The States Most Exposed to the Inbound Travel Slump

Key Points

• Five states—New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts—accounted for nearly 60% of 2024 overseas visitor spending, totaling almost $100 billion.
• New York, California, and Florida remain top destinations, but both New York and California saw drops in international visits, while Florida saw a slight increase despite a fall in Canadian visitors.
• The new federal report highlights that more than half of international spending comes from travelers from 10 countries, excluding Canada and Mexico, and cautions that some data may be less reliable due to sample sizes.

Summary

A new federal report reveals that five states—New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts—are most exposed to the recent decline in international tourism, collectively accounting for nearly 60% of overseas visitor spending in 2024. While New York and California experienced drops in international arrivals, Florida bucked the trend with a modest rise, though it suffered a significant decrease in Canadian visitors. The report, which is the first of its kind from the NTTO since 1997, also notes that more than half of total overseas tourism spending comes from travelers from ten key countries, but warns about potential data reliability issues due to survey limitations.