound in these 10 states.

The state is quickly catching up to pre-pandemic visitation numbers and even setting new records. In 2021, Florida welcomed nearly 118 million domestic visitors, the highest level in state history. This was great news for the hotel industry, which is already generating revenue at pre-pandemic levels. The state’s total hotel revenue hit a record in 2021 at $17.3 billion, a 2% increase from 2019.

2. Tennessee

Tennessee’s tourism industry is already setting post-pandemic records. In 2021, visitors spent a record $24 billion traveling through the state. That breaks down to $66 million daily, a 44% increase from the year prior.

3. Virginia

The shift toward outdoor and adventure travel has increased park attendance across the U.S. In Virginia, nearly 8 million people visited the region’s 41 state parks in 2021, a 15% increase from 2019.

4. Arkansas

Similarly, the tourism growth seen in Arkansas is driven by its parks. The state welcomed just over 41 million visitors in 2021, surpassing the 36.3 million that came in 2019. Hot Springs National Park had over 2 million recreational visits in 2021, topping the previous visitation record set in 1970. 

Utah’s strong rebound can be attributed to the popularity of the “Might Five,” which is the nickname given to Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Parks. The five parks welcomed 11.2 million recreation visits in 2021, and all but Bryce Canyon National Park had a record-breaking year. 

Wyoming had a big tourism year in 2021. Visitors spent $4 billion, which helped generate $243 million in tax revenue — a 50% increase from 2020. Yellowstone National Park welcomed a record number of visitors (nearly 5 million).

Tourism in Maine has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, tourism was up 25% in the first five months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, visitor spending was up 18% in May of this year over May 2019. In 2021, over 15.6 million visitors flocked to the state, an increase of 29% from 2020.

Montana’s state parks welcomed a record-setting number of visitors in 2020. That trend continued into the following year when visitors spent $5.15 billion while traveling through the state, a billion dollars more than they spent in 2019.

In 2021, Arizona outpaced the national rate in terms of visitor spending and overnight stays. The state recovered 87% of its overnight visitation and 92% of its visitor spending rate from pre-pandemic times. Overnight visitors spent $23.6 billion across the state in 2021.

Las Vegas is fueling a strong tourism rebound in Nevada. This past February was the best in history for Vegas, with $1.1 billion of casino winnings recorded. Meanwhile, monthly passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport more than doubled in February compared to a year ago.

What are the top 10 least-visited states in the US? 

Alaska,  Nebraska, and Vermont are among the least visited states in the U.S.

Yet even these states are growing in popularity as domestic travel returns in full force. Visitors flocked to the Alaskan outdoors this summer, boosting demand for hotels and car rentals. Meanwhile, Nebraska’s lodging tax revenue hit an all-time record this year. And as autumn rolls around, Vermont is gearing up to welcome hordes of leaf-peeping tourists .

These are the top 10 least visited states in the U.S. — at least for now:

• Alaska: 2.26 million  
• West Virginia: 3.96 million
• Nebraska: 6.5 million
• Wyoming: 8.1 million (Despite being one of the least visited states, record visitation at Yellowstone National Park in 2021 have propelled Wyoming’s tourism industry forward.)
• Delaware: 9.2 million
• Montana: 12.5 million (Montana’s state parks welcomed a record number of visitors in 2020, putting the state’s natural beauty on the map.)
• New Hampshire: 12.8 million
• Vermont: 13 million
• South Dakota: 14.5 million
• Maine: 15.6 million (Despite being one of the least-visited states, tourism was up 25% in the first five months of this year compared to the same period in 2019.)

Whether you run a business in one of the most- or least-visited states in the country, your busy season is about to get a whole lot busier. As tourism continues to rebound in 2022, is your travel company ready to welcome the influx of visitors?

Writer Carla Vianna

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Visitor Visa

Visa Waiver Program

Travel Without a Visa

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2).

Here are some examples of activities permitted with a visitor visa:

Business (B-1)

• Consult with business associates
• Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• Settle an estate
• Negotiate a contract

Tourism (B-2)

• Vacation (holiday)
• Visit with friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Travel Purposes Not Permitted On Visitor Visas

These are some examples of activities that require different categories of visas and cannot be done while on a visitor visa:

• Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
• Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
• Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media
• Permanent residence in the United States

Visitor visas will also not be issued for birth tourism (travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for their child).

How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate website .

Complete the Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160 . You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements .

Schedule an Interview

Interviews are generally required for visa applicants with certain limited exceptions below. Consular officers may require an interview of any visa applicant.

