Foreign Visitors Spent $21.1 Billion in US in July

According to the latest data published by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), in July 2024, international visitors expended $21.1 billion on travel and tourism-related activities in the United States, reflecting an increase of over 12 percent in comparison to July 2023.

In contrast, during July, Americans allocated nearly $20.3 billion for international travel, resulting in a trade surplus of $846 million in the travel and tourism sector.

Year to date, from January to July 2024, international visitors have contributed over $147.2 billion to U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services, reflecting a 16 percent increase compared to 2023. On average, this equates to an infusion of $694 million daily into the U.S. economy.

Furthermore, U.S. travel and tourism exports represented 23.1 percent of the nation’s services exports in July 2024 and accounted for 7.9 percent of total U.S. exports, encompassing both goods and services.

In July 2024, international visitors in the United States spent a total of $11.6 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services, marking an increase from $10.1 billion in July 2023, which represents a 15 percent rise compared to the previous year. This expenditure encompasses a variety of items, including food, accommodation, recreational activities, gifts, entertainment, local transportation within the United States, and other incidental expenses associated with foreign travel. Travel receipts constituted 55 percent of the overall U.S. travel and tourism exports for July 2024.

In July 2024, U.S. airlines generated $3.4 billion in fares from international travelers, an increase from $3.0 billion in the same month the previous year, reflecting an 11 percent rise compared to July 2023. These earnings signify the spending of foreign residents on international flights operated by U.S. carriers. Furthermore, passenger fare receipts constituted 16 percent of the overall U.S. travel and tourism exports for that month.

In July 2024, expenditures related to educational and health tourism, as well as all spending by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers in the United States, reached a total of $6.1 billion, marking an increase from $5.7 billion in July 2023. This represents a 7 percent rise compared to the previous year. Notably, medical tourism, education, and expenditures by short-term workers constituted 29 percent of the overall U.S. travel and tourism exports for that month.