The United States received close to 3.1 million visitors in August 2026, marking an 11.8% decline compared to the same month in 2025. This followed a 7% decrease in inbound tourism during July 2026, continuing a downward trend in visitor arrivals.
Regional visitor declines persisted across all areas
Arrivals to the U.S. fell from every region, with the largest decreases reported from Africa at 25.5%, Central America at 20.6%, and Western Europe at 14.8%. Other regions also showed declines, contributing to the overall reduction in inbound travelers.
Data source and industry context
The data was released on Thursday, September 17, 2026, by the National Travel and Tourism Office. The U.S. travel industry
had anticipated a banner summer for visitor numbers in 2026, including hopes for increased attendance due to the 2026 World Cup, but visitor numbers ultimately fell short of those expectations.