You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live. 

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply: 

Appointment Wait Time

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

Prepare for your interview.

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee , if you are required to pay it before your interview. If your visa is approved, you may also need to pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:

Select your nationality to see Issuance Fee

• Review the instructions available on the website of the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements ). Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements .

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

• The purpose of your trip,
• Your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or
• Your ability to pay all costs of the trip.   

Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.

Note:  Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa.

Attend Your Visa Interview

A consular officer will interview you to determine whether you are qualified to receive a visitor visa. You must establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive a visa.   Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken as part of the application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further  administrative processing .  The consular officer will inform you if this required.

After the visa is approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality), and make arrangements for the return of the passport and visa to you.  Review the  visa processing times  to learn more.

Entering the United States

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. If you are allowed to enter the United States, the CBP official will provide an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Learn more about admissions and entry requirements, restrictions about bringing food, agricultural products, and other restricted/prohibited goods, and more by reviewing the CBP website .

Extending Your Stay

See  Extend Your Stay  on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to learn about requesting to extend your stay beyond the date indicated on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94. 

Failure to depart the United States on time will result in being  out of status . Under U.S. law, visas of individuals who are out of status are automatically voided ( Section 222(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ).  Any multiple entry visa that was voided due to being out of status will not be valid for future entries into the United States. 

Failure to depart the United States on time may also result in you being ineligible for visas in the future. Review  Visa Denials  and  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws  to learn more.

Change of Status

If your plans change while in the United States (for example, you marry a U.S. citizen or receive an offer of employment), you may be able to request a change in your nonimmigrant status to another category through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). See  Change My Nonimmigrant Status  on the USCIS website to learn more.

While you are in the United States, receiving a change of status from USCIS does not require you to apply for a new visa.  However, once you depart the United States you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the appropriate category for your travel.

Additional Information

• An individual on a visitor visa (B1/B2) is not permitted to accept employment or work in the United States.
• There is no guarantee you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
• A valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States. 

Travel for Medical Treatment

If you are seeking medical treatment in the United States, the consular officer may ask for further documents at your visa interview, which may include:

• Medical diagnosis from a local physician, explaining the nature of the ailment and the reason you need treatment in the United States.
• Letter from a physician or medical facility in the United States, stating they are willing to treat your specific ailment and detailing the projected length and cost of treatment (including doctors’ fees, hospitalization fees, and all medical-related expenses).
• Proof that your transportation, medical, and living expenses in the United States will be paid. This may be in the form of bank or other statements of income/savings or certified copies of income tax returns (either yours or the person or organization paying for your treatment).

Visitor Visas for Personal or Domestic Employees (B-1)

You may apply for a B-1 visitor visa to work in the United States as a personal or domestic employee for your employer in limited situations. You may work in the United States on a visitor visa if your employer is:

• A U.S. citizen who has a permanent home or is stationed in a foreign country, but is visiting or is assigned to the United States temporarily; or
• A foreign citizen who is in the United States on one of the following nonimmigrant visa categories:  B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, or Q.

Learn more about your rights in the United States and protection available to you by reading the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet.

Visa Renewal

Whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your visa, you will use the same application process (please review How to Apply , above). Some applicants seeking to renew their visas in certain visa classes may be eligible for the Interview Waiver (IW) which allows qualified individuals to apply for visa renewals without being interviewed in person by a U.S. consular officer. Review the instructions on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply to determine if the IW is available and if you qualify.

Do I need a visa if I have an ABTC?

Yes, you will still need a visa to travel to the United States, unless you qualify for the  Visa Waiver Program . Having an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travelers Card (ABTC) does not change visa requirements, your visa status, or the visa process for travel to the United States.

How can I use my ABTC when I apply for my visa?

If you have an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travelers Card (ABTC),  you might be able to schedule an expedited visa interview appointment. Review the instructions for scheduling expedited appointments on the website of the  embassy or consulate  where you will apply. 

Visa Annotations for Certain Maritime Industry Workers

Certain foreign maritime workers are eligible to apply for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) once in the U.S. If you, as a maritime industry worker, will perform services in secure port areas, your visa must be annotated “TWIC Letter Received.” Workers whose visas are not annotated will not be permitted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to apply for a TWIC.

In order for your visa to be annotated, you must obtain a letter from your employer explaining the need for a TWIC and that you are a potential TWIC applicant. See a template example of this letter. You must present this letter when you apply for the B-1 visa. You must meet all other eligibility requirements for a B-1 visa. 

