Latest news with #internationalvisitors


Skift
09-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Tourist Arrivals to U.S. Drop Again – Now Just 80% of 2019 Levels
The U.S. inbound tourism recovery is stalling, not strengthening. June's roughly 3% year-over-year decline masks the real story: overseas arrivals remain stuck at just 80% of 2019 levels, six years after the pandemic. U.S. government data for June shows continued weakness in the number of international visitors to the U.S. amid broader economic and geopolitical turbulence. Visits to the U.S. from overseas fell 3.4% year-over-year, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Roughly half of the top 20 countries generating tourists from overseas saw year-over-year declines in visitation. The UK, the top generator (besides Canada and Mexico), saw a 1.1% decl

Wall Street Journal
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Trump to Charge New Fees on Foreigners Visiting National Parks
International visitors will soon have to pay an added surcharge to visit Yellowstone, Yosemite and other iconic U.S. national parks. President Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the secretary of the Interior Department to develop a plan to increase entrance fees for foreign travelers to national parks while keeping them affordable for Americans.


The National
26-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid praises UAE's ‘exceptional' tourism sector
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Thursday praised the UAE's thriving tourism sector. It followed a report issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council which revealed that the UAE's travel and tourism sector saw its contribution to the country's GDP rise to Dh257.3 billion in 2024, representing 13 per cent of the national economy. This represents an increase of 3.2 per cent compared to 2023, and a 26 per cent increase compared to 2019, before the pandemic, state news agency Wam reported. 'In a new indicator of the strength and diversity of our national economy, the World Travel and Tourism Council report highlighted exceptional achievements in the UAE tourism sector, with total international visitor spending exceeding Dh217 billion during the previous year, in addition to domestic tourism spending reaching Dh57 billion,' Sheikh Mohammed wrote on X. 'The UAE is among the top 7 global destinations for international tourism spending, surpassing countries that have preceded us in this field for hundreds of years. We welcome tourists, delight in investors, embrace talents, and build the best environment for living, tourism, and visits. Welcome to the world.' A global leader Regarding international tourism, the report showed that the UAE is one of the most prominent destinations in the world, as the country received international visitors from major markets, most notably India (14 per cent), the UK (8 per cent), Russia (8 per cent), China (5 per cent), Saudi Arabia (5 per cent), and 60 per cent from the rest of the world. The report indicated that international visitor spending in the UAE reached approximately Dh217.3 billion in 2024, registering a growth of 5.8 per cent compared to 2023 and a 30.4 per cent increase compared to 2019. Domestic tourism spending, meanwhile, reached Dh57.6 billion, achieving a 2.4 per cent increase compared to 2023 and a 41 per cent increase compared to 2019.

Hospitality Net
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Philippines' Travel & Tourism Sector Set to Inject a Record PHP 5.9TN to the Economy in 2025
London, UK - The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that the Philippines' Travel & Tourism sector is on course to build on its record-breaking performance from last year, with new forecasts pointing to even greater heights in 2025. According to WTTC's 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR) forecast, the sector will contribute a PHP 5.9 trillion to the economy this year – 13.5% above 2019 and a new all-time high. This new record would represent more than one fifth (21%) of national GDP, cementing Travel & Tourism's place as a backbone of the Philippine economy. Employment in the sector is also set to continue to reach record levels, with 11.7 million livelihoods expected to be supported by Travel & Tourism in 2025, accounting for almost a quarter (23.8%) of all national employment. International visitor spending is also on the rise, projected to reach PHP 709.2 billion – up 2.1% on the previous high in 2019, while domestic visitor spending is anticipated to reach PHP 4.1 trillion – a 9.3% increase over its previous peak. 2024 in Review Last year marked the beginning of a significant resurgence for Travel & Tourism in the Philippines. The sector contributed PHP 5.3 trillion to the national economy and supported 11.2 million jobs. Domestic spending surged to PHP 3.6 trillion, and international spending grew to PHP 644.8 billion, edging towards a complete recovery and laying the groundwork for the record-breaking figures now projected in 2025. The Philippines is a standout example of how Travel & Tourism, when supported by a clear, long-term vision, can deliver real economic impact and long-term opportunity. This success speaks to the country's extraordinary appeal, its policy focus on tourism as a growth engine, and the energy of its people and private sector. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO Looking to 2035 The global tourism body is expecting Travel & Tourism's contribution to the economy to reach PHP 9.2 trillion by 2035, representing 19.8% of the economy. Over the next decade, 2.5 million new jobs are expected to be created, bringing total sector employment to 14.1 million. As the country continues to strengthen air connectivity, invest in infrastructure, and prioritise destination resilience, Travel & Tourism is positioned not just to grow, but to transform the national economy. WTTC calls on policymakers to continue fostering this trajectory with clear regulation, long-term investment in workforce development, and sustained global promotion of the Philippines as a world-class destination. For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTC's latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC's Research Hub. Editors Notes All figures given in PHP About WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. WTTC Press Office WTTC View source


CNN
10-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
New investments land in Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan is tapping into its cultural and natural wealth to grow its tourism sector. CNN explores how it is marketing itself to international visitors and investors.