Did you know that international travel to and from the United States saw remarkable growth in April 2024? The latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) reveals fascinating trends in global travel dynamics, showcasing significant increases in both inbound and outbound travel.
In April 2024, the United States welcomed 5,889,335 international visitors, marking a 5.2% increase compared to the same month in 2023. This impressive figure represents 83.6% of the pre-COVID total visitor volume reported for April 2019, highlighting a robust recovery in the tourism sector. Overseas visitor volume to the U.S. alone surged by 9.2%, reaching 2,820,940 visitors.
For the thirty-seventh consecutive month, international arrivals to the U.S. have shown a year-over-year increase. Notably, April 2024 marked the fourteenth consecutive month where overseas visitors totaled over 2 million. Among the top 20 tourist-generating countries, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain experienced slight decreases in visitor volume compared to April 2023, with Canada seeing a -7.4% drop, the U.K. a -0.1% drop, and Spain an -8.1% drop.
Despite these declines, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom remained the top three sources of international visitors, contributing significantly to the overall numbers. Canada led with 1,781,119 visitors, followed by Mexico with 1,287,276, and the U.K. with 350,860 visitors. Together, these top five source markets—Canada, Mexico, the U.K., France, and India—accounted for 64.6% of total international arrivals.
On the outbound front, U.S. citizens made 8,072,519 international departures in April 2024, an 8.0% increase from April 2023. This figure is a remarkable 106.3% of the total departures recorded in pre-pandemic April 2019. For the thirty-seventh consecutive month, outbound travel by U.S. citizens has shown a year-over-year increase.
North America, comprising Mexico and Canada, held a 50.8% market share for outbound travel year-to-date (YTD), while overseas destinations accounted for 49.2%. Mexico was the most popular destination for U.S. travelers, with 3,105,473 departures in April 2024, accounting for 38.5% of total departures for the month and 41.6% YTD. Canada also saw a significant YOY increase of 12.9%.
Europe emerged as the second largest market for outbound U.S. visitors, with 1,630,759 departures in April 2024, representing 20.2% of all departures. This marks a 4.6% increase in visitation to Europe compared to April 2023.
These trends highlight a dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape for international travel to and from the United States. As global travel continues to recover and grow, the U.S. remains a key player in the international tourism market, attracting visitors from around the world while its citizens explore overseas destinations in increasing numbers.
