Home » Latest Travel News » Florida Joins Hawaii, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts and Arizona as US Tourism Continues Its Drop for Eight Straight Months and Is Projected to Decline Until the End of 2025
Published on
September 6, 2025
Tourism across the United States is in the midst of a significant downturn, with Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, and several other states feeling the impact. The broader tourism decline has now lasted for eight straight months and is expected to persist until at least the end of 2025. In Florida, for instance, visitor numbers dropped from 19.4 million in 2024 to 15.9 million in 2025, a decline of 3.5 million visitors. Similarly, Hawaii saw a decrease from 1.8 million visitors in 2024 to 1.5 million in 2025, reflecting a 300K loss in tourism. Other states, including Michigan and Arizona, experienced comparable declines, with Michigan’s tourism falling from 14.4 million to 10.9 million and Arizona losing 600K visitors.
This widespread slump is reshaping local economies, as international arrivals continue to decrease, particularly from neighboring Canada and Western Europe. Factors such as rising travel costs, shifting consumer preferences, and economic uncertainty are all contributing to the drop. Despite the challenges, domestic travel remains a bright spot, with 92% of Americans planning to travel in 2025. This surge in domestic travel is expected to provide some relief to certain regions, especially drive-to markets. However, the overall reduction in tourism has left significant gaps in revenue, especially in states heavily reliant on international visitors, highlighting the long-term challenges the U.S. tourism industry will face moving forward.
Florida Sees Notable Decline in Tourism Amid America’s Broader Tourism Drop
In 2025, Florida experienced a noticeable decline in tourism compared to the previous year, with total visitor numbers dropping from 19.4 million in 2024 to 15.9 million in 2025. This decline, amounting to 3.5 million visitors, was evident across nearly all months of the year. October saw a slight decrease, with 1.5 million visitors in 2024 compared to 1.4 million in 2025. The trend continued through November, where the visitor count dropped from 1.5 million in 2024 to 1.4 million in 2025. December, January, and February all showed decreases as well, with January in particular remaining unchanged at 1.8 million for both years.
While the decline was across all months, the drop in March from 1.7 million in 2024 to 1.6 million in 2025, and in July from 1.9 million in 2024 to 1.8 million in 2025, were significant. The most noticeable reduction occurred in August, with 1.7 million visitors in 2024, compared to N/A in 2025, reflecting possible changes in data reporting or reduced visitation during the summer months.
This overall decline of 3.5 million visitors suggests several potential factors such as economic shifts, higher travel costs, or changing visitor preferences. Despite Florida’s reputation as a top tourist destination with attractions like Walt Disney World, the Everglades, and its stunning beaches, these factors may have contributed to the decrease in visitor numbers. As Florida looks ahead, it may need to rethink its tourism strategies to address these challenges and reclaim its previous visitor volume in the coming years.
Hawaii Experiences Decline in Tourism as America’s Travel Numbers Fall
In 2025, Hawaii saw a noticeable decline in tourism compared to the previous year, with total visitor numbers dropping from 1.8 million in 2024 to 1.5 million in 2025. This marks a 300K decrease in visitors, a significant reduction over the course of the year. The decline was evident across multiple months, starting with October, where visitor numbers dipped from 145K in 2024 to 155K in 2025. However, as the months progressed, the drop became more noticeable. For example, in February, Hawaii saw only 134K visitors in 2025, compared to 140K in the same month of 2024. This pattern continued through March, with 151K visitors in 2025 compared to 155K in 2024.
The most significant decrease occurred during the summer months, with June and July showing noticeable drops in tourism. June saw 146K visitors in 2025, down from 155K in 2024, while July had 172K visitors in 2025, compared to 171K in 2024. Despite these declines, July and August remained relatively stable, although August’s figures were missing for 2025.
This overall decline can be attributed to a variety of factors, including rising travel costs, changing consumer preferences, or external challenges such as economic shifts or geopolitical factors. Despite Hawaii’s allure as a premier tourist destination with its beaches, resorts, and unique cultural offerings, this drop in visitation underscores the challenges the state faces in maintaining its tourism numbers. Moving forward, Hawaii may need to adapt its strategies to boost tourism and recover lost ground in 2025.
Michigan Faces Significant Decline in Tourism Amid Nationwide Travel Slowdown
Michigan has recently experienced a noticeable decline in the number of travelers, with a significant reduction in the flight numbers for 2025 compared to 2024. For the month of October 2025, travelers dropped to 1.2M, a slight decrease compared to 1.2M in October 2024. Similarly, in November 2025, 1.1M travelers were recorded, a small drop from the 1.1M seen in November 2024. However, the most significant decline appears to be in February 2025, with 887K travelers, compared to 995K in February 2024. By March 2025, the figures recovered slightly to 1.1M, matching the levels of March 2024. But throughout April to September, the trend continued to show fluctuations, with figures such as 954K in April 2025, a drop from 1.1M in April 2024, and 1.0M in May 2025. The summer months also showed slower growth, with 1.3M in July 2025, compared to 1.4M in July 2024. The overall decline in Michigan’s travel figures for 2025 is evident with a total of 10.9M travelers recorded for the year, marking a significant reduction from the 14.4M in 2024. This trend reflects broader challenges within the travel industry, including economic factors and shifting travel preferences.
