The Tourism and Travel Sector in the United States is one of the country’s largest and most diverse economic industries. It encompasses leisure travel, business travel, international tourism, domestic tourism, hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, restaurants, attractions, theme parks, cruises, airlines, rental cars, tour operators, travel agencies, destination management, meetings and events, outdoor recreation, cultural tourism and a vast network of transportation and tourism-support businesses.

Tourism is particularly important because its economic impact extends far beyond hotels and attractions. A visitor who arrives in the United States may purchase an airline ticket, rent a car, stay in a hotel, eat at restaurants, visit museums and attractions, shop, attend entertainment events and participate in tours and recreational activities. Each transaction supports businesses and workers across multiple industries.

The U.S. Travel Association’s latest national economic-impact data estimate that travelers in the United States directly spent about $1.4 trillion in 2025, generating approximately $3.0 trillion in total economic output, supporting more than 15 million American jobs, and producing approximately $92 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Travel therefore represents a major source of economic activity, employment, tax revenue, exports and small-business opportunities throughout the country.

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1. Economic Importance of U.S. Tourism

Tourism is a cross-sector industry.

Unlike industries such as manufacturing, which can be defined primarily by production facilities, tourism is distributed throughout the economy.

Tourism spending reaches:

• Airlines
• Airports
• Hotels
• Resorts
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Car rental companies
• Taxi and transportation providers
• Cruise companies
• Tour operators
• Travel agencies
• Museums
• Theme parks
• National parks
• State parks
• Retail businesses
• Entertainment companies
• Sports venues
• Convention centers
• Casinos
• Cultural institutions
• Outdoor recreation businesses

The U.S. Travel Association’s 2025 data indicate that travel directly employed more than 15 million Americans when direct and broader travel-supported employment are considered, while travel spending represented approximately 2.4% of U.S. GDP in its economic-impact methodology.

The organization also reports that approximately 80% of U.S. travel businesses are small businesses, representing more than 360,000 businesses.

This makes tourism particularly important for entrepreneurs and local economies.

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2. Tourism’s Contribution to GDP

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has historically measured travel and tourism through its Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts (TTSA).

The latest published BEA TTSA estimates cover 2018–2023. They show that travel and tourism’s value added increased to $840 billion in 2023, representing 3.03% of U.S. GDP, compared with 2.96% in 2022.

Real travel and tourism output increased 7.0% in 2023, following a 20.8% increase in 2022.

BEA notes that its travel and tourism accounts measure visitor spending on categories such as lodging, airfare, food services, recreation, shopping and other travel-related goods and services.

The BEA announced in 2026 that it would no longer regularly produce these statistics, so the historical TTSA series remains particularly useful for understanding the industry’s economic structure.

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3. Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism is the foundation of the U.S. travel industry.

Americans travel extensively within the country for:

• Vacations
• Family visits
• Road trips
• Outdoor recreation
• Beach holidays
• Ski trips
• National park visits
• City breaks
• Sporting events
• Festivals
• Concerts
• Weddings
• Cruises
• Business
• Meetings and conferences

Domestic travel has several advantages for the U.S. economy because spending remains within the national market.

The U.S. Travel Association’s Spring 2026 forecast estimates $1.195 trillion in domestic travel spending for 2026, including approximately $908.8 billion in domestic leisure travel and $286.5 billion in domestic business travel.

Domestic travel is therefore considerably larger than international inbound tourism in terms of total spending.

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4. International Tourism

International tourism is one of America’s most valuable travel exports.

Foreign visitors spend money on:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Transportation
• Attractions
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Tours
• Domestic flights
• Rental cars
• Cultural activities

The National Travel and Tourism Office reported that international visitors spent more than $250.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services during 2025.

International tourism also benefits destinations far beyond traditional gateway cities because visitors often travel to several destinations during a single trip.

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5. International Visitor Forecast

The U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office forecasts continued growth in international visitation.