Complete information about the TWIC program is available on TSA’s website at  https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic .

Visa Denial and Ineligibility

Review  Visa Denials  for detailed information about visa ineligibilities, denials and waivers.

I was refused a visa, under Section 214(b). May I reapply?

Yes, if you feel circumstances have changed regarding your application. Review  Visa Denials  to learn more.

Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.

Review  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws .

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require visas to enter the United States, for visit, tourism and temporary business travel purposes. For more information see  U.S. Embassy Ottawa website ,  U.S. Consulate Hamilton website  and  CBP website .

Additional resources for Canadian visitors to the United States can be found on the U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites in Canada.

Citizens of China

In accordance with the agreement signed between the United States and China to extend visa validity, beginning on November 29, 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports will be required to update their biographical and other information from their visa application via a website every two years, or upon getting a new passport or B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, whichever occurs first.  This mechanism is called EVUS - Electronic Visa Update System.

The EVUS website is now open to the public for enrollments at www.EVUS.gov .  CBP will not collect a fee for EVUS enrollment at this time. CBP anticipates the eventual implementation of an EVUS enrollment fee, but does not have a time frame. Until the implementation of a fee, travelers can enroll in EVUS without charge.  The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will keep visa holders informed of new information throughout the year. For further information, please visit  www.cbp.gov/EVUS .‎

根据美中双方签署的延长签证有效期的协议，自2016年11月29日起，凡持有10 年 期B1，B2 或 B1/B2签证的中华人民共和国护照持有人需要每两年或在获取新护照或最长有效期的B1、B2或B1/B2签证时时（以先到者为准），通过网站更新他们签证申请上的个人资料及其它信息。这个机制我们称之为EVUS –签证更新电子系统。

EVUS的登记网站 www.EVUS.gov 现已开放接受登记。美国海关和边境保护局（CBP）目前不会收取登记费用。美国海关和边境保护局预期EVUS登记收费最终会实施，但目前尚未落实执行时间。在收费实施前，旅客可以免费完成EVUS登记。美国国土安全部海关和边境保护局将在今年及时向签证持有人公布最新的信息。获取更多的信息，请访问 www.cbp.gov/EVUS 。

Citizens of Mexico

Citizens and permanent residents of Mexico generally must have a nonimmigrant visa or Border Crossing Card (also known as a "Laser Visa"). For ease of travel, the B-1/B-2 and the Border Crossing Card have been combined into one document (DSP-150). Select  Border Crossing Card  to learn more about this card.

Please visit  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  websites for more information regarding applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in Mexico.

Further Questions

• Case-Specific Questions - Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your visa application for status information. Select  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  for contact information.
• General Questions - review  Contact Us .

Visa Waiver Program  (VWP)

Tourist or business travelers who are citizens of participating countries may be eligible to visit the United States without a visa. Visits must be 90 days or less, and travelers must meet all requirements.

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not need visas for tourism and visits.

More Information

A-Z Index Legal Rights & Protections Lost/Stolen Travel Documents Denials Fraud Warning Visa Expiration Date Automatic Revalidation Nonimmigrants in the United States–Applying for Visas in Canada or Mexico Visa Applicants - State Sponsors of Terrorism Border Security/Safety Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Customer Service Statement

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Tourism contribution to GDP in the U.S. 2019-2022

Total contribution of travel and tourism to the gross domestic product (gdp) in the united states in 2019 and 2022 (in trillion u.s. dollars).

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• Premium Statistic Tourism GDP in the Balearics 2016-2021
• Premium Statistic Tourism share of GDP in the Canary Islands 2010-2021
• Basic Statistic Total tourism contribution to GDP in Iceland 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Ireland 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in the UK 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022

About the region

• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the U.S. 2013-2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the U.S. 2013-2017, by travel type
• Basic Statistic Share of travel and tourism spending in the U.S. 2019-2022, by spending type
• Premium Statistic Forecast travel expenditures in the U.S. 2023-2026
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the U.S. 2013-2017, by visitor origin
• Premium Statistic Daily national park visitor spending in the U.S. 2010-2021, by category
• Premium Statistic Visitor travel spending in the U.S. in 2021, by country of origin
• Premium Statistic International overnight visitors to New York 2010-2018
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to employment in the U.S. 2013-2017, by type
• Premium Statistic Market share of outbound visits to the US from the GCC 2011-2021

