by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:10 AM ET, Tue October 14, 2025
New data showcases the strength of Seattle’s tourism industry last year, having welcomed 2.4 million international visitors from countries like Canada, South Korea and Ukraine.
According to new data from Tourism Economics, Seattle experienced a banner year for international tourism in 2024, with total visitor spending growing 7.2 percent from 2023 and 8.3 above the pre-pandemic level for a total of $8.8 billion. International traveler spending comprises $970 million of that total.
“Seattle’s global appeal continues to grow and evolve, even as the tourism industry navigates ongoing challenges,” said Tammy Canavan, President and CEO of Visit Seattle. “We’re encouraged by the strong visitor engagement we saw in 2024, which reflects the dedication of our tourism and hospitality partners. International visitors remain a vital part of our visitor economy, and we look forward to welcoming them in greater numbers in the coming years.”
Who Visited Seattle in 2024?
Canadians made up the largest share of international visitors, with 1.7 million travelers visiting, which is just over 73 percent of international visitation.
China followed with over 106,000 visitors, India rose to third place with a modest 74,700 visitors, while other smaller markets included the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, Japan, Australia, France and Taiwan.
Of the share of international visitors spending the most in Seattle during 2024, Canada was notably on top last year, spending $585.6 million of the $970 spent by international visitors. The other largest shares include China and India; notably, travelers from Ukraine entered the top ten biggest spenders list for the first time.
A Look at Seattle’s International Visitor Challenges in 2025
This has become Seattle’s biggest challenge in 2025, with a 26.9 percent decline in international overnight visitation, 99 percent of which is attributed to less Canadian visitors due to current geopolitical issues and made worse by “policy headwinds such as heightened visa scrutiny and new interview requirements.”
The drop in expected visitation is the steepest drop reported among major U.S. travel destinations, though the historic drop is happening all across the country as Canadian boycott visiting the United States or purchasing American-made products or brands.
Washington state, by comparison, is expecting a smaller decline of 20 percent in Canadian visitor spending, which is about $10 per capita.
Heading into 2026, Seattle hopes to interest more international visitors with new routes to destinations like Copenhagen and Hong Kong, and as a host city for the FIFA World Cup, which the state expects 750,000 people to attend.
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