With multiple tourism shakeups this year, the US has been rumored to be in the midst of a travel decline.
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That is, predictions have swirled this year about whether or not the US is actually seeing a decline in inbound tourists from other countries. Las Vegas, for example, allegedly ‘died’ earlier this year thanks to shrinking visitor numbers.
In late summer, I took a closer look at rumors that the US was in the throes of a travel slump.
At the time, some figures indicated that the US was, indeed, seeing a decline. The Economist and The Express saw lagging numbers in terms of leisure travel to the US and in terms of Canadian visitors. But other publications, like CNBC, found that business trips were actually up.
Now, based on reports from Tourism Economics, Tourism Economics, the US Travel Association, Reuters, we have a stronger picture to analyze—one that incorporates data from the entire year across a range of traveler demographics.
Here’s what they tell us about the state of inbound US travel.
Tourism Economics found a 9.4% decline in international arrivals
Tourism Economics is a company run by Oxford Economics. A recent report published by the group found that, overall, the US saw a 9.4% decline in international arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels. That accounts for both tourists, business travelers, and immigrants.
Oxford Economics, the group behind the report, indicates that tourism might be down for a few reasons, including the strong US dollar and hiked prices in the United States. Though Europeans, for example, have a stronger Euro, prices in the US are comparatively higher.
Additionally, hiked prices for inbound non-immigrant tourist visas (set at $250) could deter more tourists from planning to visit the United States in 2026. However, next year’s FIFA World Cup, which will largely be hosted in the United States, could boost incoming numbers for the year.
However, Canadians accounted for the largest decline in visitors in 2025. According to Statistics Canada, more Americans visited Canada than the other way around—which is the first time in twenty years that has occurred. According to AP News, the lack of Canadian visitors could cost American hospitality companies upward of $2 billion.
In short, it looks like there is a slump, but the reasons differ. For some, there are economic reasons to avoid the US. For others, like Canadians, there are more political and cultural motivations to avoid a trip to the United States.
