Projected 6.3% Decline in US International Tourism by 2025
The United States is bracing for its first downturn in international inbound travel since 2020. The U.S. Travel Association projects a 6.3% decrease in international visitors for 2025. The latest forecast anticipates international visitation to plummet to 67.9 million visitors, roughly 85% of the pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
This significant downturn signals a stark departure from previous projections that expected growth in inbound tourism for 2025. The decline is largely attributed to a reduction in visits from Canada and weaker growth from other key international source markets.
The U.S. Travel Association released this updated forecast on October 2, 2025, shedding light on the challenges confronting America’s tourism industry.
2026: A Brighter Outlook
Despite the concerning 2025 outlook, the prospects for 2026 appear significantly brighter. The association underscores the importance of major upcoming events, particularly the 2026 FIFA World Cup that the United States will co-host with Mexico and Canada.
This event is expected to play a pivotal role in the recovery of inbound tourism, especially from soccer-enthusiastic nations. It could also help reestablish the U.S. as a premier global travel destination.
“The year 2025 is likely to be tough and challenging for inbound U.S. tourism. However, prospects in the following year are considerably better,” industry analysts note, highlighting the transformative potential of the World Cup and other major events on the 2026 calendar.
Source: Travel and Tour World