Fueled by a staggering 66.5 million international visitors in 2023 alone, American tourism isn't just back—it’s roaring louder than ever, transforming the landscape of domestic and global travel with historic numbers that tell a story of remarkable recovery and enduring appeal.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the United States welcomed 66.5 million international visitors, marking a 31% increase from 2022 levels according to the National Travel and Tourism Office
- Overseas visitors to the US numbered 50.2 million in 2023, up 41% year-over-year, per NTTO data
- Canada sent 21.4 million visitors to the US in 2023, accounting for 32% of all international arrivals, from Statistics Canada and NTTO
- In 2023, 41% of US domestic trips were taken by car, totaling 1.8 billion person-trips, per US Travel Association
- Domestic leisure travel reached 2.4 billion trips in 2023, up 12% from 2022, U.S. Travel
- Business domestic trips numbered 463 million in 2023, recovering to 88% of 2019, US Travel
- Tourism contributed $2.32 trillion to US GDP in 2023, or 9.1% of total, WTTC report
- Travel and tourism direct GDP impact was $1.1 trillion in 2023, BEA data
- Tax revenue from tourism totaled $239 billion in 2023 at federal, state, local levels, US Travel
- Tourism employed 2.1 million in accommodation services in 2023, BLS
- Food services and drinking places had 12.5 million tourism-related jobs in 2023, BLS QCEW
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation supported 2.8 million jobs tied to tourism in 2023, BLS
- New York City welcomed 62.4 million tourists in 2023, including 13.5 million international, NYC Tourism
- Florida received 140.6 million visitors in 2023, up 2.2% YoY, VISIT Florida
- California hosted 235 million domestic and international tourists in 2023, Visit California
U.S. tourism surged in 2023 with strong recovery in both international and domestic travel.
Domestic Travel Statistics
- In 2023, 41% of US domestic trips were taken by car, totaling 1.8 billion person-trips, per US Travel Association
- Domestic leisure travel reached 2.4 billion trips in 2023, up 12% from 2022, U.S. Travel
- Business domestic trips numbered 463 million in 2023, recovering to 88% of 2019, US Travel
- Road trips accounted for 78% of domestic vacation travel in 2023, per AAA Foundation
- Air travel for domestic purposes hit 851 million passengers in 2023, FAA data
- RV travel saw 11.2 million households participating in 2023, RVIA stats
- 62% of Americans took at least one domestic trip in 2023 lasting 50+ miles, U.S. Travel survey
- Domestic group travel grew 15% in 2023 to 180 million participants, Meeting Professionals International via US Travel
- Summer 2023 saw peak domestic travel with 700 million trips, up 9%, US Travel
- 35% of domestic trips in 2023 included visits to national parks, NPS and US Travel
- Domestic travel by millennials reached 850 million trips in 2023, 38% of total, U.S. Travel
- Gen Z domestic trips numbered 420 million in 2023, growing fastest at 18% YoY, US Travel
- Baby boomers took 680 million domestic trips in 2023, focused on leisure, U.S. Travel
- Domestic auto rental days totaled 450 million in 2023, up 20%, Auto Rental News via US Travel
- Train travel (Amtrak) carried 28.8 million passengers domestically in FY2023, Amtrak stats
- Cruise departures from US ports served 17.6 million passengers in 2023, CLIA data
- 47% of domestic travelers used hotels in 2023, averaging 4.2 nights per trip, STR via US Travel
- Vacation rentals hosted 140 million domestic nights in 2023, AirDNA report
- Camping trips domestically reached 58 million in 2023, KOA survey
- Domestic adventure travel grew 22% to 120 million participants in 2023, Adventure Travel Trade Assoc
- 29% of domestic trips involved shopping as primary activity in 2023, US Travel
- Beach vacations accounted for 24% of domestic leisure trips in 2023, 580 million trips, U.S. Travel
- City breaks domestically numbered 360 million in 2023, up 14%, US Travel
- Rural tourism trips reached 290 million in 2023, growing 16%, USDA via US Travel
- Average domestic trip spend was $1,200 per traveler in 2023, adjusted for inflation, US Travel
Domestic Travel Statistics Interpretation
Despite a resurgence in air travel and even the occasional train, the classic American road trip—responsible for nearly four out of five vacations and a staggering 1.8 billion person-trips—firmly cemented its status as the nation's true autobahn of adventure, proving that for everything from national park pilgrimages to millennial getaways, we remain a people perpetually in the driver's seat.
