Tourism impacts the U.S. economy across states and industries, linking trips to jobs, taxes, and major sectors like hospitality and transportation. In 2023, travel exports reached $235 billion, and travel and tourism contributed $2.3 trillion to GDP. We’ll break down where spending comes from—domestic vs. international—what that means for employment, and how growth projections are shaping the outlook.
Key Takeaways
- Travel and tourism contributed $2.3 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2023, or 2.9% of total GDP.
- Tourism supported 9.8 million American jobs in 2023.
- Travel exports from tourism reached $235 billion in 2023.
- Travel and tourism created 1.2 million new jobs in 2023.
- Leisure and hospitality sector employed 16.9 million in 2023.
- Hotels and accommodations supported 2.8 million jobs in 2023.
- International visitors spent an average of $4,000 per trip in the U.S. in 2023.
- Total U.S. travel spending reached $1.2 trillion in 2023.
- Domestic travelers spent $861 billion on trips in 2023.
- U.S. travel spending is projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2027.
- International arrivals expected to hit 90 million by 2028.
- Sustainable tourism practices adopted by 65% of U.S. destinations by 2024.
- In 2023, the United States welcomed 66.5 million international visitors, marking a 26% increase from 2022.
- Domestic leisure travel trips by U.S. residents reached 2.4 billion in 2023, up 5% from the previous year.
- New York City saw 62.1 million tourists in 2023, including 13.5 million international visitors.
In 2023, U.S. travel drove $2.3 trillion in GDP, supported 9.8 million jobs, and boosted tourism spending nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Contributions19 stats
01
Travel and tourism contributed $2.3 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2023, or 2.9% of total GDP.
02
Tourism supported 9.8 million American jobs in 2023.
03
Travel exports from tourism reached $235 billion in 2023.
04
State and local tax revenue from tourism was $190 billion in 2023.
05
Tourism's share of U.S. employment was 6.1% in 2023.
06
Direct GDP contribution from tourism was $1.1 trillion in 2023.
07
Induced economic impact of tourism spending was $800 billion in 2023.
08
Tourism generated $66 billion in federal taxes in 2023.
09
Leisure travel drove 70% of tourism GDP impact in 2023.
10
Business travel contributed $400 billion to GDP in 2023.
11
International tourism added $150 billion to trade surplus in 2023.
12
Rural tourism economies grew by 12% in GDP terms in 2023.
13
Theme parks contributed $50 billion to U.S. GDP in 2023.
14
Travel retail sales reached $200 billion in 2023.
15
Tourism investment in infrastructure hit $100 billion in 2023.
16
Total tourism GDP impact expected at $3 trillion by 2033.
17
Tourism labor income reached $300 billion in 2023.
18
Personal travel and tourism spending up 12.5% in Q4 2023.
19
Travel and tourism industry grew GDP by 5.7% in 2023.
02 · Category
Employment Impact20 stats
01
Travel and tourism created 1.2 million new jobs in 2023.
02
Leisure and hospitality sector employed 16.9 million in 2023.
03
Hotels and accommodations supported 2.8 million jobs in 2023.
04
Airlines employed 500,000 directly from tourism in 2023.
05
Food services jobs from tourism totaled 12 million in 2023.
06
Travel agencies and tour operators employed 150,000 in 2023.
07
Amusement and recreation jobs reached 1.5 million in 2023.
08
Car rental services supported 100,000 jobs in 2023.
09
Cruise industry employed 400,000 U.S. workers in 2023.
10
National parks tourism sustained 400,000 jobs in 2023.
11
Gaming industry jobs from tourists hit 700,000 in 2023.
12
Retail jobs supported by tourism were 2 million in 2023.
13
Arts, entertainment, and recreation employed 2.9 million in 2023.
14
Visitor centers and information services jobs totaled 50,000 in 2023.
15
Domestic tourism employment share was 80% of total sector jobs in 2023.
16
International tourism recovery boosted 1 million jobs by end of 2023.
17
Lodging sector jobs increased 4% to 3 million in 2023.
18
Arts and recreation jobs up 6% year-over-year in 2023.
19
Total tourism jobs projected at 11 million by 2033.
20
Food and drink services employed 15 million in hospitality in 2023.
Interpretation
Employment Impact Interpretation
In 2023, U.S. travel and tourism sustained a wide employment footprint, creating 1.2 million new jobs while supporting 16.9 million workers in leisure and hospitality, including 2.8 million in hotels and accommodations and 12 million in food services.
03 · Category
Spending Patterns23 stats
01
International visitors spent an average of $4,000per trip in the U.S. in 2023.
02
Total U.S. travel spending reached $1.2 trillion in 2023.
03
Domestic travelers spent $861 billion on trips in 2023.
04
International visitors' spending totaled $185 billion in 2023.
05
Hotel spending by tourists was $227 billion in 2023.
06
Airfare spending for domestic travel hit $140 billion in 2023.
07
Food and beverage spending by visitors reached $150 billion in 2023.
08
Retail shopping by international tourists amounted to $45 billion in 2023.
09
Gambling revenue from tourists was $60 billion in 2023.
10
Recreation and entertainment spending totaled $120 billion in 2023.
11
Car rental spending by travelers reached $35 billion in 2023.
12
Lodging expenditures grew 8% to $250 billion in 2023.
13
Average daily spending per international visitor was $281in 2023.
14
Domestic leisure spending per trip averaged $1,200in 2023.
15
Business travel spending recovered to $250 billion in 2023.
16
National parks generated $50 billion in visitor spending in 2023.