Its Spring 2026 forecast projects approximately:

Year	Forecast international visitors
2025	68.3 million
2026	70.5 million
2027	Approximately 75 million
2030	85.2 million

The NTTO expects international visitation to rise approximately 25% between 2025 and 2030, reaching about 85.2 million visitors in 2030.

This creates substantial opportunities for American hotels, airlines, restaurants, attractions, retailers, tour companies and destination-management organizations.

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6. Major International Tourism Markets

The United States receives visitors from virtually every region of the world.

Important source markets include:

• Canada
• Mexico
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Australia
• Japan
• South Korea
• China
• India

International visitors differ significantly in travel behavior.

Some markets are particularly important for:

• Shopping
• Luxury tourism
• Family vacations
• Theme parks
• Business travel
• Higher education
• Medical tourism
• Cultural tourism
• National parks
• Cruise travel

Understanding individual source markets has therefore become an important part of destination marketing.

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7. Leisure Tourism

Leisure tourism is the largest component of U.S. travel.

It includes:

• Family vacations
• Beach holidays
• City tourism
• Road trips
• Outdoor recreation
• Theme parks
• Cultural tourism
• Shopping trips
• Ski vacations
• Cruises
• Wellness travel
• Adventure tourism
• Luxury travel

According to the U.S. Travel Association’s Spring 2026 forecast, leisure travel spending is expected to reach approximately $1.055 trillion in 2026, compared with about $319.1 billion in business travel spending.

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8. Business Travel

Business travel remains an important component of the American economy.

It includes:

• Corporate travel
• Sales trips
• Client meetings
• Trade shows
• Conferences
• Conventions
• Training
• Corporate events
• Incentive travel

Business travel supports hotels, airlines, restaurants, car rental companies and convention centers.

The U.S. Travel Association estimates that domestic business travel spending reached approximately $316.7 billion in 2025, with a forecast of around $319.1 billion in 2026.

Business travel is increasingly influenced by hybrid work and video conferencing, but face-to-face meetings remain important for sales, networking, conferences and relationship building.

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9. Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events

The meetings and events sector is a major component of U.S. tourism.

It includes:

• Trade shows
• Corporate conferences
• Conventions
• Exhibitions
• Weddings
• Association meetings
• Incentive travel
• Sporting events
• Festivals
• Concerts

Large convention destinations benefit from significant visitor spending.

Important convention markets include:

• Las Vegas
• Orlando
• Chicago
• New York
• Atlanta
• Dallas
• San Diego
• Miami
• Washington, D.C.
• New Orleans
• Nashville

Convention visitors often spend more per trip than conventional leisure tourists because business events generate hotel, restaurant, transportation and entertainment spending.

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10. Hotel and Accommodation Industry

Accommodation is one of the central pillars of tourism.

The U.S. accommodation market includes:

• Hotels
• Motels
• Resorts
• Boutique hotels
• Luxury hotels
• Extended-stay hotels
• Budget hotels
• Hostels
• Vacation rentals
• Lodges
• Guesthouses
• Campgrounds
• RV parks

Hotels are closely connected with airlines, attractions, restaurants, convention centers and local transportation.

The growth of different tourism segments has created demand for highly specialized accommodation.

Examples include:

Luxury resorts

Designed for high-spending travelers seeking premium service and amenities.

Boutique hotels

Focus on design, individuality, local identity and personalized service.

Extended-stay hotels

Serve business travelers, relocation customers and longer-term visitors.

Resort properties

Combine accommodation with recreation, entertainment and wellness facilities.

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11. Vacation Rentals

Vacation rentals have transformed the accommodation market.

They include:

• Apartments
• Condominiums
• Vacation homes
• Villas
• Cabins
• Beach houses
• Mountain properties
• Rural accommodations

Vacation rentals are particularly popular among:

• Families
• Groups
• Long-stay travelers
• Road-trippers
• International visitors

The sector has also created opportunities for:

• Property managers
• Cleaning companies
• Maintenance companies
• Interior designers
• Booking-management software
• Photography services
• Guest-service companies

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12. Restaurants and Food Tourism

Food is an essential component of travel.

