Visitors from India, China, are the top spenders in US

• Overseas visitors are major contributors to the U.S. economy, despite political rhetoric.

• Top 10 countries account for 59% of total international visitor spending.

• In 2024, over 35 million overseas travelers spent $169.8 billion.

• Visitor spending directly supported nearly 906,000 U.S. jobs.

• Five states captured $99.7 billion, nearly 59% of total spending.

• Growth from India faces visa, airfare, and connectivity challenges.

  
  

International travelers from countries once disparagingly referred to as “hellholes” in a remark later reposted by former President Donald Trump are, in fact, among the most significant contributors to the United States economy, according to new findings from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO).

The federal study highlights the substantial financial footprint left by overseas visitors, particularly from China and India — two nations that rank among the top sources of travel spending in the U.S.

According to the NTTO, travelers from the ten leading overseas markets were responsible for 59% of all international visitor spending in the country. These markets include China, India, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea, Germany, Japan, Australia, Italy, and Colombia. Collectively, visitors from these nations form the backbone of America’s inbound tourism revenue.

The report offers updated projections detailing how foreign visitor expenditures are distributed across states and territories. It measures spending on a wide range of travel-related goods and services, while also estimating the number of American jobs supported by these expenditures.

In 2024 alone, the United States received more than 35 million overseas visitors, excluding arrivals from neighboring Canada and Mexico via land borders. These international guests spent an estimated $169.8 billion on travel-related expenses. The figure includes spending by international students on education and related services, underscoring the broader economic role played by foreign nationals beyond traditional tourism.

The economic ripple effects are substantial. NTTO data indicates that overseas visitor spending directly sustained nearly 906,000 jobs across the country in 2024, reinforcing the sector’s importance to employment and local economies.

A closer look at state-level data reveals that just five states captured the majority of this spending. New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts together attracted approximately $99.7 billion in overseas visitor expenditures, accounting for nearly 59% of the national total. These states continue to serve as primary gateways and destinations for international travelers.

India, in particular, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing inbound markets in recent years. However, the pace of expansion has slowed. Industry observers attribute this moderation to several challenges, including tighter visa processing timelines, higher airfare costs, and reduced connectivity between the two countries.

Despite these headwinds, the NTTO findings make clear that overseas travelers remain a vital pillar of the U.S. economy. At a time when political rhetoric has occasionally cast certain nations in an unfavorable light, the data underscores a different reality — one in which visitors from around the world play a critical role in supporting American jobs, businesses, and state economies.