Tourism had a record-breaking 2025 everywhere but the U.S., report finds, as international visitor numbers plummet by the millions

Last year was a record-breaking one for international tourism, injecting trillions of dollars into the global economy and supporting millions of jobs. But while more people than ever took to weathered streets of European capitals or sun-soaked beaches on Pacific islands, the U.S. appears to have plummeted down travelers’ bucket lists.

Global travel last year added a record $11.6 trillion to the economy, according to a report released this week by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), an industry body. Tourism’s worldwide value accounted for almost 10% of global GDP, and represented one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

In the U.S., however, last year was a different story. North America ended the year as the slowest-growing region for tourism, with the industry’s economic value growing only 1% compared with 2024. That was almost entirely owing to plunging international visits to the U.S. While international travel rose by 80 million people in 2025, visitors to the U.S. fell 5.5%. The latest data point illustrated the country’s declining international appeal, regardless of how long people intend to stay. 

Bad press for the U.S.

The report isn’t the first to document........

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