Visitors spend significant amounts on:

• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Bars
• Bakeries
• Food markets
• Street food
• Fine dining
• Local specialties
• Food tours

Food tourism has evolved from simply eating at restaurants to actively experiencing local cuisine.

Popular forms include:

• Culinary tours
• Winery visits
• Brewery tours
• Farmers’ markets
• Cooking classes
• Restaurant trails
• Food festivals
• Farm-to-table tourism

Major food tourism destinations include New York, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, Nashville and numerous smaller regional destinations.

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13. National Parks and Outdoor Tourism

The United States has one of the world’s most extensive protected-area and outdoor-recreation systems.

National parks and public lands support:

• Hiking
• Camping
• Wildlife viewing
• Photography
• Fishing
• Boating
• Mountain biking
• Rock climbing
• Skiing
• Scenic driving
• Backpacking

Iconic destinations include:

• Yellowstone
• Yosemite
• Grand Canyon
• Zion
• Grand Teton
• Rocky Mountain
• Great Smoky Mountains
• Glacier
• Acadia
• Olympic
• Joshua Tree
• Arches
• Bryce Canyon
• Everglades

Outdoor tourism has become increasingly important as travelers seek nature, wellness and slower forms of travel.

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14. Beach Tourism

Beach tourism represents a major part of American leisure travel.

Important beach destinations include:

• Florida
• Hawaii
• California
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• Massachusetts
• Maine

Florida is particularly important because it combines beaches with theme parks, cruises, golf, shopping, entertainment and warm-weather tourism.

Hawaii represents a major international and domestic resort market centered on:

• Beach tourism
• Surfing
• Nature
• Luxury resorts
• Cultural experiences
• Adventure tourism

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15. Theme Parks and Entertainment Tourism

Theme parks are a major component of American tourism.

Important destinations include:

• Orlando
• Anaheim
• Tampa Bay
• Los Angeles
• Central Florida

The broader entertainment tourism sector includes:

• Theme parks
• Water parks
• Zoos
• Aquariums
• Concert venues
• Casinos
• Theaters
• Sports stadiums
• Entertainment districts

Entertainment destinations can generate substantial economic activity because visitors frequently stay several nights and spend money across multiple sectors.

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16. Las Vegas Tourism

Las Vegas represents one of the world’s most distinctive tourism economies.

Its tourism model combines:

• Casinos
• Hotels
• Resorts
• Conventions
• Restaurants
• Nightlife
• Concerts
• Sports
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Luxury experiences

The city has increasingly diversified beyond gaming.

Major events, professional sports, conventions and entertainment productions now form a significant part of its tourism identity.

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17. New York City Tourism

New York City is one of America’s most important urban tourism destinations.

Visitors are attracted by:

• Times Square
• Broadway
• Central Park
• Museums
• Shopping
• Restaurants
• Architecture
• Sports
• Cultural institutions
• Business
• Fashion
• Events

New York’s tourism economy benefits a wide range of industries, including hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail, entertainment and cultural organizations.

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18. Orlando Tourism

Orlando is one of the world’s most important family tourism destinations.

Its tourism ecosystem includes:

• Theme parks
• Resorts
• Water parks
• Convention centers
• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Golf
• Entertainment

Orlando demonstrates how tourism can become an entire regional economic ecosystem rather than a single industry.

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19. California Tourism

California has one of the most diverse tourism markets in the United States.

Major tourism products include:

• Los Angeles entertainment
• San Francisco urban tourism
• San Diego beaches
• Napa Valley wine tourism
• Yosemite
• Big Sur
• Disneyland
• Hollywood
• Pacific Coast road trips

The state combines urban, coastal, cultural, culinary and outdoor tourism.

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20. Florida Tourism

Florida is one of America’s largest tourism economies.