Selected statistics

• Basic Statistic Revenue share from tourism in India 2013-2022, by segment
• Premium Statistic Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Leading countries in the MEA in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2018
• Premium Statistic Countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Change in number of visitors from Mexico to the U.S. 2018-2024
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
• Premium Statistic Annual revenue of China Tourism Group Duty Free 2013-2023
• Basic Statistic Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in India 2010-2021

Other regions

• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Ireland 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Germany 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Turkey 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Tourism GDP in the Canary Islands 2015-2021
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP Egypt 2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Italy 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic International transactions in Canada related to educational travel 2007-2022
• Basic Statistic Travel & tourism to GDP impact in South Korea 2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Malta 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2022, by tourist type

Related statistics

• Premium Statistic International transactions in Canada related to personal travel 2008-2022
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Canada 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditure in Canada 2000-2020
• Premium Statistic International transactions in Canada related to travel 2002-2022
• Premium Statistic Total tourism spend on travel agency services in Canada 2000-2019
• Premium Statistic Tourism expenditure in Canada 2000-2019, by commodity
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism expenditure in Canada 2000-2019, by commodity
• Premium Statistic Tourism expenditure in Canada 2000-2019
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Canada 2016-2017, by type
• Basic Statistic Contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Canada 2019-2022

Further related statistics

• Basic Statistic Contribution of China's travel and tourism industry to GDP 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic National park visitor spending in the U.S. 2012-2021, by trip type
• Premium Statistic Music tourist spending at concerts and festivals in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2016
• Basic Statistic Growth of inbound spending in the U.S. using foreign visa credit cards
• Premium Statistic Economic contribution of national park visitor spending in the U.S. 2012-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals APAC 2019, by country or region
• Premium Statistic Middle Eastern countries with the largest international tourism receipts 2018
• Premium Statistic Camping expenditures for food, beverages and entertainment in North America 2014
• Premium Statistic Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
• Basic Statistic Importance of BRICS countries to UK tourism businesses 2011

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

• Contribution of China's travel and tourism industry to GDP 2014-2023
• National park visitor spending in the U.S. 2012-2021, by trip type
• Music tourist spending at concerts and festivals in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2016
• Growth of inbound spending in the U.S. using foreign visa credit cards
• Economic contribution of national park visitor spending in the U.S. 2012-2021
• Number of international tourist arrivals APAC 2019, by country or region
• Middle Eastern countries with the largest international tourism receipts 2018
• Camping expenditures for food, beverages and entertainment in North America 2014
• Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
• Importance of BRICS countries to UK tourism businesses 2011

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1.5 billion more passengers flew last year than in 2022. These are the 10 busiest airports in the world.

• New data on the world's busiest airports in 2023 reveals the latest trends in global travel. 
• 8.5 billion passengers traveled by plane last year, almost marking a return to pre-pandemic levels.   
• Airports in Asia and the Middle East became busier, but the US has once again clinched the top spot. 

International travel is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, according to the just-released list of the world's busiest airports in 2023.

8.5 billion passengers traveled globally by plane last year — up from 7 billion passengers in 2022 .

The rise in air travel marks a recovery to 93.8% of levels in 2019 before the world shut down, according to preliminary data published by the Airports Council International (ACI), a trade association that includes 2,600 airports worldwide.

Increasing travel to airports in Asia and the Middle East was one of the key trends to emerge from the data, with Dubai International Airport jumping from the fifth to the second busiest airport in the world.

Airports in India, Japan, and Turkey also made it into the top 10 and were some of the biggest movers in terms of annual gains in passenger numbers.

As the world's largest domestic market for flights , US airports still make up five of the busiest airports in the world, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retaining its No. 1 position.

Despite tough global economic conditions, there was "a growing inclination towards travel," Luis Felipe de Oliveira, the ACI's world director general, said in a press release.

"Airports continue to demonstrate their resilience and adaptability amidst the challenges posed by the ever-evolving landscape of global travel," said Oliveira.

Here's a closer look at the top 10 busiest airports in the world.

10. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, India

Passengers: 72.2 million

2022 ranking: 9th

Delhi's main airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, saw a 21.4% increase in year-on-year traffic. While it has dropped a place this year, Delhi has grown significantly as a transport hub since 2019, when it sat at number 19 in the rankings.

9. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, USA

Passengers: 73.9 million

2022 ranking: 4th

Travel through Chicago O'Hare jumped by 8.1% throughout 2023. O'Hare is a hub airport for domestic travel, particularly for United and American Airlines flights. It is also a focus city for low-cost rivals Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines.

