In Brief: In May 2026, international visitors spent over $20.9 billion on travel and tourism in the United States, resulting in a $1.7 billion trade surplus, while total spending for the year to date slightly decreased compared to the previous year, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office.
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International Visitor Spending in the U.S. Slightly Declines in Early 2026, Passenger Fares Rise – Image Credit Unsplash
Overview of May 2026 Travel and Tourism Exports
Data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) indicate that international visitors spent more than $20.9 billion on travel to and tourism-related activities within the United States in May 2026. This figure represents a 1 percent increase compared to May 2025. In contrast, U.S. residents spent over $19.2 billion traveling abroad during the same month, which is nearly 1 percent less than the previous year.
The difference between international visitor spending in the U.S. and American spending abroad resulted in a $1.7 billion trade surplus for the United States in May. This surplus reflects the ongoing strength of the U.S. as a travel destination and its impact on the national economy.
Year-to-Date Spending Trends
From January through May 2026, international visitors have spent over $103.4 billion on travel and tourism-related goods and services in the United States. This cumulative amount is down nearly 1 percent compared to the same period in 2025. On average, international visitors contributed $685 million per day to the U.S. economy during this period.
The slight decline in year-to-date spending suggests a modest slowdown in international tourism activity compared to the previous year. However, the overall level of spending remains significant, supporting various sectors of the U.S. economy.
Breakdown of International Visitor Spending
International visitor spending in May 2026 is divided into several categories:
– Travel Spending: Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors totaled nearly $11.4 billion in May 2026. This category includes expenditures on food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation, and other incidental items. Compared to May 2025, this figure is down 1 percent. Travel receipts made up 54 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports for the month.
– Passenger Fare Receipts: U.S. carriers received $3.2 billion from international visitors for passenger fares in May 2026. This represents a nearly 14 percent increase from May 2025. Passenger fare receipts accounted for 15 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports during the month. These receipts reflect spending by foreign residents on international flights operated by U.S. airlines.
– Medical, Education, and Short-Term Worker Spending: Expenditures in this category, which includes educational and health-related tourism as well as spending by border, seasonal, and other short-term workers, totaled $6.3 billion in May 2026. This is a slight increase of 0.5 percent compared to the previous year. These expenditures accounted for 30 percent of total U.S. travel and tourism exports in May.
Conclusion
In summary, the latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office show that international visitor spending in the United States remained robust in May 2026, with a slight year-over-year increase for the month and a modest year-to-date decrease. Passenger fare receipts grew notably, while travel spending and other categories saw minor changes. The overall trade surplus highlights the continued importance of travel and tourism exports to the U.S. economy.