Economic Contributions
- Tourism contributed $2.32 trillion to US GDP in 2023, or 9.1% of total, WTTC report
- Travel and tourism direct GDP impact was $1.1 trillion in 2023, BEA data
- Tax revenue from tourism totaled $239 billion in 2023 at federal, state, local levels, US Travel
- International visitor spending reached $194.5 billion in 2023, up 57% from 2022, NTTO
- Domestic traveler spending was $1.15 trillion in 2023, US Travel Association
- Tourism exports (international spending) hit $205 billion in 2023, BEA
- Hotel industry revenue surpassed $250 billion in 2023, STR Global
- Food and beverage tourism sales were $380 billion in 2023, National Restaurant Assoc via US Travel
- Retail sales from tourists amounted to $290 billion in 2023, ShopperTrak and US Travel
- Gaming industry tourism revenue was $62 billion in 2023, American Gaming Assoc
- Air transportation contributed $170 billion to GDP from tourism in 2023, ATA
- Rental car sector generated $45 billion in revenue from travelers in 2023, Auto Rental News
- Cruise tourism added $50 billion to US economy in 2023, CLIA economic study
- National parks tourism generated $52 billion in economic output in 2023, NPS
- Sports tourism events contributed $48 billion in 2023, Sports Events & Tourism Assoc
- Medical tourism inbound spending was $5.8 billion in 2023, Medical Tourism Assoc
- Ecotourism sector output reached $120 billion in 2023, USGS and US Travel estimates
- Film-induced tourism added $10 billion in 2023, Oxford Economics study
- Wedding tourism spending totaled $70 billion in 2023, The Knot survey
- Conference and meetings industry generated $95 billion in 2023, PCMA via US Travel
- Music festival tourism contributed $15 billion in 2023, Pollstar data
- Tourism multiplier effect amplified direct spending by 1.8x in 2023, WTTC
- Travel and tourism supported 15.4 million jobs in 2023, 7.6% of total employment, WTTC
- Direct tourism employment was 9.8 million jobs in 2023, US Travel
- Leisure hospitality jobs from tourism hit 10.2 million in 2023, BLS data
- Tourism industry labor income totaled $900 billion in 2023, BEA TTSA
- Travel and tourism added 2.9% to US personal income growth in 2023, BEA
Economic Contributions Interpretation
Forget "I'm on vacation," because it's the entire US economy that's saying it, to the tune of over two trillion dollars, nearly ten percent of our GDP, and a thank-you note from over fifteen million employed Americans whose jobs are fueled by everything from national park visits to hotel stays and convention coffee runs.
Employment in Tourism
- Tourism employed 2.1 million in accommodation services in 2023, BLS
- Food services and drinking places had 12.5 million tourism-related jobs in 2023, BLS QCEW
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation supported 2.8 million jobs tied to tourism in 2023, BLS
- Air transportation employed 500,000 in tourism roles in 2023, ATA and BLS
- Traveler accommodation subsector had 1.9 million jobs in 2023, up 5% YoY, BLS
- Gaming industry tourism jobs numbered 750,000 in 2023, AGA
- National parks tourism supported 400,000 jobs in 2023, NPS economic report
- Cruise port operations employed 350,000 directly in 2023, CLIA
- Tour operators and guides had 250,000 jobs in 2023, BLS NAICS 561520
- Retail trade tourism jobs were 1.2 million in 2023, BLS
- Car rental and leasing employed 180,000 in tourism in 2023, BLS
- Travel agencies supported 110,000 jobs in 2023, BLS NAICS 561510
- Amusement parks and arcades had 300,000 seasonal tourism jobs in 2023, BLS
- Museums and historical sites employed 220,000 in tourism roles 2023, BLS
- Performing arts venues supported 150,000 jobs from tourists in 2023, BLS NAICS 711100
- Sports and recreation camps had 90,000 jobs in 2023, BLS
- Lodging services in rural areas employed 450,000 in tourism 2023, USDA BLS cross-data
- Convention centers and event spaces had 280,000 tourism jobs in 2023, TSNN
- Ski resorts employed 120,000 seasonally in tourism 2023, NSAA
- Beaches and coastal tourism supported 1.1 million jobs in 2023, NOAA
- Ecotourism guides and outfitters numbered 80,000 jobs in 2023, ATTA
Employment in Tourism Interpretation
If we took away the 25 million tourism-related jobs spread across every imaginable hospitality and service sector in the United States, from casinos to national parks, we’d be left with a lot of unemployed bartenders, pilots, and park rangers—and a nation suddenly remembering how hard it is to make its own fun.