Its major tourism products include:

• Beaches
• Theme parks
• Cruises
• Golf
• Fishing
• Boating
• Luxury resorts
• Shopping
• Nightlife
• Sports
• Family tourism

Major tourism destinations include:

• Orlando
• Miami
• Tampa Bay
• Fort Lauderdale
• Key West
• Naples
• Sarasota
• Daytona Beach
• Palm Beach

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21. Hawaii Tourism

Hawaii has a tourism economy strongly centered on leisure and international visitors.

Major products include:

• Beaches
• Surfing
• Hiking
• Volcano tourism
• Marine activities
• Luxury resorts
• Cultural tourism
• Wellness tourism

Tourism is particularly important to Hawaii because the islands’ geographic isolation means visitors depend heavily on air transportation and accommodation.

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22. Cruise Tourism

The United States is a major cruise market and a critical cruise gateway.

Important cruise ports include:

• Miami
• Port Canaveral
• Fort Lauderdale
• Tampa
• New Orleans
• Galveston
• Seattle
• New York

Cruise tourism supports:

• Cruise lines
• Ports
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Airports
• Tour operators
• Transportation companies
• Retailers
• Excursion operators

Cruise passengers frequently combine cruises with hotel stays before or after departure.

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23. Road Trips

Road travel remains one of the defining characteristics of American tourism.

The country’s large geographic area and extensive highway system make road trips particularly attractive.

Popular road-trip themes include:

• National parks
• Scenic highways
• Coastal drives
• Mountain routes
• Historic routes
• Desert landscapes
• Small-town tourism
• Food tourism
• Wine regions

Road trips generate spending on:

• Car rentals
• Fuel
• Hotels
• Motels
• Restaurants
• Attractions
• Campgrounds
• Local businesses

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24. Car Rental Industry

Rental cars remain important for both domestic and international tourists.

Major rental categories include:

• Economy cars
• Compact cars
• SUVs
• Luxury vehicles
• Minivans
• Convertibles
• Electric vehicles
• Specialty vehicles

Car rental businesses operate extensively at airports and major tourism destinations.

The sector is increasingly integrating:

• Mobile booking
• Contactless pickup
• Digital keys
• Fleet telematics
• Electric vehicles
• Automated vehicle inspection

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25. Aviation and Tourism

Air transportation is essential to American tourism.

Tourists use airlines to:

• Reach major cities
• Access islands
• Visit national parks
• Connect between regions
• Travel internationally

Major tourism gateways include:

• Atlanta
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Denver
• New York
• Miami
• Orlando
• San Francisco
• Las Vegas
• Seattle

Airports themselves have become increasingly important components of the tourism experience.

Modern airport businesses include:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Retail
• Lounges
• Car rental
• Parking
• Ground transportation
• Duty-free and specialty shopping

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26. Travel Agencies and Tour Operators

Although online booking has transformed travel distribution, travel agencies remain important for complex trips.

Travel professionals assist with:

• International vacations
• Cruises
• Luxury travel
• Group travel
• Corporate travel
• Adventure travel
• Family vacations
• Destination weddings
• Customized itineraries

Tour operators package:

• Transportation
• Hotels
• Attractions
• Guides
• Excursions
• Meals

Specialization is increasingly important as travelers seek customized experiences.

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27. Destination Management

Destination Management Organizations, commonly called DMOs, promote cities and regions to visitors.

Their activities include:

• Destination marketing
• Visitor information
• Convention promotion
• Event promotion
• Tourism research
• Branding
• Public relations
• Travel trade relationships

DMOs are particularly important for cities and regions competing for:

• Leisure tourists
• International visitors
• Conferences
• Conventions
• Sporting events
• Film productions

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28. Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism focuses on history, art, heritage and local identity.

It includes:

• Museums
• Historic buildings
• Archaeological sites
• Native American heritage
• Music
• Theater
• Art galleries
• Festivals
• Literary tourism
• Historic neighborhoods

Cities such as New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Orleans, Chicago and Santa Fe have strong cultural-tourism markets.

