China, India Power US Tourism Spending, Lead Overseas Visitor Outlay

Last Updated:April 30, 2026, 09:44 IST

The NTTO study, cited by TOI, said the data captures spending by international visitors on travel-related goods and services across US states

Travellers from China and India remain among the biggest contributors to the US economy, despite both countries being described as “hellholes" in a remark reposted by former US President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Times of India citing.

Quoting a study by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), TOI reported that visitors from the top 10 overseas markets, including China and India, accounted for 59% of total foreign visitor spending in the US. Other countries in the list include the UK, Brazil, South Korea, Germany, Japan, Australia, Italy and Colombia.

The NTTO study, cited by TOI, said the data captures spending by international visitors on travel-related goods and services across US states, along with the jobs supported by such expenditure.

$169.8 Billion Spent By Overseas Visitors

According to the report, the US received over 3.5 crore overseas visitors in 2024, excluding arrivals from neighbouring Canada and Mexico. These travellers spent around $169.8 billion on travel, education and related services, directly supporting nearly 906,000 jobs in the US economy, TOI reported.

The bulk of this spending was concentrated in a few states, with New York, California, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts together accounting for $99.7 billion, or 58.7% of total overseas visitor expenditure.

India Among Key Markets, Growth Slows

While India continues to be one of the leading source markets for inbound travel to the US, TOI reported that growth has slowed in recent years. Factors such as visa delays, higher airfares and limited connectivity have impacted the pace of increase in Indian travellers.

Despite these challenges, both India and China remain among the most significant contributors to US tourism revenue, underlining their importance to the sector.

News world China, India Power US Tourism Spending, Lead Overseas Visitor Outlay

Read More