Fact Check: Has the United States tourism suffered in 2025 since a peak in 2023?

Fact Check: Has the United States tourism suffered in 2025 since a peak in 2023?

What We Know

The claim suggests that U.S. tourism has declined in 2025 following a peak in 2023. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the travel and tourism industry experienced significant growth in 2023, with a reported increase of 7.0% in real output compared to a remarkable 20.8% growth in 2022 (BEA). This indicates a strong recovery and growth trajectory for the tourism sector post-pandemic.

In terms of international visitors, data shows that approximately 66.34 million international tourists visited the United States in 2023, which was a 30.7% increase from 2022 (Road Genius). However, the number of international tourists remained below the pre-pandemic levels of 75 to 79 million visitors annually, which were typical before the COVID-19 pandemic (Road Genius).

As of June 2025, the statistics indicate that while tourism numbers were recovering, they had not yet reached the peaks seen in 2018 and 2019. In 2024, the U.S. welcomed over 72.39 million international tourists, which was an increase from 2023 but still below the historical peaks (Road Genius).

Analysis

The claim that U.S. tourism has suffered in 2025 since a peak in 2023 requires careful consideration of the available data. While the BEA reports a robust growth in the tourism sector in 2023, the subsequent data for 2024 and 2025 suggests a more nuanced picture. The increase in international visitors from 2022 to 2023 indicates a strong recovery, but the total number of visitors in 2024 still fell short of pre-pandemic levels.

Moreover, the statistics from 2025 indicate that while there is a positive trend, the tourism sector has not fully returned to its peak performance. The projected increase in domestic travel, with 92% of Americans planning to travel in 2025, suggests a potential for growth, but it does not directly address international tourism numbers (Condor Ferries).

The reliability of the sources is generally high, particularly the BEA, which is a government agency providing official economic data. However, the tourism statistics from other sources, while informative, may vary in methodology and scope, which can affect their comparability.

Conclusion

Needs Research. The claim that U.S. tourism has suffered in 2025 since a peak in 2023 is not definitively supported by the available data. While there are indications of a decline in tourism relative to historical peaks, the overall trend shows recovery and growth post-pandemic. Further research is needed to assess the full impact of tourism trends in 2025 and how they compare to previous years.

Sources

1. Travel and Tourism | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
2. Finden und buchen Sie günstige United Airlines Flüge zu mehr als …
3. US Tourism Statistics - How Many Tourists Visit? (2025)
4. United Airlines
5. 70+ U.S. Tourism & Travel Statistics 2025
6. Help Center - United Airlines
7. United Airlines - Flight Check In
8. 129 U.S. Tourism Trending Statistics 2025: Domestic Travel