Illinois Faces Decline in Tourism as Nationwide Travel Numbers Drop
The latest data reveals a noticeable decline in the number of travelers in Illinois for 2025 compared to the previous year. In October 2025, the recorded number of travelers was 557K, slightly higher than 545K in October 2024. However, the trend began to shift in November 2025, with 458K travelers, marking a decrease compared to 441K in November 2024. This downward trend continued through February 2025, where only 399K travelers were recorded, a stark decline from 415K in February 2024. While there was a slight rebound in March 2025, with 541K travelers compared to 555K in March 2024, the overall numbers remain below last year’s totals. In April, 552K travelers were recorded in 2025, a slight decrease from 550K in April 2024. By May 2025, 586K travelers were reported, showing a marginal improvement from 600K in May 2024, but still below the previous year’s figures. The total for 2025 was 5.5M, a considerable drop from 6.8M in 2024, highlighting a broader decline in travel activity across Illinois.
Massachusetts Struggles with Declining Tourism Amidst Nationwide Travel Decline
The latest data indicates a noticeable decline in the number of travelers in Massachusetts for 2025, compared to the previous year. For October 2025, the recorded number of travelers was 347K, slightly higher than the 315K seen in October 2024. However, by November 2025, the number dropped to 250K, compared to 224K in November 2024, reflecting a slight decline in travelers. The decline became more evident in February 2025, where only 223K travelers were recorded, compared to 196K in February 2024. There was a slight recovery in March 2025 with 307K travelers, a rise from 287K in March 2024, but the overall numbers still remained lower than the previous year. By April 2025, 349K travelers were recorded, slightly higher than the 323K in April 2024, and 360K in May 2025 was also slightly lower than the 352K in May 2024. The total for 2025 was 3.2M, marking a decline from 3.8M in 2024. This downward trend reflects broader challenges in the travel industry, potentially influenced by economic factors and changing travel habits.
Arizona Sees Decline in Tourism as Travel Trends Shift Across the US
In 2025, Arizona experienced a noticeable decline in tourism, with 3.2 million visitors recorded, down from 3.8 million in 2024. This represents a 600K drop in total visitor numbers year-over-year. The decline was particularly evident in the first quarter of the year. In January, the state saw 281K visitors in 2025, compared to 244K in the same month of 2024, showing a slight increase in January, but the trend quickly reversed in the following months. February saw 223K visitors in 2025, a significant drop from 197K in 2024, continuing the trend of reduced visitation.
Throughout the year, March showed a 307K visitor count in 2025, which was notably lower than 287K in 2024, continuing the downward trend. As we move into the summer months, Arizona did see some higher visitor numbers, with July recording 446K visitors, a slight decrease from the previous year’s 450K. However, the overall decline in the first half of the year led to the 600K drop in tourism.
This downturn could be attributed to various factors such as rising travel costs, shifting consumer preferences, or other external economic factors that impacted travel decisions. Despite Arizona’s many iconic attractions like the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and its renowned desert landscapes, these factors seem to have deterred a portion of travelers in 2025. As the state heads into 2025, it may need to adapt its tourism strategies to address these challenges and attract more visitors, possibly by enhancing the visitor experience, targeting new markets, and promoting unique Arizona offerings to reclaim its position as a top U.S. destination.
Other US States Also Feeling the Dust
Several US states are grappling with the impacts of a nationwide tourism decline, a trend that continues to worsen as 2025 progresses. Texas, after a temporary boost from hurricane evacuations in 2024, saw a 20% decline in tourism in 2025. Similarly, New Hampshire faced a 30% drop in room sales, retail receipts, and attraction visits, primarily due to the sharp decline in Canadian visitors. Maine recorded a 28% decline in Canadian visitors in July and continued to suffer a steady downturn for six months. Colorado, a state known for its mountain towns, reported a 40% drop in tourism, with 58% fewer Canadian visitors in the summer months.
