Most visited cities by international tourists in the United States in 2026
The ranking below is based on official data from the US International Trade Administration (ITA) and the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) — the definitive US government source for international visitor data. City figures represent the metro area's international visitor arrivals from overseas markets (non-Canadian, non-Mexican visitors), with 2024 being the latest annual data available. The top 5 metro areas accounted for 48.6% of all international tourism to the United States. The broader US wealth context driving consumer-driven tourism infrastructure is in our US wealth and consumer analysis.
New York City: 8.9M International Visitors — America's Global Gateway
New York City (the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro) is the undisputed #1 US destination for international tourists, attracting 8.9 million international visitors in 2024 — more than double the second-placed Miami. New York State as a whole attracted 9.07 million overseas visitors — the most of any US state. JFK International Airport alone handled 34.8 million international arrivals in 2024 — more than the next two busiest US international airports combined. In Q1 2025, New York City attracted 2.0 million international air travelers — maintaining its lead. New York generated $88 billion in total tourism revenue in 2024 — a new state record. The city's appeal combines iconic landmarks (Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum), world-class dining (Michelin's most-starred city), Broadway, and its status as the world's leading business and financial hub. The broader US financial and economic context is in our US financial markets analysis.
- International visitors 2024: 8.9M metro · 9.07M state — most of any US state
- JFK Airport 2024: 34.8M international arrivals — 11.4M more than #2 LAX (23.4M)
- Q1 2025: 2.0M international air travelers — still #1 quarterly
- Tourism revenue: $88B in 2024 — new New York State record
- Top attractions: Times Square · Statue of Liberty · Central Park · MoMA · Broadway · 9/11 Memorial
- Top source markets: UK · Canada · Brazil · Germany · France · Mexico · Australia
- Business travel: Wall Street + midtown Manhattan drive significant MICE tourism — extending business trips into leisure
Miami: 4.4M International Visitors — Latin America's Gateway to the US
Miami (the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro) is America's second most-visited city by international tourists, with approximately 4.4 million visitors in 2024. Miami International Airport processed 4.76 million overseas arrivals in 2024 — second only to JFK among US international airports. Miami's dominance is structural: its geographic position makes it the primary gateway for visitors from Latin America and the Caribbean — Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, and Cuba heritage travelers all concentrate in Miami. Florida as a state attracted 7.93 million international visitors in 2024 — the second most of any US state. Florida generated $131 billion in total tourism revenue. In Q1 2025, Miami attracted 1.6 million international air travelers. Miami's tourism profile is distinct from New York — leisure-dominated, beach-oriented, and heavily Latin American. The economic context of Miami's key source markets is in our global GDP analysis.
- International visitors 2024: ~4.4M metro · Florida state total 7.93M
- Miami Airport (MIA) 2024: 4.76M overseas arrivals — 2nd largest US international gateway
- Q1 2025: 1.6M international air travelers — #2 among US cities
- Florida revenue: $131B total · Miami drives the majority of international visitor spending
- Latin America gateway: #1 US entry point for visitors from Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela
- Attractions: South Beach · Art Basel · Wynwood Walls · Little Havana · Cruise port (world's busiest)
- Seasonal peak: December–April snowbird season + summer Latin American visitor surge
Los Angeles: 3.6M International Visitors — Pacific Gateway, Hollywood & Beaches
Los Angeles (the LA-Long Beach-Anaheim metro) ranked third among US cities for international tourists with approximately 3.6 million visitors in 2024. LAX handled 23.4 million international arrivals in 2024 — the second busiest US international airport. In Q1 2025, Los Angeles attracted 1.0 million international air travelers. California overall attracted 6.3 million international visitors in 2024. California generated some of the highest international tourism revenue of any US state. Los Angeles is particularly strong as a Pacific gateway — drawing visitors from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and the Philippines, as well as from the UK and Mexico. Hollywood studios, Disneyland, Venice Beach, Getty Museum, and the Beverly Hills shopping experience are key draws. The tech economy and digital entertainment industry that put LA on the global tourism map is reflected in our Amazon and US technology analysis.
