Home » America Travel News » New York City Tourism Shows Modest Growth in 2025, Still Lagging Behind Pre-Pandemic Levels
Published on
January 6, 2026
Tourism in New York City showed modest progress in 2025, but the recovery was much slower than anticipated. The city’s tourism agency, NYC Tourism + Conventions, reported a slight 0.3% increase in visitors from 2024, bringing the total number of tourists to 64.7 million. While this uptick indicates some recovery, it was far below the city’s ambitious goal of 67 million visitors. It also failed to surpass the record set in 2019, when the city welcomed 66.6 million visitors.
The primary challenge to tourism growth in 2025 was the continued decline in international travel. The agency attributed this to several factors, including economic and political conditions, as well as a climate of negativity surrounding travel to the United States. “Tariffs and negative rhetoric” were cited as significant contributors to a nearly 5% decrease in international visitors compared to the previous year. International arrivals dropped from 12.9 million in 2024 to 12.3 million in 2025, a significant dip that particularly affected the city’s relationship with Western European countries.
Several of New York’s largest international markets experienced notable declines. Canada, which has traditionally been the city’s top international market, recorded the sharpest decrease. In 2025, Canadian arrivals dropped by 19%, a considerable downturn. Germany followed with a 10% decline, and France saw a 7% decrease. Other countries that showed decreases include Mexico and Spain, both down 5%, China with a 4% drop, and the United Kingdom, which saw a 3% reduction in visitors. On a positive note, a few countries saw minor increases in visitation, including Italy, Brazil, and Australia, with gains ranging from 1% to 2%.
Canada’s retreat from New York was particularly concerning for the tourism sector. In October 2025, Canadian arrivals to the U.S. dropped drastically, with a 24% decrease in air travel and a 31% drop in car travel compared to the same month the previous year. This decline added pressure to New York’s tourism recovery, as Canada had long been the city’s leading international market.
In light of these trends, NYC Tourism + Conventions revised its expectations for 2026. The agency now forecasts that the city will welcome approximately 66 million visitors in 2026, which is still over half a million short of the 2019 record. This new forecast also includes an estimated 12.7 million international travelers. Trade tensions and the overall negative sentiment around U.S. travel are expected to continue to weigh on demand, particularly from Canada and Mexico, two of New York’s largest overseas markets.
On the domestic front, tourism showed some signs of resilience. While international tourism faced challenges, U.S.-based travelers provided a crucial boost. Domestic leisure travel in 2025 increased by 1.5%, with an estimated 52.2 million visitors. This figure is expected to climb to 53.3 million in 2026, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time since the outbreak. Domestic tourists have been a major factor in the city’s tourism recovery, offsetting some of the declines seen from international markets.
However, the business travel sector remains a weak point in New York’s tourism industry. Despite a slight increase in domestic tourism, business travel has still not reached pre-pandemic levels. In fact, corporate travel stagnated in 2025 and is unlikely to return to 2019 levels until 2029, largely due to economic uncertainties and the changing nature of work, including the growing trend of remote and hybrid work arrangements.
Despite the challenges faced in 2025, New York’s hotel industry showed signs of strength. Even as overall tourist numbers dipped, hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose by more than 4%, signaling strong performance in terms of pricing and premium offerings. Luxury hotels in particular fared well, continuing to attract high-spending tourists, both domestic and international. These properties, favored by affluent travelers, contributed significantly to the overall financial health of the hospitality sector. Even as occupancy rates saw a slight dip, revenue generated from high-end accommodations helped cushion the impact of softer overall visitor numbers.
The city’s tourism sector remains a major driver of economic activity, contributing significantly to job creation, local business revenues, and international visibility. While 2025 was a year of modest growth, the challenges faced—particularly with international tourism—highlight the ongoing volatility of global travel. Despite this, New York continues to be a top destination for both leisure and luxury travelers, and its tourism outlook for 2026 remains cautiously optimistic.
Looking ahead, the city’s tourism strategy will likely focus on boosting domestic tourism, promoting luxury travel, and finding new ways to attract international visitors as geopolitical conditions evolve. While trade tensions and political factors may continue to influence the international tourism landscape, New York’s status as a global icon and top-tier travel destination will likely remain a key factor in driving future growth.