In Montana, which relies heavily on tourism near Glacier National Park, there was a 37% drop in Canadian spending in Kalispell, with hotels in Whitefish seeing a 25% decline in business. Florida experienced a dramatic fall, from 19.4M visitors in 2024 to 15.9M in 2025, a decrease of 3.5M visitors. Hawaii saw its visitor numbers fall from 1.8M in 2024 to 1.5M in 2025, a loss of 300K visitors. Michigan and Arizona also saw declines, with Michigan’s numbers dropping from 14.4M to 10.9M and Arizona losing 600K visitors. In New York, international arrivals are expected to fall by 17%, equating to 2 million fewer visitors by year-end. This widespread tourism slump is reshaping local economies and poses long-term challenges for these states.
Industry Leaders Warn of Ongoing US Tourism Decline
Tourism associations and industry experts are sounding alarms over the continuing slump in U.S. tourism, which has now lasted for eight months and is expected to persist through 2025. Their warnings highlight the potential economic impact, with job losses, reduced business revenue, and a broader national economic downturn on the horizon.
Critical Projections from Tourism Associations
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): The WTTC has voiced its concern about the direction of U.S. tourism, predicting that the U.S. will be the only country out of 184 surveyed where foreign visitor spending will decline. They forecast a $12.5 billion drop in international spending for 2025. WTTC President Julia Simpson emphasized that while other nations are welcoming tourists, the U.S. is effectively closing its doors.
Tourism Economics’ Revised Forecast: Tourism Economics has adjusted its predictions after observing a negative shift in sentiment. Initially forecasting an 8.8% increase in international arrivals, they now project an 8.2% decrease in 2025. Director Aran Ryan referred to this as a “sustained setback” and warned that recovery may not come until 2029 due to the ongoing challenges.
U.S. Travel Association’s Concerns: The U.S. Travel Association has pointed to policies like higher visa fees as a major factor in the decline. Their president testified before Congress, acknowledging that the U.S. no longer holds the top spot for global tourism. A drop in Canadian visitors alone could result in the loss of 14,000 American jobs, according to their projections.
Challenges Facing the U.S. Hospitality Sector
Ted Pappageorge’s Insights
Ted Pappageorge, head of Nevada’s Culinary Workers Union Local 226, attributed the tourism decline in Las Vegas to what he called the “Trump slump.” He noted that many Latino visitors from Southern California are avoiding Las Vegas due to fears of immigration crackdowns, which has led to a slowdown in the state’s hospitality industry.
Amanda Hite on Hotel Demand
Amanda Hite, president of STR, a hotel analytics firm, identified several factors affecting hotel demand. She pointed to economic uncertainty, inflation, intensified competition, and shifting travel patterns as the primary reasons for declining occupancy rates. These combined pressures are forcing hotels to adjust their strategies in response to the challenging environment.
Anup Keshan, Founder and Editor in Chief Travel and Tour World, on the U.S. Tourism Decline
“While business travel and domestic travel are holding strong in the U.S., international leisure travel is seeing a sharp decline. Reports from the WTTC, Tourism Economics, and the U.S. Travel Association highlight a worrying trend, with the downturn expected to continue through the end of the year. Negative people sentiment, fueled by high tariffs and the trade war—especially with Canada and the European Union—is exacerbating the situation and the U.S. must adapt its strategies to attract international visitors.”
Domestic Travel Remains Strong
Within the U.S., domestic travel is proving to be a stronghold amid the broader decline in international tourism. Recent surveys indicate that 92% of Americans are planning to travel in 2025, a reassuring statistic for the tourism sector. Of those travelers, 56% expect to travel more than they did in 2024, signaling a rebound in consumer confidence and a shift in travel behavior post-pandemic. As a result, domestic spending on travel is projected to grow by 3.9%, reaching an impressive $1.35 trillion in 2025.
This increase in domestic travel helps to cushion the blow in certain regions, especially in drive-to markets, where tourists tend to stay closer to home and travel by car. These markets are benefiting from a steady flow of visitors, as Americans take advantage of shorter distances and more affordable travel options. Popular destinations in areas like national parks, beach towns, and cities within driving distance are seeing an uptick in foot traffic.
Conclusion
The U.S. tourism industry is facing a challenging period, marked by significant declines in visitor numbers and spending across multiple states. From Nevada and Florida to Michigan, Hawaii, and Arizona, tourism has been on a downward trajectory throughout 2025, exacerbated by factors such as rising travel costs, shifting consumer preferences, and external economic pressures. International arrivals have also sharply decreased, with Canada and Western Europe showing notable drops in visitors. Despite these setbacks, domestic travel continues to be a bright spot, with 92% of Americans planning to travel in 2025, signaling a strong recovery in local tourism. However, the overall decrease in international visitors and their higher spending levels has left a gap that is deeply felt in key tourism markets across the country. As the industry grapples with these challenges, it will need to adapt, with strategies that focus on attracting both domestic and international visitors, addressing economic shifts, and rethinking policies to foster long-term growth and stability in the tourism sector.