- International visitors 2024: ~3.6M metro · California state total 6.3M
- LAX Airport 2024: 23.4M international arrivals — 2nd busiest US international airport
- Q1 2025: 1.0M international air travelers — #3 among US cities
- Top attractions: Hollywood · Disneyland (Anaheim) · Venice Beach · Getty · Universal Studios · Beverly Hills
- Asian gateway: Top US entry point for visitors from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Philippines
- 2028 Olympics: LA is hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics — expected to drive 500,000+ additional international visitors
Orlando: 3.5M International Visitors — World's Theme Park Capital
Orlando (the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro) is the world's theme park capital and America's fourth most-visited city by international tourists, with approximately 3.5 million international visitors in 2024. Florida's tourism infrastructure is concentrated around Orlando's legendary theme parks: Walt Disney World (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), Universal Studios Florida (including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter), and SeaWorld. In Q1 2025, Orlando attracted 1.5 million international air travelers — closely competitive with Los Angeles. Orlando generated $58.5 billion in tourism revenue in 2024 — an extraordinary figure for a mid-sized city reflecting the extraordinary concentration of global attractions. Florida's total tourism revenue was $131 billion. Orlando also topped Euromonitor's Tourism Performance pillar in 2025, overtaking New York City — reflecting its dominance in domestic travel as well as international. Social media plays a huge role in driving Orlando tourism; see our social media statistics for the digital marketing context.
- International visitors 2024: ~3.5M metro · one of world's most visited theme park destinations
- Q1 2025: 1.5M international air travelers — very close behind Los Angeles (#3)
- Tourism revenue: $58.5B — extraordinary for a single metro; largest tourism economy per capita in Florida
- Top attractions: Walt Disney World · Universal Studios · SeaWorld · LEGOLAND · Kennedy Space Center
- Euromonitor 2025: Topped Tourism Performance pillar globally — #1 for domestic + international tourism volume
- Top source markets: UK · Brazil · Canada · Germany · Mexico — theme park appeal is universal
San Francisco 2.3M · Las Vegas 2.1M · Chicago 1.4M — The Next Tier
Beyond the top four, several US cities attract significant international tourism. San Francisco (the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metro) received approximately 2.3 million international visitors in 2024, driven by tech tourism, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, and its role as a Pacific gateway for Asian visitors. Nevada (primarily Las Vegas) attracted approximately 2.1 million overseas visitors in 2024, with the Strip generating $51.5 billion in total tourism revenue — an amount that far exceeds its 2019 peak. Las Vegas attracted 865,000 international air travelers in Q1 2025. Chicago was the only Midwestern city to exceed 1 million overseas visitors in 2024 at approximately 1.4 million. Honolulu remains a major international destination, particularly for Japanese and South Korean visitors. The tourism-driven consumer economy context is in our retail and consumer analysis.
- San Francisco ~2.3M (#5): Tech tourism + Golden Gate + Alcatraz + Pacific Asia gateway · SFO handling 1.4M+ monthly international passengers in 2025
- Las Vegas ~2.1M (#6): $51.5B revenue (far above 2019 peak) · Q1 2025: 865K international air travelers · entertainment + conventions + gaming
- Chicago ~1.4M (#7): Only Midwestern city over 1M overseas visitors · strong European and Canadian visitor base
- Honolulu ~1.0M (#8): Japan + South Korea primary source · recovering from Asian market post-COVID lag
- Washington DC ~1.0M (#9): Smithsonian museums free · national monuments · year-round international political and academic tourism
- Boston ~0.9M (#10): Harvard/MIT academic tourism · colonial history · strong European visitor appeal
Top 15 Most Visited US Cities by International Tourists — 2024 Data Table
The sortable table below covers the top 15 US metro areas by international tourist arrivals in 2024. Data from ITA/NTTO official sources. Click any column header to sort. Note that figures represent metro area international visitors — the city proper is a subset. Tourism revenue figures include all visitor spending (accommodation, dining, transport, attractions, shopping). The global context for these visitors is in our global tourism statistics.
