Global tourism is surging, with New York City reporting $84.7 billion in impact for 2025. However, the data reflects pre-2026 conditions and excludes major geopolitical disruptions, including Trump-era policies and the Iran war, which are already affecting travel demand, costs, and global mobility—making future tourism forecasts increasingly uncertain.
Resilience, domestic strength, and major global events signal a powerful future for travel and tourism worldwide in 2025.
The global tourism industry is no longer in recovery—it is entering a new era of expansion, resilience, and strategic reinvention. Fresh insights from a major international tourism organization’s 2025 Annual Report, combined with newly released data from New York City Tourism + Conventions, reveal an industry that is not only rebounding but accelerating toward a more sustainable, digitally connected, and economically vital future.
Nowhere is this transformation more evident than in New York City, where tourism generated a staggering $84.7 billion in total economic impact in 2025including $55.6 billion in direct visitor spendingreinforcing the city’s position as one of the world’s most powerful tourism engines.
Tourism Powers Economic Growth on a Global and Local Scale
Across the globe, tourism organizations report growing membership networks, expanded partnerships, and renewed strategic focus. The 2025 annual report highlights a sector that has embraced innovation, sustainability, and collaboration as core drivers of future growth.
At the same time, New York City offers a concrete example of tourism’s economic power in action.
The industry supported 397,000 jobs across the five boroughsbenefiting thousands of small and minority-owned businesses. Additionally, tourism generated $7.5 billion in tax revenuedirectly contributing to the city’s fiscal health and public services.
“In 2025, New York City’s tourism economy proved resilient despite global challenges, underscoring the enduring appeal of the five boroughs,” said Julie Coker, President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions.
Domestic Travel Drives Recovery as International Markets Stabilize
A key global trend identified in the annual report is the strength of domestic travel—a pattern strongly reflected in New York City’s performance.
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The city welcomed 65 million visitors in 2025a modest but meaningful increase of 0.7% over the previous year. Domestic travel accounted for 52.4 million visitorsgrowing 1.7% and continuing to serve as the backbone of the tourism economy.
Major feeder markets included:
- The New York City tristate area
- Philadelphia
- Washington, D.C
- Los Angeles
- Boston
Domestic overnight travel also played a crucial role, rising 2.3% and accounting for 51% of domestic visitsfurther boosting hotel demand and local spending.
“Domestic travel remains the backbone of the tourism industry nationwide,” said Charles Flateman, Board Chair of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “We expect it to surpass record 2019 levels next year.”
Globally, the report echoes this trend, noting that destinations worldwide are relying on regional and domestic markets to stabilize growth while international travel continues its gradual recovery.
International Travel Faces Challenges—but Shows Signs of Resilience
While domestic travel surged, international visitation to New York City declined slightly to 12.5 million visitorsdown 3.2% from 2024 due to ongoing global challenges.
However, the decline was less severe than expected, and several key markets showed growth:
- United Kingdom (+1.3%)
- Italy (+5.5%)
- Mexico (+1.8%)
International visitors remain critically important, accounting for 50% of total tourism spending in New York City—highlighting their outsized economic impact.
Globally, the annual report underscores similar dynamics, with international travel recovering unevenly but steadily, as destinations rebuild long-haul demand and address geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
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Hotels, Events, and Experiences Fuel Tourism Momentum
New York City’s hotel sector continued to perform strongly in 2025, reflecting broader global trends toward experiential and high-value travel.
Key highlights include:
- 84.2% average hotel occupancyranking first among the top 25 US markets
- 38.1 million room nights soldup 2% year-over-year
- $334 average daily rate (ADR)a 5% increase
- Continued strength in luxury and upscale segments
The city’s hotel inventory reached approximately 124,000 roomswith ongoing expansion through new developments expected to add nearly 5,800 rooms by 2028.
Meanwhile, business and event travel—another global priority—continued its recovery:
- 12.6 million business travelers visited NYC in 2025
- Over 1,500 meetings and events were booked
- Nearly 345,000 room nights were generated
Globally, the annual report emphasizes the importance of meetings, conferences, and events as catalysts for tourism growth, knowledge exchange, and investment.
Sustainability and Innovation Reshape the Industry
Beyond economic performance, the global report highlights a decisive shift toward sustainability and digital transformation.
Tourism organizations worldwide are increasingly prioritizing:
- Climate-conscious travel strategies
- Community-based tourism development
- Sustainable destination management
At the same time, digital innovation is reshaping how destinations engage with travelers and stakeholders. Investments in online platforms, data analytics, and virtual engagement tools are creating a more connected and responsive tourism ecosystem.
These trends are evident in New York City as well, where tourism authorities are aligning strategies with evolving traveler expectations and global sustainability goals.
Major Global Events Set to Drive Future Growth
Looking ahead, both the global report and New York City’s outlook point to major international events as powerful drivers of tourism growth.
New York City is preparing for a surge in visitation tied to FIFA World Cup 2026™which is expected to:
- Attract 1.2 million visitors to the region
- Generate $3.3 billion in economic impact
- Support approximately 26,000 jobs
Additional global events and initiatives—including large-scale cultural and historical celebrations—are expected to further boost travel demand and international visibility.
Geopolitical Uncertainty Could Shape the Next Phase
It is important to note that the 2025 tourism performance outlined in this report reflects conditions Prior to escalating geopolitical developments in 2026including heightened tensions under the current US administration and the conflict involving Iran.
As such, the strong economic results reported for 2025 do not yet account for potential impacts such as rising fuel costs, air capacity shifts, traveler sentiment changes, or broader global instability that could influence international travel patterns moving forward. Industry analysts suggest these evolving dynamics may reshape demand—particularly for long-haul travel—while reinforcing the importance of resilient domestic markets and diversified visitor strategies.
2026 Forecast: Continued Expansion and Renewed Global Confidence
New York City projects 66.3 million visitors in 2026a 2% increase over 2025, with domestic travel surpassing pre-pandemic records and international visitation rebounding to 12.9 million visitors.
Business travel is also expected to grow, signaling renewed confidence in global mobility and corporate engagement.
These projections align with broader global expectations outlined in the annual report, which anticipates:
- Continued expansion of tourism networks
- Increased investment in infrastructure and innovation
- Stronger integration of sustainability across all sectors
Tourism’s Future: Resilient, Inclusive, and Transformational
The combined insights from global and New York City tourism data send a clear message: tourism is no longer simply recovering—it is transforming.
From local economies in the five boroughs to global destinations across continents, the industry is evolving into a more resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking force.
With domestic markets driving stability, international travel gradually rebounding, and major global events on the horizon, tourism is poised to remain one of the most powerful engines of economic growth worldwide.
