Despite more people taking international trips globally, the United States is losing ground as a top destination, according to new data.

There were 80 million more international travelers in 2025 than in 2024. But many of them areskipping the United Statesfor other locales.

In 2025, North America was the slowest-growing market globally, with the United States rising by less than 1%, WTTC's research found. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region skyrocketed by 8.2% in 2025.

"The U.S. is losing market share, and China could replace it as the world’s largest tourism market within four years if it continues its own rapid growth," Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of WTTC, told USA TODAY. "The U.S. can maintain its leading position if it increases investment and overseas promotion, rebuilds international demand and changes perceptions with a warmer welcome at border entry points."

In early 2025, increased scrutiny at U.S. borders, along with reports of detainments and deportations, created a chilling effect that made international visitorsrethink tripsto the United States, according to foreign arrival numbers comparing March 2024 to 2025 from the Department of Commerce's National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland alsowarnedtheir citizens about the potential risks of trying to enter the United States.

Recent data by the NTTO also showed a20% decline in Canadian travelers, or 4.2 million fewer visitors, once a major market for the United States.

PreviousUSA TODAY reportingfound several reasons why international travelers are skipping the United States. Among them are fears of border detainment andgun violence.

The drop in international visitors could spell trouble for the U.S. economy, as travel is one of the country's largest export services.

Travel plays a vital role in the U.S. economy. In 2025, visitor spending supported 15 million U.S. jobs and generated a record-setting $3 trillion in economic output, according to a newreportfrom the U.S. Travel Association. The figure represents 2.4% of the national GDP.

Domestic travel made up the majority of that revenue, representing 87% of U.S. travel spending in 2025, the report found. Both domestic leisure and business remained strong.

Source: Drudge Report