by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Thu September 3, 2026
Travel industry CEOs pose with President Trump inside the Oval Office. (Photo Credit: US Travel Association)
The U.S. Travel Association is celebrating a key meeting between travel industry leaders and President Donald Trump, urging the federal government to support the industry’s goal of welcoming 100 million international visitors to the United States annually by 2030.
The U.S. Travel Association’s President and CEO, Geoff Freeman, praised the meeting, saying in part, “The World Cup, America250 and a strong summer of travel showed what’s possible when we get travel right. The next goal should be 100 million international visitors a year by 2030—striving to make the United States the most visited country in the world.”
Yet welcoming 100 million international visitors in a year wouldn’t make the United States the most-visited country in the world.
France is currently the most-visited country in the world, having welcomed a record 102 million international visitors in 2025, and it’s expected to maintain or exceed that number this year. Spain is currently in second place, having welcomed 96.8 million international visitors last year.
By comparison, recent data shows that the United States welcomed 68 million international visitors in 2025, which is 86% of the pre-pandemic average and a decrease of 5.5% year-over-year, indicating that the nation will have to shift towards becoming more favorable towards international visitors—and fast, if it wants to welcome an additional 32 million travelers a year in the next four years.
Freeman used 2018 record international visitation numbers of just under 80 million visitors as a key point that a Trump administration can deliver on the desired goal—yet challenges from more intensive visa restrictions to international travelers’ perceptions about the United States abound.
However, the United States would see a massive economic impact if it reached that goal.
“Getting to 100 million would result in $81 billion in additional spending, more than 400,000 American jobs and millions more people coming here, experiencing America for themselves and telling their friends and family that they should do the same,” said Freeman. “The American people are the best ambassadors we have. Let’s give them the opportunity to show our great country off. Our industry is ready to work with the president and his administration to build on today’s momentum.”
The United States remains the world’s largest tourism economy. Still, with slowing international travel growth and China’s major post-pandemic rebound, China is currently on track to overtake the United States by 2036 as the world’s largest tourism economy.
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