Restore International Inbound Travel

International Travel Is Essential to America's Economy

International travelers are essential to the U.S. economy—spending more, staying longer and supporting jobs and businesses in every corner of the country. In 2025, there were 68 million international visitors to the U.S., spending $176 billion and supporting nearly 1 million jobs. On average, overseas visitors spend $4,000 per trip—eight times more than domestic travelers.

While global travel demand continues to grow, the United States is losing ground. International visitation has not fully recovered from prepandemic levels, America’s share of global long-haul travel is shrinking and the country has shifted from a travel trade surplus to a deficit for the first time in decades. At the same time, policy barriers and declining perceptions of the U.S. are creating new headwinds.

Each 1% drop in international visitor spending translates to $1.8 billion in lost exports annually. In 2025, the travel trade deficit grew to $72 billion.

Barriers Are Holding Back Growth 

Several key barriers are hindering international travel to the U.S.: 

• Excessive visa wait times—nearly four months in top inbound markets
• Limited visa-free travel—only 43 countries qualify, compared to 102 for the U.K. 
• Outdated air traffic control and airport infrastructure 
• Staffing shortages—limited air routes, too few aviation workers and CBP officers 

These issues have real economic consequences: 

• Visa delays could cost the U.S. 39 million visitors and $150 billion in spending over the next decade
• A single lost international flight due to CBP staffing shortfalls equals $227 million in lost economic impact

A Bold Vision for the Future of International Travel 

In February 2025, U.S. Travel and the Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel released a bold roadmap to modernize the travel experience and strengthen America’s position as the world’s top destination. 

Why now: A mega-decade of events—including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics—could bring 40 million international visitors and generate $100 billion in economic impact. 

Go Deeper: Read the Commission's executive summary and full report.

With the right policies, strong leadership and investment, the U.S. can usher in a new Golden Age of Travel—and ensure we don’t leave opportunity on the table. 

Setting the Stage for IPW: Geoff Freeman on the State of U.S. Travel in 2026: Listen to View From Afar