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29. Sports Tourism

Sports have become a major tourism generator.

Travelers visit destinations to attend:

• NFL games
• NBA games
• MLB games
• NHL games
• College sports
• NASCAR
• Golf tournaments
• Tennis tournaments
• Soccer
• Major international sporting events

Sports tourism supports:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Transportation
• Retail
• Entertainment
• Event management

Major sports events can generate substantial short-term visitor spending and long-term destination exposure.

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30. Wellness Tourism

Wellness tourism is growing as travelers increasingly prioritize health, relaxation and personal wellbeing.

It includes:

• Spas
• Resorts
• Yoga retreats
• Fitness retreats
• Wellness centers
• Thermal experiences
• Meditation programs
• Healthy cuisine
• Nature-based wellness

Wellness tourism overlaps with luxury travel, medical tourism and outdoor recreation.

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31. Medical Tourism

The United States is an important destination for international medical travel.

International patients may travel to the country for:

• Specialized surgery
• Cancer treatment
• Advanced diagnostics
• Cardiovascular treatment
• Orthopedic procedures
• Medical research
• Specialized therapies

Medical tourism also generates accommodation, transportation, food and other visitor spending.

BEA/NTTO travel-export statistics treat health-related travel expenditures as part of the broader U.S. travel and tourism export system.

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32. Shopping Tourism

Shopping is a major component of tourism spending.

Tourists purchase:

• Clothing
• Electronics
• Jewelry
• Cosmetics
• Souvenirs
• Luxury products
• Local products
• Sports merchandise

Major shopping destinations include:

• New York
• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas
• Miami
• Orlando
• Chicago
• San Francisco

Shopping is particularly important for international visitors.

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33. Luxury Tourism

The United States has a large luxury tourism market.

Luxury travelers spend heavily on:

• Five-star hotels
• Private aviation
• Yacht charters
• Premium cruises
• Fine dining
• Luxury shopping
• Private tours
• Wellness
• Exclusive experiences

Major luxury destinations include:

• New York
• Miami
• Los Angeles
• Hawaii
• Aspen
• Napa Valley
• Palm Beach
• Las Vegas
• San Francisco
• Vail

Luxury tourism is attractive to businesses because visitors generally have higher spending per trip.

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34. Adventure Tourism

Adventure travel includes:

• Hiking
• Mountain climbing
• Skiing
• Rafting
• Kayaking
• Scuba diving
• Surfing
• Ziplining
• Mountain biking
• Wildlife safaris
• Desert excursions

The United States has an exceptionally diverse environment for adventure tourism.

Potential destinations include:

• Colorado
• Utah
• Wyoming
• Montana
• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
• Washington
• Oregon

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35. Ski and Winter Tourism

Winter tourism is particularly important in mountainous states.

Major destinations include:

• Colorado
• Utah
• Wyoming
• Montana
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• California
• Idaho
• Washington

Ski tourism generates spending on:

• Resorts
• Hotels
• Ski equipment
• Restaurants
• Transportation
• Lessons
• Guides
• Retail

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36. Rural and Agritourism

Rural tourism has become increasingly attractive to travelers looking for authentic and slower experiences.

Agritourism includes:

• Farm stays
• Vineyard visits
• Apple orchards
• Farmers’ markets
• Agricultural festivals
• Horse farms
• Ranch experiences
• Food production tours

It creates additional income for agricultural businesses while encouraging visitors to explore rural communities.

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37. Ecotourism and Sustainable Travel

Sustainability has become a growing consideration in tourism.

Travelers increasingly look for:

• Eco-friendly accommodation
• Public transportation
• Local food
• Nature conservation
• Responsible wildlife experiences
• Low-impact activities
• Renewable energy
• Sustainable tourism certification

Destinations are also trying to manage overtourism and protect natural resources.

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38. Technology and Digital Tourism

Technology has fundamentally transformed the travel industry.