8. Los Angeles International Airport, USA

Passengers: 75.1 million

2022 ranking: 6th

Travel through LAX was up 13.8% in 2023, however, compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, passengers at the West Coast airport decreased by 14.8% — the largest decrease of any airport in the top ten rankings. LAX is a hub for a number of carriers, including Alaska Airlines, United, American, and Delta. But domestic travel at the airport shrunk dramatically as airlines cut the number of flights following a series of meltdowns in 2022.

7. Istanbul Airport, Turkey

Passengers: 76 million

2022 ranking: 7th

Passenger numbers at Turkey's Istanbul airport have increased by 18.3%, making it the only transit hub to keep level with its previous ranking in the top 10. Notably, traffic through the airport has jumped by 45.7% since 2019.

6. Denver International Airport, USA

Passengers: 77.8 million

2022 ranking: 3rd

Denver Airport has dropped down several places on the list but still shows strong signs of growth in terms of passengers. In the last year traffic through the Colorado airport was up 12.3%, and it has also grown 12.8% from pre-pandemic levels.

5. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan

Passengers: 78.7 million

2022 ranking: 16th

Japan's Tokyo Haneda Airport saw the largest increase in traffic by far, with passenger numbers surging by 55.1%. Some of that jump can be explained by a lag in tourism as Japan only reopened its borders in late 2022. Despite the jump, Tokyo Haneda is still 7.9% under its 2019 level of traffic. This January the airport made headlines after a fatal collision involving a Japan Airlines plane and a coastguard vehicle killed five people.

4. London Heathrow, UK

Passengers: 79.2 million

2022 ranking: 8th

Travel through the UK's largest airport shot up by 218% in 2022 and has once again made strong gains throughout 2023, jumping by a slightly more modest 28.5%. The airport has credited travel from the Asia-Pacific region as a major factor in its increased passenger numbers. It hopes to supersede its pre-pandemic level of traffic in 2024 and hit a record 81.4 million passengers, the airport said in a report published in December.

3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, USA

Passengers: 81.8 million

2022 ranking: 2nd

Dallas/Fort Worth airport , known as DFW, is American Airlines' busiest hub and the departure city for many of the airline's international flights. Last year traffic through the airport jumped by 11.4%.

2. Dubai International Airport, UAE

Passengers: 87 million

2022 ranking: 5th

Dubai took the number 2 ranking in the list for the first time, thanks to a significant 31.7% increase in passenger numbers. Dubai's new position reflects the heavy investment that has gone into the aviation industry and boosting tourism in the region.

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA

Passengers: 104.7 million

2022 ranking: 1st

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport comes in at No. 1 as the busiest airport in the world, a position it has held for more than two decades. In 2023, the Atlanta airport saw an 11.7% increase in passenger numbers.

Here's a look at what it takes to be an air traffic controller at the world's busiest airport.

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Parents of Michigan School Shooter Sentenced to 10 to 15 Years in Prison

Jennifer and James Crumbley, whose son killed four people, each faced up to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter convictions.

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By Jacey Fortin and Anna Betts

Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their teenage son from killing four fellow students in the deadliest school shooting in Michigan’s history, were each sentenced on Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Their separate jury trials ended in guilty verdicts in February and March , making them the first parents in the country to be convicted over the deaths caused by their child in a mass shooting.

Involuntary manslaughter charges carry a penalty in Michigan of up to 15 years in prison, and prosecutors asked in sentencing memos filed to the court last week that the Crumbleys each serve at least 10 years. Both have been in jail for more than two years while awaiting trial and will receive credit for time served.

“Parents are not expected to be psychic,” Judge Cheryl Matthews of the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich., said before issuing the sentence. “But these convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train — repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up.”

Before the hearing, prosecutors said that Ms. Crumbley, 46, was asking to be sentenced to house arrest on her defense lawyer’s property, rather than serving prison time. And Mr. Crumbley, 47, said that he had been wrongly convicted and his sentence should amount to the time he had already served in prison, adding that he felt “absolutely horrible” about what had happened.

On Tuesday, each of them spoke in the hearing before the judge pronounced sentence.

“I stand today not to ask for your forgiveness, as I know it may be beyond reach, but to express my sincerest apologies for the pain that has been caused,” Ms. Crumbley said in court, addressing the relatives of students who were killed.

Mr. Crumbley also apologized. “I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently,” he said.