| # | Metro Area | State | Intl. Visitors 2024 | Tourism Revenue | Key International Airport | Top Source Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York (NYC metro) | New York | 8.9M | $88B (state record) | JFK 34.8M intl. arrivals | UK · Canada · Brazil · Germany · France |
| 2 | Miami metro | Florida | 4.4M | $131B (FL state) | MIA 4.76M overseas | Brazil · Colombia · Argentina · Venezuela |
| 3 | Los Angeles metro | California | 3.6M | CA state $100B+ | LAX 23.4M intl. arrivals | UK · Japan · South Korea · Mexico · China |
| 4 | Orlando metro | Florida | 3.5M | $58.5B (metro record) | MCO — major intl. hub | UK · Brazil · Canada · Germany · Mexico |
| 5 | San Francisco metro | California | 2.3M | $8B+ intl. visitor spend | SFO 1.4M+/month 2025 | China · UK · Canada · Japan · Australia |
| 6 | Las Vegas | Nevada | ~2.1M | $51.5B (2024 record) | LAS — strong intl. routes | UK · Canada · Australia · Mexico · Germany |
| 7 | Chicago metro | Illinois | ~1.4M | $2.5B intl. visitor spend | ORD — major intl. hub | Canada · Mexico · UK · India · Germany |
| 8 | Honolulu | Hawaii | ~1.0M | $1.8B intl. visitor spend | HNL — Pacific gateway | Japan · South Korea · Canada · Australia |
| 9 | Washington DC | DC/Virginia/Maryland | ~1.0M | $1.5B intl. visitor spend | IAD Dulles intl. | UK · Canada · Germany · France · Brazil |
| 10 | Boston metro | Massachusetts | ~0.9M | $1.3B intl. visitor spend | BOS Logan intl. | UK · Canada · Ireland · Germany · China |
| 11 | Denver metro | Colorado | ~0.7M | $0.9B intl. spend | DEN — mountain gateway | UK · Canada · Germany · Mexico · Australia |
| 12 | Dallas metro | Texas | ~0.7M | $0.8B intl. spend | DFW — major hub | Mexico · UK · Canada · India · Brazil |
| 13 | Atlanta | Georgia | ~0.65M | $0.8B intl. spend | ATL — world's busiest airport | UK · Canada · Brazil · Mexico · Germany |
| 14 | New Orleans | Louisiana | ~0.5M | $0.6B intl. spend | MSY — growing intl. | UK · Canada · France · Germany · Mexico |
| 15 | San Diego | California | ~0.5M | $0.5B intl. spend | SAN — Mexico border gateway | Mexico · UK · Canada · Germany · Australia |
International Tourist Spending — $2,970 Per Trip · $215B US Total
The United States is the world's top tourism revenue earner — generating $215 billion in 2024 despite ranking only 3rd globally by arrival numbers. This is because international tourists spend an average of $2,970 per trip — significantly above the global average. Shopping is the single most common activity, featuring in 81.3% of all international visits. Tourism revenue is highly concentrated: the top 5 states (Florida $131B, New York $88B, Nevada $51.5B, Texas, California) capture the majority of spending. New York City and Orlando lead in absolute revenue. The US travel industry was valued at $1.35 trillion in 2025, supporting over 15 million jobs. Every 1% drop in international visitor spending equals $1.8 billion in lost export revenue annually (US Travel Association).
The United States is the world's #3 most visited country by arrivals — behind France (102M) and Spain (93.8M). Yet the US earns $215 billion in tourism revenue — more than any country on Earth, representing 12% of global tourism receipts. The math: each international tourist spends approximately $2,970 in the US vs significantly less in France or Spain. This reflects higher US hotel rates, longer stays, domestic flights within the US, theme park admissions, shopping at US brand flagship stores, and the high purchasing power of visitors from Canada, the UK, Germany, and Australia — the top source markets. New York's $88B from 9M visitors and Nevada's $51.5B from 2.1M visitors illustrate the pattern clearly — the US extracts extraordinary value per visitor. The global economic patterns are in our most visited countries analysis.
Which Countries Send the Most Tourists to the US? — UK, Canada, Mexico Lead
The United States draws international visitors from across the globe, but a handful of markets dominate. Western Europe is the largest regional source with 13.07 million visitors in 2024 — led by the UK, Germany, and France. Canada and Mexico are the largest individual country sources (proximity-driven, often arriving by land rather than air). Asia recorded the largest percentage growth at +21.6% in 2024 — driven by Indian, Japanese, Korean, and recovering Chinese visitors. Among countries through May 2025, Argentina grew fastest (+24.6%) while Canada fell most (-16.8%) reflecting bilateral trade and political tensions. The Instagram and social media-driven awareness of US destinations in emerging markets is covered in our Instagram statistics.
