U.S. Inbound Tourism Drops 14% in April, Erasing Two Months of Gains

Key Points

• U.S. inbound tourism dropped by 14% in April, reversing gains from the previous two months.
• Declines were seen from all regions, especially the Middle East, Africa, and Western Europe, largely due to the Iran war and rising travel costs.
• Most top source countries saw decreased arrivals, with only Brazil and Japan posting increases.

Summary

U.S. inbound tourism fell sharply by 14% in April, erasing modest gains from February and March. The decline affected all regions, with the steepest drops from the Middle East, Africa, and Western Europe, attributed to disruptions from the Iran war and higher travel costs. Most major source countries sent fewer visitors, except for slight increases from Brazil and Japan, and forecasts now predict a slow recovery to pre-pandemic levels by 2029.