Fewer travelers are booking flights to the U.S.: These are the countries benefiting from the drop in tourism
International visitors are choosing Europe, Latin America, and Asia over the United States, putting billions of dollars in U.S. tourism revenue at risk.
In the face of political tension, global tariff disputes, and numerous other issues, the United States is losing its luster as a destination for international travelers, and the numbers back it up.
Billions in lost revenue projected
In May, the World Travel & Tourism Council forecast that international visitor spending in the U.S. will reach $169 billion in 2025, more than $30 billion less than the U.S. Travel Association had projected at the start of the year.
According to research firm Tourism Economics, 13 million fewer international tourists are expected to visit the U.S. in 2025 compared with 2019.
By contrast, Spain (16.5 million), Saudi Arabia (14.5 million), and Turkey (14 million) are set to see significant increases over the same period. Already-popular destinations such as France, Italy, Greece, and Mexico are also expected to post strong numbers this year.
Canada and Latin America benefit
Canada and Latin America appear to be the biggest winners from the U.S. tourism slowdown, with Canada itself playing a key role. The U.S. International Trade Administration reports 1.75 million fewer visits from Canada to the United States in the first half of 2025.
Data from Tourism Economics highlights two trends: Canadians are choosing domestic vacations instead of traveling south across the border, and they are increasingly heading to Latin America and the Caribbean, with Mexico emerging as a top pick.
Europe and Asia see rising interest
Consulting firm Accenture found that Europeans are also flocking to Latin America and the Caribbean in greater numbers than usual, while avoiding the United States. As has long been the case, many Europeans are staying within Europe, with visitor numbers to Asia also climbing.
A CNBC survey of 6,000 Southeast Asian travelers, meanwhile, revealed that more than half plan to stay in Southeast and East Asia or visit Europe, rather than travel to the U.S.
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