Most Visited US Cities — Key Statistics & Facts 2026
US City Tourism Forecast — 85M National Arrivals in 2026, NYC Stays #1
The NTTO projects US international visitor arrivals will reach 85 million in 2026 — surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 peak of 79.4 million and up from 72.4 million in 2024 and a projected 77.1 million in 2025. All top US tourist cities are expected to grow in 2026. New York City is expected to maintain its #1 position — the 2026 boom will be supported by continued JFK capacity expansion, the growing Latin American and Asian visitor base, and New York's role as the entry point for first-time US visitors from Europe. Orlando will benefit from Disney's new "Epic Universe" park opening at Universal Studios in 2025, which is expected to drive an additional 3–5 million annual visitors to the Orlando area. Los Angeles is building toward the 2028 Summer Olympics — infrastructure investment and global marketing are already boosting international awareness. Las Vegas continues expanding convention and entertainment capacity. Miami benefits from continued Latin American economic growth and new direct routes from African and Middle Eastern markets.
- US total 2026E: 85M international arrivals (NTTO official forecast) — first time surpassing 2019's 79.4M peak
- New York 2026E: ~9.5–10M — JFK expansion + growing Asian and Latin American visitor base
- Miami 2026E: ~4.8M — Latin America recovery + new direct routes from Africa and Middle East
- Orlando 2026E: ~4.0–4.2M — Universal's Epic Universe opening (May 2025) expected to drive 3–5M additional annual visitors
- Los Angeles 2026E: ~3.9M — 2028 Olympics buildup driving infrastructure investment and global marketing
- Las Vegas 2026E: ~2.3M — convention capacity expansion + Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (recurring annual event)
- 2027 goal: NTTO targets 90.1M arrivals and $279B in visitor spending — ambitious but achievable given recovery trajectory
Frequently Asked Questions — Most Visited US Cities by International Tourists
New York City (New York-Newark-Jersey City metro) is the most visited city in the United States by international tourists, welcoming approximately 8.9 million international visitors in 2024 — more than double the second-ranked city (Miami at 4.4M). JFK International Airport handled 34.8 million international arrivals in 2024, making it the US's largest international gateway by a wide margin. New York generated $88 billion in tourism revenue in 2024 — a new state record.
Top 5 most visited US cities by international tourists 2024 (ITA/NTTO): 1. New York metro — 8.9M · 2. Miami metro — 4.4M · 3. Los Angeles metro — 3.6M · 4. Orlando metro — 3.5M · 5. San Francisco metro — 2.3M. These five metropolitan areas together represented 48.6% of all international tourism to the United States in 2024.
The United States received 72.4 million international visitors in 2024 — a 9.1% increase from 2023, reaching 91% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels. The US ranked 3rd globally by arrivals. Tourism revenue reached $215 billion, with each international tourist spending approximately $2,970 on average. NTTO forecasts 77.1 million in 2025 and 85 million in 2026 — surpassing the pre-pandemic peak for the first time.
The New York metro received approximately 8.9 million international visitors in 2024 (New York state: 9.07M — most of any US state). JFK International Airport handled 34.8 million international arrivals in 2024. In Q1 2025, New York attracted 2.0 million international air travelers. New York generated $88 billion in total tourism revenue in 2024 — a new state record. The city's combination of iconic landmarks, business travel, Broadway, shopping, and dining makes it America's global tourism capital.
The NTTO officially forecasts US international visitor arrivals will reach 85 million in 2026 — surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 peak of 79.4 million. This follows 72.4 million in 2024 and a projected 77.1 million in 2025 (+6.5%). By 2027, NTTO projects 90.1 million arrivals with visitor spending of $279 billion — meeting the five-year goal set by the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy.
New York dominates US international tourism for structural reasons: (1) JFK Airport — US's largest international gateway with 34.8M arrivals, connecting to more global routes than any US airport; (2) Cultural gravity — Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, MoMA, Broadway; (3) Business hub — Wall Street and midtown draw business travelers who extend for leisure; (4) Gateway function — many first-time US visitors start and end in NYC; (5) Diversity — NYC's multicultural character appeals universally.
The Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area received approximately 4.4 million international visitors in 2024 — #2 among US cities. Miami International Airport processed 4.76 million overseas arrivals in 2024 — the 2nd busiest US international airport. In Q1 2025, Miami attracted 1.6 million international air travelers. Florida overall attracted 7.93 million international visitors in 2024. Miami's proximity to Latin America drives strong flows from Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Venezuela — making it the primary US gateway for South American visitors.
Fastest-growing US cities for international tourism 2025–2026: (1) Orlando — Universal's Epic Universe opening May 2025 expected to add 3–5M annual visitors; (2) Los Angeles — 2028 Olympics buildup; (3) Las Vegas — Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix now annual; (4) Nashville — growing international profile from US music culture; (5) Atlanta — Hartsfield-Jackson expanding international routes; (6) Miami — new direct routes from Africa and Middle East.
International tourists spend an average of $2,970 per trip to the United States. Total international tourism revenue reached $215 billion in 2024. Top states by revenue: Florida $131B (Orlando $58.5B alone), New York $88B, Nevada $51.5B. Shopping is the most common activity at 81.3% of all visits. The US earns more tourism revenue than France or Spain despite having fewer arrivals — reflecting higher spending per visitor.
Top source markets for international tourism to the US (2024): Western Europe leads by volume — 13.07 million (UK, Germany, France primary). Canada and Mexico are the largest individual countries (proximity, many arrive by land). Asia grew fastest at +21.6% in 2024. Through May 2025: Argentina grew fastest (+24.6%) while Canada fell most (-16.8%). Top 20 source markets account for 85% of all US international tourism. The UK has historically been the largest overseas (non-contiguous) source market.
Miami (4.4M international visitors, 2024) is Florida's most visited city by international tourists, followed closely by Orlando (3.5M). Florida overall attracted 7.93 million international visitors — the 2nd most of any US state. Florida generated $131 billion in total tourism revenue, with Orlando alone contributing $58.5 billion — an extraordinary figure reflecting the concentration of world-class theme parks (Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld) in a single metro area.
Orlando ranked 4th among US cities by international tourist arrivals with approximately 3.5 million visitors in 2024. In Q1 2025, it attracted 1.5 million international air travelers — closely competitive with Los Angeles. Orlando generated $58.5 billion in tourism revenue and was ranked #1 globally in Euromonitor's Tourism Performance pillar in 2025, overtaking New York City. Universal's Epic Universe opening (May 2025) is expected to add 3–5 million annual visitors, potentially pushing Orlando to #3 by international arrivals in 2026.
The US earns $215 billion in tourism revenue — more than any other country — despite ranking 3rd globally by arrivals (72.4M vs France's 102M). Key reasons: (1) Higher-spending source markets — UK, Germany, Australia visitors have high purchasing power; (2) Longer stays — the US is a long-haul destination for most visitors, meaning multi-week trips; (3) Domestic travel within the US — international visitors often add flights to multiple cities; (4) Premium attractions — theme park admissions, Broadway tickets, luxury hotels; (5) Shopping — 81.3% of visits include shopping at US brand stores.
Nevada (primarily Las Vegas) attracted approximately 2.1 million overseas visitors in 2024 — ranking it 6th among US cities by international tourists. Las Vegas attracted 865,000 international air travelers in Q1 2025 alone. Total Las Vegas tourism revenue reached $51.5 billion in 2024 — far exceeding its 2019 pre-pandemic peak. Las Vegas appeals to international visitors for gaming, world-class entertainment shows, conventions (CES, Money20/20), dining, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (now an annual event).
Los Angeles ranks 3rd among US cities by international tourists with approximately 3.6 million visitors in 2024. LAX handled 23.4 million international arrivals — the 2nd busiest US international airport. In Q1 2025, LA attracted 1.0 million international air travelers. California as a state attracted 6.3 million international visitors. Los Angeles is particularly strong as a Pacific gateway for Asian visitors (Japan, South Korea, China, Australia). The 2028 Summer Olympics hosting is expected to significantly boost LA's international tourism profile through 2028 and beyond.