Travelers now commonly use digital platforms for:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Rental cars
• Restaurants
• Tours
• Attractions
• Maps
• Reviews
• Payments

Major technologies include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Mobile applications
• Digital payments
• Cloud computing
• Travel marketplaces
• Virtual tours
• Chatbots
• Recommendation engines
• Dynamic pricing
• Facial recognition
• Digital identity

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39. Artificial Intelligence in Tourism

AI is becoming increasingly important across the travel ecosystem.

Applications include:

Personalized recommendations

AI can analyze previous searches and preferences to recommend destinations, hotels and activities.

Dynamic pricing

Hotels and airlines can use AI to optimize prices according to demand.

Customer service

AI-powered chat systems can answer travel questions around the clock.

Itinerary creation

AI can create customized travel itineraries based on duration, budget and interests.

Revenue management

Hotels and airlines use predictive analytics to forecast demand.

Fraud detection

AI can identify suspicious bookings and payment patterns.

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40. Social Media and Tourism Marketing

Social media has become a major source of travel inspiration.

Platforms are used to promote:

• Destinations
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Attractions
• Tours
• Events
• Outdoor experiences

Short-form video has particularly changed destination marketing because visually appealing destinations can quickly reach millions of potential travelers.

Influencer marketing has therefore become an important part of tourism promotion.

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41. Online Travel Agencies

Online Travel Agencies, or OTAs, play an important role in tourism distribution.

They allow consumers to compare:

• Hotels
• Flights
• Rental cars
• Vacation rentals
• Tours
• Activities

However, hotels and tourism businesses increasingly attempt to develop direct booking relationships with customers to reduce distribution costs and improve customer loyalty.

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42. Smart Tourism

Smart tourism combines tourism services with digital technology and data.

Examples include:

• Digital visitor passes
• Mobile city guides
• Real-time transportation information
• Smart parking
• Digital museum tickets
• AI travel assistants
• Personalized recommendations
• Contactless hotel check-in
• Digital attraction reservations

Cities can use tourism data to understand visitor movement, congestion and spending patterns.

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43. Employment in Tourism

Tourism supports a very broad labor market.

Employment exists in:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Airlines
• Airports
• Travel agencies
• Tour operators
• Cruise companies
• Attractions
• Museums
• Transportation
• Car rental
• Events
• Convention centers
• Retail
• Recreation
• Entertainment

The U.S. Travel Association’s latest national data estimate that travel supports more than 15 million American jobs.

The industry’s employment structure is particularly significant because many tourism businesses are small and local.

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44. Small Businesses and Tourism

Tourism provides an unusually large opportunity for small businesses.

Examples include:

• Boutique hotels
• Guesthouses
• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Tour companies
• Walking tours
• Outdoor guides
• Boat tours
• Photography businesses
• Souvenir stores
• Local food producers
• Travel consultants
• Vacation-rental managers
• Transportation companies

The U.S. Travel Association reports that about 80% of travel businesses are small businesses.

Tourism can therefore distribute economic activity into communities that do not have large industrial bases.

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45. Tourism and Local Economies

Tourism is particularly important to communities where visitor spending represents a substantial part of the local economy.

Tourism revenue can support:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Retail
• Transportation
• Attractions
• Local tax revenue
• Employment
• Infrastructure

However, communities must balance tourism growth with:

• Housing affordability
• Traffic
• Environmental protection
• Infrastructure capacity
• Local quality of life

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46. Major U.S. Tourism Regions

The American tourism market can broadly be divided into several major regions.

