Published on
November 27, 2025
US international tourism is encountering a significant downturn in 2025, as major source markets including Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil report unprecedented drops in arrivals. The decline reflects ongoing challenges in global travel recovery, including economic uncertainty, inconsistent air connectivity, and rising travel costs, all of which are weighing on inbound visitors. Meanwhile, outbound travel from the United States remains strong, fueled by robust consumer demand, competitive international fares, and expanded flight networks, underscoring a sharp contrast between declining inbound arrivals and surging U.S. departures.
Travel patterns to and from the United States revealed a clear divergence in August 2025, with inbound visitor numbers falling even as outbound departures by Americans continued to climb. Data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) shows that the country welcomed 6,893,068 international arrivals in August, marking an 8.3 percent decline compared with August 2024. In comparison, U.S. citizens made 10,234,242 international departures, representing a 4.4 percent increase year over year.
These opposing trends underscore the evolving dynamics of global travel as the summer season wound down. NTTO reported that total inbound arrivals reached 84.9 percent of August 2019 levels, while outbound departures exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks at 108.4 percent. The figures highlight continued strength in U.S. outbound travel, even as the recovery of inbound tourism remains uneven across key markets.
Inbound Arrivals Face Broad Declines
The data indicates that international visitor volume from non-U.S. residents totaled 6,893,068 in August, reflecting wider declines across many regions. Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3,492,907, representing a 2.9 percent decrease compared to the year before. The United States’ largest inbound markets for the month included Mexico with 1,823,354 visitors, Canada with 1,576,807, the United Kingdom with 413,430, Japan with 244,402, and India with 204,692. Combined, these five markets made up 61.8 percent of all international arrivals.
Among overseas markets, the strongest tourism arrivals came from the United Kingdom at 377,599, followed by Japan with 211,367, Italy with 188,211, France with 171,350, and Germany with 169,859. Business-related travel showed a different distribution pattern, with solid activity from India, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and South Korea. Meanwhile, international student arrivals revealed strong demand from China, India, South Korea, Brazil, and Vietnam, underscoring the continued importance of educational mobility within the broader travel landscape.
Outbound Travel Maintains Strong Momentum
Outbound travel by U.S. citizens continued its upward trajectory, totaling 10,234,242 international departures in August and maintaining steady growth through 2025. NTTO data shows that outbound demand increased 4.4 percent year over year and remained above 2019 levels. North American destinations accounted for 49.2 percent of year-to-date departures, while overseas destinations represented 50.8 percent, demonstrating a relatively balanced spread of demand.
Mexico remained the most popular outbound destination, receiving 3,424,397 U.S. visitors in August and accounting for 33.5 percent of all departures for the month. Canada experienced a 6.0 percent decline compared to last year. Europe continued to rank as the second-largest outbound region, recording 2,467,679 U.S. departures, or 24.1 percent of the total. Travel to Europe grew 5.6 percent year over year, signaling sustained interest in long-haul travel options.
Cumulative year-to-date figures show Mexico with 27,954,130 outbound visitors and the Caribbean with 8,320,815. Together, these two regions represented 47.8 percent of all U.S. international departures, emphasizing the continued popularity of nearby leisure markets. At the same time, demand for long-haul destinations—especially in Europe—remains strong despite global economic uncertainties.
Looking Ahead to Late 2025
According to NTTO reporting, the slower pace of inbound recovery reflects varying reopening timelines, shifting economic conditions, and fluctuating travel confidence among key source markets. Outbound travel, however, continues to be buoyed by resilient consumer demand, broader airline connectivity, and attractive pricing across numerous international destinations.
US tourism faces a sharp decline in 2025 as Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil report unprecedented drops in arrivals due to uneven recovery, economic uncertainty, and rising travel costs, while outbound travel surges with strong consumer demand and expanded flight options.
The latest data highlights a striking contrast in US international travel for 2025, with inbound arrivals from key global markets lagging while outbound travel continues to gain momentum. While challenges such as economic uncertainty, travel costs, and inconsistent air connectivity continue to suppress visitor numbers, the robust growth in outbound departures demonstrates strong consumer confidence and sustained appetite for international travel. This divergence underscores the need for targeted strategies to revitalize inbound tourism while capitalizing on the continued strength of US travelers exploring destinations abroad.
