International arrivals to the United States fell 5.5% in April 2026, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), while outbound travel by U.S. citizens rose 2%.
Inbound visitor numbers dip amid seasonal shift
The NTTO reported that 5,645,630 non‑U.S. residents entered the country in April, a drop from the same month a year earlier. The decline coincided with Easter moving from April 20 in 2025 to April 5 in 2026, a timing change that likely altered travel plans for tourists and students alike.
Mexico remained the top source market, delivering 1,665,114 arrivals, followed by Canada with 1,363,690. The United Kingdom, France and India contributed 356,712, 161,811 and 156,279 visitors respectively, together accounting for roughly two‑thirds of all inbound traffic.
When the data exclude the two neighboring countries, the United Kingdom led overseas tourism with 304,371 visitors, France delivered 144,974, and Brazil added 137,041. Business travel from abroad was dominated by the United Kingdom (50,892 trips) and India (38,107), while student arrivals were led by China (8,230) and India (4,981).
Outbound travel gains momentum, especially to North America
U.S. citizens made 8,518,078 international departures in April, up 2% from the previous year. Half of those trips headed to North America, with Mexico attracting 3,204,057 departures (37.6% of the total) and Canada seeing a 6.5% year‑over‑year increase.
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Europe accounted for 21.5% of outbound trips, with 1,834,932 departures, and showed a 5.2% rise over April 2025. Year‑to‑date, Mexico and the Caribbean together comprised 53.4% of all U.S. outbound travel, showing the continued preference for nearby destinations.
These figures suggest that while the United States is seeing fewer foreign visitors, Americans are traveling abroad at a steadier pace, especially to familiar markets across the border and across the Atlantic.
The shift in travel patterns reflects broader changes in consumer confidence and airline capacity, but the data also hint at a lingering impact of pandemic‑era restrictions that reshaped how people plan vacations. Even as restrictions have eased, the timing of holidays still appears to shape the flow of travelers, a factor that could keep influencing numbers for the foreseeable future.
Analysts note that the drop in inbound visitors may be temporary, given that the United States still commands a large share of global tourism demand. However, the steady rise in outbound travel could pressure domestic tourism operators to adapt, especially as American tourists continue to favor short‑haul destinations that offer lower costs and quicker turnarounds.
Overall, April’s statistics point to a subtle picture: inbound tourism contracts modestly, while outbound travel expands, driven by familiar, neighboring markets and a modest rebound in European travel.