Northeast

Major tourism products:

• New York City
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• Washington, D.C.
• Historic tourism
• Cultural tourism
• Business travel

Southeast

Major products:

• Florida beaches
• Theme parks
• Cruises
• Music tourism
• Coastal tourism
• Golf

Midwest

Major products:

• Chicago
• Great Lakes
• Sports
• Cultural tourism
• Festivals
• Road trips

Southwest

Major products:

• Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas
• Arizona
• Utah national parks
• Desert tourism

Rocky Mountain West

Major products:

• Ski resorts
• National parks
• Hiking
• Adventure tourism
• Wildlife

Pacific Coast

Major products:

• California
• Oregon
• Washington
• Wine tourism
• Beaches
• Cities
• National parks

Hawaii and Pacific Islands

Major products:

• Resort tourism
• Beaches
• Surfing
• Marine recreation
• Cultural tourism

Alaska

Major products:

• Cruises
• Wildlife
• Glaciers
• Adventure tourism
• Wilderness travel

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47. Tourism Seasonality

Tourism demand varies considerably by destination and season.

Summer

Generally strong for:

• Beaches
• National parks
• Road trips
• Family vacations
• Cruises

Winter

Important for:

• Ski resorts
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Desert destinations
• Winter sports

Spring

Popular for:

• City tourism
• Festivals
• Nature
• College-related travel
• Spring-break destinations

Autumn

Important for:

• New England foliage
• Wine tourism
• National parks
• Cultural events
• Food festivals

Businesses must therefore manage staffing, pricing and inventory around seasonal demand.

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48. Challenges Facing the U.S. Tourism Industry

The U.S. tourism industry faces several important challenges.

Inflation and travel costs

Higher prices for:

• Airfare
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Fuel
• Attractions

can influence consumer travel decisions.

Labor shortages

Hotels, restaurants, airlines and tourism businesses continue to compete for workers.

International competition

Countries around the world are aggressively promoting tourism.

Infrastructure

Airports, roads, public transit and visitor facilities require continual investment.

Overtourism

Some popular destinations face overcrowding during peak seasons.

Climate change

Extreme heat, wildfires, hurricanes, flooding and changing weather patterns can affect tourism.

Economic uncertainty

Travel is discretionary for many households and businesses, making demand sensitive to economic conditions.

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49. International Tourism Challenges

International tourism faces additional challenges.

These include:

• Visa processing
• Border procedures
• Air connectivity
• Exchange rates
• International perceptions
• Geopolitical uncertainty
• Travel restrictions
• Competition from other destinations

International visitors are particularly valuable because their spending represents an export of U.S. travel services.

The U.S. Travel Association estimates that international visitors spent approximately $176 billion in the United States during 2025 and supported nearly one million jobs.

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50. Future of Tourism in the United States

The future U.S. tourism market is likely to be shaped by several major trends.

1. Continued domestic travel

Domestic tourism will remain the industry’s largest foundation.

2. International visitor recovery

The NTTO forecasts international visitation growth toward approximately 85.2 million visitors by 2030.

3. Personalized travel

Travelers increasingly expect customized experiences.

4. AI-powered tourism

AI will become more integrated into trip planning, pricing, customer service and marketing.

5. Experiential tourism

Travelers increasingly seek experiences rather than simply accommodation.

6. Outdoor tourism

Nature-based travel is likely to remain strong.

7. Wellness

Health, relaxation and wellbeing will become increasingly important tourism products.

8. Luxury travel

High-income travelers will continue to drive premium tourism demand.

9. Sustainable tourism

Environmental responsibility will become increasingly important to destinations and travelers.

10. Longer and more flexible trips

Remote and hybrid work can allow some travelers to combine work and leisure.

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51. U.S. Travel Industry Forecast

The U.S. Travel Association’s Spring 2026 forecast projects total travel spending of approximately:

Year	Total travel spending
2025	$1.360 trillion
2026	$1.374 trillion
2027	$1.420 trillion
2028	$1.458 trillion
2029	$1.496 trillion
2030	$1.534 trillion

These figures are inflation-adjusted and represent the organization’s forecast for total U.S. travel spending.

The forecast suggests a relatively moderate but continued expansion of the American travel market.