Relatives of some of the victims also spoke during the hearing, describing the overwhelming effects the shooting had on their lives.

“The ripple effects of both James’s and Jennifer’s failures to act have devastated us all,” said Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, 17, who was killed in the shooting at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. “This tragedy was completely preventable. If only they had done something, your honor, anything, to shift the course events on Nov. 30, then our four angels would be here today.”

Steve St. Juliana, whose daughter, Hana, 14, was killed, said that the Crumbleys continued to fail to take responsibility for what had happened.

“They chose to stay quiet,” he said. “They chose to ignore the warning signs. And now, as we’ve heard through all of the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves.”

The Crumbleys’ son, Ethan, was 15 when he carried out the shooting that killed Justin and Hana, as well as Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Tate Myre, 16. Seven others were injured. Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder, and was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole . He is still eligible to appeal that decision. His parents may appeal, too.

In the trials of both parents, prosecutors focused in part on their failure to remove their son from school after he made a violent drawing on the morning of the shooting. It included a written plea for help.

They also emphasized Ethan’s access to a handgun that Mr. Crumbley had purchased. And they said that Ms. Crumbley had missed signs that her son was struggling with his mental health, adding that she took him to a gun range just days before the shooting.

Defense lawyers for both parents said they could not have foreseen the unspeakable violence their son would commit.

Ms. Crumbley grew up in Clarkston, a Detroit suburb about 20 minutes from Oxford, her lawyer said during a hearing after the couple’s arrest in 2021 . Before her arrest, she had worked as a marketing director, her lawyer said.

Mr. Crumbley’s job history included work at a handful of small software and technology companies.

The couple once lived in Florida but returned to Michigan several years ago, their lawyers said. They bought their home near downtown Oxford in 2015.

The trials of Jennifer and James Crumbley became a lightning rod for issues of parental responsibility at a time of high-profile gun violence by minors. In recent months, parents in other states have pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct or neglect after their children injured or killed others with guns.

But the manslaughter charges against the Crumbleys were unique, and legal experts said their trials could serve as a playbook for other prosecutors who seek to hold parents accountable in the future.

Ekow Yankah, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, said the effect of the ruling on Tuesday might be felt beyond the state.

“This is going to be precedent, most obviously in Michigan and its home jurisdiction, but prosecutors all over the country will see this as a new and viable form of liability,” Mr. Yankah said. “I think we should not underestimate the precedential power of this case, even as we recognize that the facts were quite extraordinary.”

For Matthew Schneider, a former United States attorney in Michigan, what makes this case so different from many others is that most criminal sentences are related to the actions of a defendant, rather than being “about inactions, and how the inactions of a person result in a criminal sentence.”

The sentencing is “very much about making an example of the defendants,” Mr. Schneider said. “This is a shot across the bow to all parents, to all people who have firearms in their house, to keep them locked up, if they could be in the hands of the wrong people.”

Jacey Fortin covers a wide range of subjects for the National desk of The Times, including extreme weather, court cases and state politics all across the country. More about Jacey Fortin

Anna Betts reports on national events, including politics, education, and natural or man-made disasters, among other things. More about Anna Betts

Georgia father sentenced to 50 years for poisoning his newborn's breastmilk with antifreeze

A Georgia father was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Thursday for using antifreeze mixed in breastmilk to poison his 18-day-old daughter four years ago.

Curtis Jack was arrested on Oct. 16, 2020, after his daughter became sick and tested positive for ethylene glycol — a chemical found in antifreeze.

Investigators said Jack had picked up bottles of breastmilk from the child’s mother two weeks earlier while she was hospitalized after giving birth to their child.

“After delivering the breastmilk to the child’s grandmother, who was also caring for the woman’s other daughter, the child became critically ill within 24 hours, suspected of being poisoned. Jack admitted to adding antifreeze to the breastmilk to South Fulton Police Department detectives,” police said in a statement on social media.

Police said Jack admitted he added antifreeze to his newborn daughter’s milk to avoid paying child support.

“During the trial, the State presented testimonies from the child’s mother, grandmother, law enforcement officers, and medical experts, including a demonstration of how easy it was to poison the breastmilk,” South Fulton police said.

Automotive antifreeze, even if ingested in small amounts, is extremely toxic according to poisonhelp.org . Symptoms can include drowsiness, vomiting, kidney damage and death.

The child’s mother declined to speak out following Jack’s sentencing but said the child is doing fine.

Noah Osborne is a news associate with NBC News Digital.