17
Cruise passenger spending onshore was $15 billion in 2023.
18
Florida tourism spending hit $110 billion in 2023.
19
New York State visitor spending totaled $140 billion in 2023.
20
Total visitor spending in California was $143 billion in 2023.
21
Nevada tourism spending hit $81 billion in 2023.
22
Average spending per domestic trip was $1,319in 2023.
23
International trip spending averaged $4,114per capita in 2023.
Interpretation
Spending Patterns Interpretation
In 2023, spending patterns in U.S. tourism were dominated by total travel spending of $1.2 trillion, with domestic travelers contributing $861 billion and international visitors averaging $4,000 per trip while spending $185 billion overall.
More related reading
04 · Category
Travel Trends20 stats
01
U.S. travel spending is projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2027.
02
International arrivals expected to hit 90 million by 2028.
03
Sustainable tourism practices adopted by 65% of U.S. destinations by 2024.
04
Domestic road trips increased 15% in popularity post-2023.
05
Bleisure travel (business + leisure) grew to 40% of trips by 2024.
06
Adventure tourism market to grow at 16% CAGR to 2030.
07
Solo female travel bookings up 25% in 2024 forecasts.
08
Digital nomad visas boosted long-stay tourism by 20% in 2024.
09
Eco-tourism spending projected to double to $200 billion by 2028.
10
Cruise tourism expected to reach 40 million passengers by 2028.
11
Wellness tourism market valued at $900 billion globally, U.S. 30% share in 2024.
12
Gen Z travelers prioritizing experiences over possessions, 70% in surveys.
13
AI-driven personalized travel recommendations used by 50% of bookings in 2025.
14
Rural and small-town tourism up 30% in visitation trends to 2025.
15
Event tourism (concerts, sports) to drive 25% of growth through 2030.
16
Domestic air travel projected to grow 4% annually to 2030.
17
Overtourism concerns in top 10 cities leading to 20% cap on visitors by 2026.
18
Mobile bookings to account for 70% of U.S. travel sales by 2027.
19
Cultural immersion trips up 35% among millennials in 2024 data.
20
Off-season travel promotions boosted shoulder season visits by 18% in 2023-2024.
Interpretation
Travel Trends Interpretation
Travel Trends in the U.S. are clearly accelerating as spending is projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2027 and international arrivals are expected to hit 90 million by 2028, with growing momentum from sustainable tourism adoption at 65% of destinations by 2024 and the rise of bleisure making up 40% of trips by 2024.
05 · Category
Visitor Arrivals26 stats
01
In 2023, the United States welcomed 66.5 million international visitors, marking a 26% increase from 2022.
02
Domestic leisure travel trips by U.S. residents reached 2.4 billion in 2023, up 5% from the previous year.
03
New York City saw 62.1 million tourists in 2023, including 13.5 million international visitors.
04
Florida welcomed 140.6 million visitors in 2023, a record high surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
05
California recorded 235 million total visitors in 2023, with 47 million from out-of-state.
06
In 2022, 51.1 million overseas visitors arrived in the U.S., recovering to 81% of 2019 levels.
07
Texas hosted 268 million domestic trips in 2023, generating significant local tourism activity.
08
Las Vegas welcomed 40.8 million visitors in 2023, up 6.5% from 2022.
09
Orlando saw 74 million visitors in 2023, driven by theme park attendance.
10
National parks received 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023, a 2% increase.
11
International air passengers to the U.S. totaled 108 million in 2023.
12
Hawaii attracted 9.6 million visitors in 2023, with 1.4 million international.
13
International visitors from Canada to the U.S. numbered 20.7 million in 2023.
14
Mexico sent 18.4 million visitors to the U.S. in 2023 via land and air.
15
Europe contributed 15.2 million overnight visitors to the U.S. in 2023.
16
Asia-Pacific visitors to the U.S. reached 6.8 million in 2023, up 125% from 2022.
17
U.S. cruise passengers totaled 17.6 million in 2023.
18
Chicago welcomed 54.3 million visitors in 2023.
19
Domestic business travel trips hit 463 million in 2023.
20
South Dakota's tourism visits reached 50 million in 2023.
21
In 2023, Canada accounted for 31% of all U.S. international visitors.
22
Mexico represented 28% of U.S. inbound international tourists in 2023.
23
UK visitors to U.S. totaled 4.6 million in 2023.
24
Germany sent 2.1 million tourists to the U.S. in 2023.
25
Japan recovered to 1.2 million visitors to U.S. in 2023.
26
China visitors reached 1.1 million in 2023, up from 2022 lows.
Interpretation
Visitor Arrivals Interpretation
Visitor arrivals surged in 2023, with the United States welcoming 66.5 million international visitors, up 26% from 2022 and signaling a strong post-pandemic rebound alongside record domestic travel and major destination gains.
report visual · Key figures
How tourism moves the U.S. economy (2023)
Tourism is a major economic engine—supporting millions of jobs and contributing large shares to GDP, with substantial tax receipts and tourism-related trade.
$1.1
Direct GDP contribution from tourism was $1.1 trillion in 2023.
9.8
Tourism supported 9.8 million American jobs in 2023.
2.9%
Travel and tourism contributed $2.3 trillion to U.S. GDP in 2023, or 2.9% of total GDP.
$66 billion
Tourism generated $66 billion in federal taxes in 2023.
$235 billion
Travel exports from tourism reached $235 billion in 2023.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). U.S. Tourism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-tourism-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "U.S. Tourism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/u-s-tourism-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "U.S. Tourism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-tourism-statistics.
Sources & references
67 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level