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52. Key Statistics for the U.S. Tourism & Travel Sector

Indicator	Recent figure
Direct U.S. travel spending, 2025	About $1.4 trillion
Total economic output generated, 2025	About $3.0 trillion
Travel-supported jobs, 2025	15+ million
State/local tax revenue from travel, 2025	About $92 billion
Travel’s GDP share in U.S. Travel methodology	2.4%
Travel & tourism GDP share, BEA 2023 TTSA	3.03%
Tourism value added, BEA 2023	$840 billion
International visitors, 2025	68.3 million
Forecast international visitors, 2026	70.5 million
Forecast international visitors, 2030	85.2 million
International travel spending, 2025	About $176 billion according to U.S. Travel
Total international travel/tourism-related spending, 2025	About $250.2 billion according to NTTO
Domestic travel spending forecast, 2026	About $1.195 trillion
Leisure travel spending forecast, 2026	About $1.055 trillion
Business travel spending forecast, 2026	About $319 billion
Share of travel businesses that are small businesses	About 80%

Sources include the U.S. Travel Association, U.S. Department of Commerce/NTTO and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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53. Tourism Business Directory Categories

For a U.S. business directory, the Tourism & Travel sector can be organized into the following categories.

Accommodation

• Hotels
• Motels
• Resorts
• Boutique hotels
• Luxury hotels
• Vacation rentals
• Hostels
• Lodges
• Guesthouses
• Campgrounds
• RV parks

Travel Services

• Travel agencies
• Tour operators
• Destination management companies
• Travel consultants
• Cruise agencies
• Corporate travel agencies

Transportation

• Airlines
• Airports
• Car rental
• Bus companies
• Taxi companies
• Limousine services
• Airport transfers
• Rail travel
• Cruise transportation

Attractions

• Theme parks
• Water parks
• Museums
• Zoos
• Aquariums
• Historic sites
• Cultural attractions
• Observation decks

Outdoor Tourism

• Hiking tours
• Adventure tours
• Fishing guides
• Rafting
• Kayaking
• Diving
• Surfing
• Ski resorts
• Mountain guides

Food Tourism

• Restaurants
• Food tours
• Wineries
• Breweries
• Distilleries
• Cooking schools
• Culinary events

Events

• Convention centers
• Event venues
• Wedding tourism
• Corporate events
• Festivals
• Sports events

Wellness

• Spas
• Wellness resorts
• Yoga retreats
• Fitness retreats
• Health resorts

Tourism Technology

• Travel booking platforms
• Hotel software
• AI travel platforms
• Tour booking systems
• Travel marketing agencies
• Destination technology
• Digital visitor services

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Conclusion

The Tourism & Travel Sector in the United States is a vast economic ecosystem that connects transportation, accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, recreation, retail, culture and technology.

The industry’s scale is enormous. Travelers directly spent approximately $1.4 trillion in the United States during 2025, while the wider travel economy generated around $3.0 trillion in economic output and supported more than 15 million jobs, according to the latest U.S. Travel Association economic-impact data.

Domestic tourism remains the industry’s foundation, while international visitors provide an especially valuable source of export revenue. The United States also benefits from extraordinary geographic and cultural diversity, ranging from major cities and beaches to national parks, ski resorts, rural communities, historic destinations and world-class entertainment centers.

The next phase of the industry will increasingly be shaped by artificial intelligence, personalized travel, digital booking, sustainable tourism, experiential travel, wellness, outdoor recreation, luxury tourism and international visitor growth.

The official NTTO forecast projects international visitation to reach approximately 85.2 million visitors by 2030, while U.S. Travel’s Spring 2026 forecast anticipates total travel spending rising to approximately $1.534 trillion by 2030 in inflation-adjusted terms.

For entrepreneurs, investors, tourism organizations and local businesses, this makes tourism one of the most diverse and accessible sectors of the American economy. Opportunities exist not only in hotels and travel agencies, but also in transportation, restaurants, outdoor recreation, technology, events, wellness, property management, destination marketing and thousands of specialized visitor services.