United States international tourism arrivals decline

International visitor arrivals to the United States have continued to decline through September 2026, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). Overseas visits, excluding arrivals from Mexico and Canada, fell 5.7% year-on-year.

Western Europe has emerged as the largest contributor to this decline. Between January and July 2026, arrivals from the region dropped by 7.6%, representing a loss of over 531,000 visitors compared to the same period in 2025. Germany specifically saw a significant reduction, with arrivals falling from 971,064 in early 2025 to 832,478 in early 2026.

The ongoing downturn, which began in early 2025, has raised concerns regarding the stability of US tourism-related jobs. Industry observers have attributed the trend to various factors, including high visa fees, entry restrictions, and travel alerts issued by foreign governments regarding border difficulties.