New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reports federal tariffs have led to a significant drop in international tourism and exports, impacting the state’s economy.
NEW YORK — New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued an analysis on Thursday saying federal tariffs are hurting New York’s tourism and NY exports.
DiNapoli says that New York had one of the highest drop of any state in international tourism in 2025, a loss of over 176,000 visitors, second to California. He says exports to Canada have also declined by $3.8 billion dollars due to the tariffs.
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According to DiNapoli, that decline has hurt the state economy, especially hotels and restaurants.
“Federal policies are driving foreign travelers away and taking billions in tourism spending and harming our economy as exports substantially decline,” DiNapoli said in a press release. “That loss of revenue means fewer jobs in New York and tougher times for those working in the tourism industry. We’re already seeing the consequences, especially in hotels and restaurants in those regions near the Canadian border. New York is a top destination for tourists to the U.S., and policies that welcome and encourage international travel are needed to avoid damaging economic consequences.”
International travelers spent nearly $17 billion in New York in 2024, according to the report, but tourism-related GDP was flat in 2025 as hotel occupancy dipped 1.2% and employment trends varied by region.
The report states the travel industry supported more than 932,000 private-sector jobs in 2024 and paid $45.4 billion in wages. Growth slowed in 2025, with a small drop in hotel and restaurant jobs even as overall employment in those fields rose slightly.
New York saw a sharp drop in park attendance in 2025, including an 18.2% decline in visits to national park sites. State parks also lost more than 2.3 million visitors, with Niagara Reservation among the locations seeing declines, the report states.
2 On Your Side reached out to the White House for a response to the report and received this statement from White House Spokesperson Kush Desai:
“New York Democrats like Chuck Schumer spent decades talking about how lopsided trade deals were fueling runaway trade deficits and hollowing out American industries, jobs, and communities. In the one year since Liberation Day, President Trump has actually done something about this crisis: signing over 20 new trade deals, securing trillions in manufacturing investments, and shrinking our goods trade deficits. As these deals and investments continue taking effect, and as more are secured, President Trump will keep delivering for the American people.”