With warmer temperatures globally and many schools across North America and Europe observing summer vacation, summer is a peak season for travel around the world. Yet international summer travel plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel bans, distancing guidelines, and event cancellations. Fortunately, after several summers of reduced travel, international travel is expected to fully recover in 2024.
According to the World Economic Forum , international tourism reached 88% of 2019 levels globally in 2023, edging closer to pre-pandemic figures. While travel to several top international destinations—such as France, Spain, Greece, and the UAE—either fully or nearly recovered in 2023 compared to 2019 levels, travel to the U.S.
lags behind. According to the Department of Commerce’s Survey of International Air Travelers , an estimated 31 million visitors came to the U.S.
in 2023 from overseas regions, down from 40 million in 2019. This decline has resulted in a slight drop in the U.S.
share of the total global tourism market, from 5.4% to 5.3%.
Source: Luxury Link analysis of U.S. Department of Commerce data Experts attribute America’s slower recovery to several factors that complicate travel for international visitors, such as strict visa requirements and lengthy customs wait times.
These issues are significant because international tourism is a vital part of the U.S. economy, with foreign tourists spending billions each year to experience the country's cities, national parks, and historical landmarks.
In 2023, international tourism generated over $230 billion in exports (adjusted to 2024 dollars), accounting for approximately 22% of all U.S. services exports globally.
Source: Luxury Link analysis of U.S. Department of Commerce data Despite the slowdown in international tourist traffic, the U.
S. remains a popular destination for various reasons. While most international visitors come for vacations or holidays, other top reasons include visiting friends and relatives, business, attending conferences or conventions, and education.
Last year, over 21 million international travelers cited vacation as their primary reason for visiting the U.S., representing 67% of international visitors.
Visiting friends and relatives was the second most popular reason, attracting nearly 11.8 million visitors, or 37% of international tourists. Once in the U.
S., the most popular activity for international tourists is shopping, with nearly 25.8 million visitors (82%) engaging in it.
Sightseeing is a close second, with almost 24.3 million tourists (77.2%) participating.
Other popular activities include visiting national parks, art galleries and museums, small towns, historical locations, and theme parks. Source: Luxury Link analysis of U.S.
Department of Commerce data New York ranks first in international tourism, with over 9 million overseas travelers in 2023, drawn by its world-class shopping, iconic landmarks, and renowned museums. Florida follows closely, attracting 7.9 million visitors who come for its pristine beaches, vibrant theme parks, and diverse cultural offerings.
California, with 6.3 million international tourists, entices visitors with its mild climate, scenic coastlines, and a mix of urban and natural attractions, including nine national parks. While Nevada and Hawaii ranked fourth and sixth in total numbers, they boasted the highest visitor-to-resident ratios.
Nevada saw 676 international visitors per 1,000 residents, and Hawaii attracted an impressive 1,158 visitors per 1,000 residents. Nevada lures tourists with its famous entertainment hubs and vibrant nightlife, particularly in Las Vegas, whereas Hawaii draws visitors with its stunning beaches, unique cultural heritage, and breathtaking landscapes. This analysis was conducted by Luxury Link —an online booking platform specializing in luxury travel—using data from the U.
S. Department of Commerce. Researchers calculated the total overseas visitors in 2023 to each location, then ranked states accordingly.
Here is a summary of the data for North Carolina : For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States: For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see U.S. Cities With the Most International Tourism on Luxury Link.
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