American Spending Abroad Outpaces International Visitor Spending

International visitor spending in the United States rose this February, but didn’t outpace the spending of American travelers abroad, according to new data released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). 

International travelers spent nearly $21.8 billion in the United States in February, a four percent increase from the year before. Meanwhile, Americans spent $22.4 billion abroad, yielding a $571 million trade deficit for the travel industry. 

The first two months of the year saw international visitor spending increase over six percent from the first two months of 2024. 

In February 2025, U.S. air carriers earned $3.3 billion in international flight fares purchased by international travelers, down three percent from last year. 

U.S. travel and tourism experts accounted for 23 percent of U.S. services exports in February and eight percent of all U.S. exports, including goods. 

Additionally, spending for educational and medical tourism and short-term worker spending contributed $6.4 billion to the economy in February, a nine percent increase from last year. These sectors of the American tourism industry accounted for 30 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during the month.  

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