According to the latest data published by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), international visitors have stent unprecedented $22.3 billion on travel and tourism-related activities within the United States during December 2024, reflecting an increase of nearly 10 percent compared to December 2023.
In the same month, Americans spent approximately $22.3 billion (slightly exceeding the amount spent by international visitors in the United States, when rounded) on travel abroad, resulting in a trade deficit of $7 million for travel and tourism-related goods and services.
From January to December 2024, international visitors have contributed over $253.9 billion to US travel and tourism-related goods and services, marking an increase of more than 12 percent compared to 2023. On average, international visitors infused approximately $696 million daily into the U.S. economy last year.
During December 2024, US travel and tourism exports represented 23 percent of total U.S. services exports and accounted for 8 percent of all U.S. exports, including both goods and services.
In December 2024, international visitors to the United States spent a total of $12.6 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services, marking an increase from $11.4 billion in December 2023, which represents an 11 percent rise compared to the previous year. This spending 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 57 percent of the overall US travel and tourism exports in December 2024.
In December 2024, US carriers received $3.3 billion in fares from international travelers, an increase from $3.2 billion in the same month of the previous year, reflecting a 4 percent growth compared to December 2023. These revenues are derived from expenditures made by foreign residents on international flights operated by US airlines.
Airfare revenue represented 15 percent of the total US travel and tourism exports for the month of December.
In December 2024, spending on educational and health-related tourism, along with expenditures by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers in the United States, reached $6.3 billion, up from $5.7 billion in December 2023, indicating an increase of over 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Expenditures related to medical tourism, education, and short-term workers accounted for 28 percent of the total US travel and tourism exports in December 2024.