Inbound overseas travel to the United States continued to decline in September, falling 4.3% compared to the previous year to a total of 2.7 million arrivals. According to preliminary data from the National Travel and Tourism Office released Friday, this downturn was primarily driven by a pullback in travelers from Western Europe.
Which markets saw the largest declines?
Western Europe accounted for nearly three-quarters of the total monthly decline, representing almost 89,000 fewer visitors. Several major European markets experienced notable drops in arrivals:
- France: down 15%
- Netherlands: down 13%
- Ireland: down 12%
- Germany: down 10%
- Italy: down 10%
While some regions showed growth, such as China at nearly 15% and Taiwan at nearly 13%, these gains were offset by a 25% drop in visitors from South Korea. Consequently, total arrivals from Asia fell by 0.3%.
What is the year-to-date trend?
September marks the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year losses for overseas arrivals to the United States. This follows a steep nearly 12% decline in August and disappointing figures in June and July.
So far this year, total arrivals are down 5.7% compared to 2024. This trend comes as travel executives and the U.S. Travel Association pursue a target of reaching 100 million international visitors by 2030.
While the data excludes Canada, the country is seeing a slow recovery. Return trips from the U.S. rose 6.8% in September, marking a sixth straight month of growth, though car trips remain down 31% compared to last September.
FAQ
How many people traveled to the U.S. from overseas in September?
There were 2.7 million overseas arrivals in September, which represents a 4.3% decrease from the same month last year.
Is travel from Asia increasing?
While China and Taiwan saw significant gains, a 25% decrease in travelers from South Korea resulted in Asia's total arrivals dropping by 0.3%.