International Visitor Statistics
- In 2023, the United States welcomed 66.5 million international visitors, marking a 31% increase from 2022 levels according to the National Travel and Tourism Office
- Overseas visitors to the US numbered 50.2 million in 2023, up 41% year-over-year, per NTTO data
- Canada sent 21.4 million visitors to the US in 2023, accounting for 32% of all international arrivals, from Statistics Canada and NTTO
- Mexico contributed 17.8 million visitors to the US in 2023, the second-largest source market, via US Customs and Border Protection stats
- The UK ranked third with 4.6 million visitors to the US in 2023, a 28% rise from 2022, according to NTTO
- In 2023, 11.2 million visitors from Europe arrived in the US, recovering to 86% of 2019 levels, per ITA reports
- Asia-Pacific visitors totaled 8.7 million in 2023, with Japan leading at 2.1 million, from NTTO monthly reports
- Business travel accounted for 22% of international visits to the US in 2023, or about 14.6 million trips, via I-94 data analysis
- Leisure travel made up 72% of the 66.5 million international visits in 2023, equating to 47.9 million trips, NTTO stats
- VFR (visiting friends and relatives) trips numbered 12.3 million internationally in 2023, 18.5% of total, per NTTO survey
- Air arrivals from abroad hit 51.8 million in 2023, 78% of pre-pandemic levels, US Dept of Commerce
- Land border crossings from Canada and Mexico totaled 47.1 million visits in 2023, CBP data
- Germany sent 2.3 million tourists to the US in 2023, up 35% from 2022, NTTO
- South Korea contributed 1.8 million visitors in 2023, recovering strongly post-COVID, per NTTO
- Australia visitors reached 1.1 million in 2023, 92% of 2019 figures, ITA stats
- Brazil sent 1.4 million visitors in 2023 despite economic challenges, NTTO data
- India’s visitors to the US grew to 1.2 million in 2023, a 50% increase YoY, per NTTO
- China visitors were 1.7 million in 2023, still at 40% of 2019 levels due to visa issues, NTTO
- France contributed 2.1 million tourists in 2023, up 29%, European Travel Commission via NTTO
- Italy visitors numbered 1.9 million in 2023, strong recovery in leisure travel, NTTO
- Netherlands sent 1.5 million visitors in 2023, per NTTO market profiles
- Spain’s outbound to US was 1.3 million in 2023, growing 25%, NTTO
- Average length of stay for international visitors was 17.2 days in 2023, NTTO survey
- 68% of international visitors in 2023 flew into gateway airports like NYC, MIA, LAX, per FAA and NTTO
- Repeat visitors comprised 54% of international arrivals in 2023, NTTO data
- First-time international visitors were 30.6 million in 2023, up from 22 million in 2022, NTTO
- In 2023, 24% of international visitors were under 35 years old, skewing younger post-pandemic, NTTO survey
- Families with children made up 19% of international visits in 2023, per NTTO
- Solo travelers accounted for 15% of international arrivals in 2023, NTTO
International Visitor Statistics Interpretation
America has rolled out the red carpet and the world is RSVPing with a record-breaking 66.5 million visits in 2023, where our neighbors Canada and Mexico lead the party, leisure travel claims the spotlight, and while some like China are still stuck in traffic, the global guest list is booming and skewing younger.
Top Destinations and Attractions
- New York City welcomed 62.4 million tourists in 2023, including 13.5 million international, NYC Tourism
- Florida received 140.6 million visitors in 2023, up 2.2% YoY, VISIT Florida
- California hosted 235 million domestic and international tourists in 2023, Visit California
- Las Vegas saw 40.8 million visitors in 2023, LVCVA
- Orlando attracted 74 million visitors in 2023, 75% for theme parks, Visit Orlando
- Grand Canyon National Park had 4.7 million visitors in 2023, NPS stats
- Great Smoky Mountains NP drew 12.5 million visitors in 2023, highest in US, NPS
- Yellowstone NP welcomed 4.5 million in 2023, NPS
- Disney World in Florida had 17.2 million gate admissions in FY2023, Themed Entertainment Assoc
- Universal Orlando Resort saw 9.8 million visitors in 2023, TEA/AECOM
- Niagara Falls (US side) attracted 8.9 million visitors in 2023, NY State Tourism
- Hawaii islands hosted 9.6 million visitors in 2023, HTA
- Miami welcomed 26.4 million overnight visitors in 2023, GMCVB
- San Francisco Bay Area had 24 million visitors in 2023, SFTVB
- Chicago drew 55 million visitors in 2023, Choose Chicago
- Boston attracted 20.5 million tourists in 2023, GBTA
- Washington DC hosted 22 million visitors in 2023, Destination DC
- Yellowstone had 1.2 million overnight stays in 2023, NPS lodging data
- Times Square NYC saw 50 million pedestrians daily average in 2023, TSQTB
- Golden Gate Bridge had 10 million vehicle crossings by tourists in 2023, GGB District
- Statue of Liberty drew 4.1 million visitors in 2023, NPS
- Las Vegas Strip hotels had 85% occupancy average in 2023, LVCVA
- South Beach Miami beaches saw 15 million visitors in 2023, GMCVB
- Mall of America attracted 40 million in 2023, MOA stats
- Alcatraz Island had 1.4 million visitors in 2023, NPS
- Mount Rushmore drew 2.1 million in 2023, NPS
- Everglades NP hosted 1.2 million visitors in 2023, NPS
- Zion NP saw 4.3 million visitors in 2023, record high, NPS
Top Destinations and Attractions Interpretation
America’s tourism story is a hilarious yet earnest competition where the rollercoasters of Orlando, the casinos of Vegas, and the canyons of Arizona all clamor for attention, but somehow everyone still ends up crammed together in Times Square.
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