In this article, we will be covering the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the travel and tourism industry, you can go directly to 5 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers.
Global Travel and Tourism Industry Poised for Growth
The travel and tourism industry contributes significantly to the economic growth of many countries, producing income generation, employment opportunities, and foreign exchange earnings. According to a report by Custom Market Insights, the global tourism market reached a value of $8.87 trillion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% from 2023 to 2032 and reach a value of more than $12.31 trillion by the end of the forecast period.
Technological advancements, such as the internet, mobile apps, and online booking platforms, are making it easy for travelers to research, book, and access travel and travel-related services. Changing consumer behavior, with people increasingly prioritizing travel experiences over material possessions, has significantly fueled the growth of the global travel and tourism industry. The rise in disposable income is also leading to increased spending on travel and tourism.
Political factors can also impact the competitiveness and stability of tourism destinations, influencing the industry's growth and performance. Governments play a crucial role in influencing travel patterns through travel advisories and visa requirements. As reported by UN Tourism, openness to international travel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels and fewer people now require a traditional visa to travel. According to the report, 21% of the world's population does not need any form of visa and 14% of the global population can apply for a visa on arrival. Moreover, 18% of the global population can apply for eVisas, marking a significant rise from 7% in 2018. Simplifying visa processes and a welcoming travel and tourism environment can attract more visitors, boost tourism revenues, and stimulate economic growth.
Key Players in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Some of the most prominent names in the global travel and tourism industry are Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR), Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT).
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) is an American multinational hospitality company. As one of the largest travel companies in the world, it manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels, resorts, and timeshare properties in more than 120 countries around the world. On February 7, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) reported strong earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.68, surpassing EPS estimates by $0.11. The company’s revenue for the quarter grew by 6.75% year-over-year and amounted to $2.61 billion, ahead of market consensus by $3.97 million. Here are some comments from Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.’s (NYSE:HLT) Q4 2023 earnings call:
“Last quarter, we announced Hilton for Business, our multifaceted program designed to transform the travel experience for small and medium sized businesses by providing a new booking Web site along with targeted benefits designed specifically for SMBs. The program launched in January with thousands of companies registering in just the first few weeks.
Travel companies are focusing on making travel easier for customers by offering convenient solutions to enhance the travel experience. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is an American travel technology company that provides online travel and related services in over 220 countries through its brands, which include Priceline, Booking.com, Agoda, KAYAK and OpenTable. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) ranks among the best travel stocks to buy. On February 13, Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) announced that its brand Priceline introduced new AI-powered trip intelligence features, including major upgrades to “Penny”, its AI-powered travel assistant. The addition of more than 30 new features to Priceline’s Trip Intelligence suite will dramatically streamline the travel planning and booking process to help consumers save time and money. The report also mentions that Priceline is introducing “Penny” across all categories, including hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages.
Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is one of the most valuable travel companies in the world. It operates, franchises, and licenses hotels and restaurants in more than 130 countries around the world. On March 13, Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced that it has entered into an agreement in collaboration with Vasilakis SA to bring the JW Marriott brand to Greece. JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, expected to launch in 2025, will span 100 acres of picturesque coastal land, offering exceptional service and holistic well-being experiences for travelers seeking a luxury escape.
Now that we have discussed what’s going on in the global travel and tourism industry, let’s take a look at the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.
20 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers
A bustling airport terminal with travelers heading to their dream destination.
Methodology
In this article, we have listed the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. To collect data for our list of most visited cities in the US by foreigners, we consulted the International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce. This database provided us with a list of metropolitan areas and cities in the US that were visited the most by overseas travelers in 2022. We used the data available for 2022 to select and rank the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers, which are listed below in ascending order.
20 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreign Travelers
20. Philadelphia, PA MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 326,000
Philadelphia is a metropolitan area surrounding the city of Philadelphia in the US state of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is also one of the most populated cities in America. In 2022, Philadelphia attracted 326,000 foreign travelers.
19. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 340,000
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, also known as the Tampa Bay Area, is a metropolitan area in West Central Florida. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. In 2022, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater attracted 340,000 foreign travelers.
18. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 362,000
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, also known as the Atlanta metropolitan area, ranks 18th on our list of the most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. The metropolitan area in the US state of Georgia attracted 362,000 foreign travelers in 2022. Its principal cities are Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Marietta.
17. Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA MD
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 395,000
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine is a metropolitan division that forms part of the Greater Los Angeles area in the state of California. Its main cities are Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine. In 2022, Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine attracted 395,000 foreign visitors.
16. Flagstaff, AZ MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 400,000
Flagstaff is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Arizona. In 2022, Flagstaff attracted 400,000 overseas travelers. Flagstaff is one of the most visited cities in the US by foreigners.
15. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA MD
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 412,000
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett is a metropolitan division that forms part of the Seattle metropolitan area in the US state of Washington. It ranks among the top 15 on our list of the most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers. Home to the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, and Everett, this metropolitan division attracted 412,000 visitors in 2022.
14. Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 453,000
Dallas-Plano-Irving is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Texas. Home to the cities of Dallas, Plano, and Irving as well as other cities in Texas, this metropolitan area boasts a dynamic and diverse metropolitan economy. In 2022, Dallas-Plano-Irving attracted 453,000 foreign visitors.
13. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 558,000
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of California. The main cities in this metropolitan area are San Diego, Carlsbad, and San Marcos. In 2022, San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos attracted 558,000 foreign travelers.
12. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 596,000
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, also known as Greater Houston, is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Texas. It is one of the most populated metropolitan statistical areas in the US. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown attracted 596,000 foreign travelers in 2022.
11. Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL MD
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 675,000
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach is a metropolitan division in the US state of Florida. The three principal cities in this metropolitan division are Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach. In 2022, 675,000 foreigners traveled to the Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach metropolitan division.
10. Honolulu, HI MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 711,000
Honolulu is a metropolitan statistical area in the US state of Hawaii. It includes the capital of Hawaii, Honolulu, and several minor islands. In 2022, Honolulu attracted 711,000 foreign travelers and it ranks among the top 10 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.
9. Boston-Quincy, MA MD
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 738,000
Boston-Quincy is a metropolitan division in the US state of Massachusetts. It forms part of the Greater Boston metropolitan region of New England. The two main cities in this metropolitan division are Boston and Quincy, which attracted 738,000 foreign visitors in 2022.
8. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL MD
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 1.06 Million
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville is a metropolitan division in the state of Illinois that forms part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It includes the cities of Chicago, Joliet, and Naperville. In 2022, this metropolitan division attracted a total of 1.06 million foreign travelers. It ranks 8th on our list of the most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.
7. Washington (DC Metro Area), DC-MD-VA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 1.16 Million
The Washington metropolitan area, also referred to as the DC area, is the metropolitan area centered around the federal capital of the US. The metropolitan area includes all of Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland and Virginia. In 2022, 1.16 million foreigners visited Washington (DC Metro Area).
6. Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA
Number of Foreign Travelers (2022): 1.66 Million
Las Vegas-Paradise, also known as the Las Vegas Valley, is a major metropolitan area in the southern part of the US state of Nevada. It includes Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas, the three largest incorporated cities in Nevada. In 2022, the Las Vegas-Paradise metropolitan area attracted 1.66 million foreign travelers. It ranks 6th on our list of the 20 most visited cities in the US by foreign travelers.
