us travel tourism

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism in the U.S. - statistics & facts

What are the most popular travel destinations in the u.s., u.s. travel trends, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Tourism contribution to GDP in the U.S. 2019-2022

Total travel expenditures in the U.S. 2019-2026

Number of domestic leisure and business trips in the U.S. 2019-2026

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

International travel spending in the U.S. 2019-2026

Leading city destinations in the U.S. 2019, by number of international arrivals

Related topics

Recommended.

• National park tourism in the U.S.
• Millennial travel behavior in the U.S.
• Tourism worldwide
• Hotel industry worldwide
• Sustainable tourism worldwide

Recommended statistics

Industry overview.

• Premium Statistic Total travel expenditures in the U.S. 2019-2026
• Premium Statistic Direct travel spending in the U.S. 2019-2021, by traveler type
• Premium Statistic International travel spending in the U.S. 2019-2026
• Premium Statistic Domestic travel spending in the U.S. 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of total travel gross bookings in the U.S. 2021, by segment
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in the U.S. 2010-2020, by region of origin
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic leisure and business trips in the U.S. 2019-2026

Total travel spending in the United States from 2019 to 2021, with a forecast until 2026 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Direct travel spending in the U.S. 2019-2021, by traveler type

Total direct travel spending in the United States from 2019 to 2021, by type of traveler (in billion U.S. dollars)

International travel spending in the United States from 2019 to 2021, with a forecast until 2026 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Domestic travel spending in the U.S. 2019-2022

Domestic travel spending in the United States from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Share of total travel gross bookings in the U.S. 2021, by segment

Share of total travel gross bookings in the United States in 2021, by segment

Inbound tourism volume in the U.S. 2010-2020, by region of origin

Number of international tourist arrivals in the United States from 2010 to 2020, by region of origin (in millions)

Number of domestic business and leisure trips in the United States from 2019 to 2022, with a forecast until 2026 (in billions)

• Premium Statistic U.S. hotel and motel industry market size 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel jobs in the U.S. 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic ADR of hotels in the U.S. 2001-2022
• Premium Statistic Occupancy rate of the U.S. hotel industry 2001-2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue per available room of the U.S. hotel industry 2001-2022
• Premium Statistic Change in monthly number of hotel bookings in the U.S. 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic YoY monthly change in number of online hotel searches in the U.S. 2020-2022

U.S. hotel and motel industry market size 2012-2022

Market size of the hotel and motel sector in the United States from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of hotel jobs in the U.S. 2018-2022

Number of hotel jobs in the United States from 2018 to 2021, with a forecast for 2022 (in millions)

ADR of hotels in the U.S. 2001-2022

Average daily rate of hotels in the United States from 2001 to 2022 (in U.S. dollars)

Occupancy rate of the U.S. hotel industry 2001-2022

Occupancy rate of the hotel industry in the United States from 2001 to 2022

Revenue per available room of the U.S. hotel industry 2001-2022

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) of hotel industry in the United States from 2001 to 2022 (in U.S. dollars)

Change in monthly number of hotel bookings in the U.S. 2020-2022

Year-over-year monthly change in number of hotel bookings in the United States from 2020 to 2022

YoY monthly change in number of online hotel searches in the U.S. 2020-2022

Year-over-year monthly change in number of online hotel searches in the United States from 2020 to 2022

Attractions

• Basic Statistic Leading cities by number of cultural attractions worldwide as of June 2021
• Premium Statistic Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic U.S. amusement park industry market size 2011-2022

Leading cities by number of cultural attractions worldwide as of June 2021

Selected leading cities ranked by number of cultural attractions worldwide as of June 2021

Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022

Most visited museums worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in millions)

Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022

Leading amusement and theme parks worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by attendance (in millions)

U.S. amusement park industry market size 2011-2022

Market size of the amusement park sector in the United States from 2011 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

City tourism

• Premium Statistic Most attractive city destinations worldwide 2021, by pillar
• Premium Statistic Leading city destinations in the U.S. 2019, by number of international arrivals
• Basic Statistic Selected cities with the highest hotel rates in the U.S. as of September 2023
• Premium Statistic Cheapest cities to travel to in the U.S. 2021, by daily price
• Basic Statistic Most affordable cities for backpacking in the U.S. 2022, by daily price

Most attractive city destinations worldwide 2021, by pillar

Leading city destinations worldwide in 2021, by tourism attractiveness (index ranking)

Leading city destinations in the United States in 2019, by number of international arrivals (in millions)

Selected cities with the highest hotel rates in the U.S. as of September 2023

Selected cities with the most expensive hotel rates in the United States as of September 2023 (in U.S. dollars)

Cheapest cities to travel to in the U.S. 2021, by daily price

Cheapest cities to visit in the United States as of November 2021, by daily price (in U.S. dollars)

Most affordable cities for backpacking in the U.S. 2022, by daily price

Most affordable cities for backpacking in the United States as of June 2022, by daily price (in U.S. dollars)

Selected trends

• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Number of Airbnb users in the U.S. 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Market size of the ecotourism sector in the U.S. 2020-2021
• Premium Statistic Willingness to pay more for green accommodation in the U.S. 2021, by generation

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2022, by region

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of Airbnb users in the U.S. 2016-2022

Number of Airbnb users in the United States from 2016 to 2022 (in millions)

Market size of the ecotourism sector in the U.S. 2020-2021

Market size of the ecotourism sector in the United States from 2020 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Willingness to pay more for green accommodation in the U.S. 2021, by generation

Share of adults that would be willing to pay more money for eco-friendly accommodation in the United States as of August 2021, by generation

Traveler opinions

• Premium Statistic Trust in travel and hospitality brands in the U.S. 2022, by brand type
• Premium Statistic Opinion on social media presence of online travel brands in the U.S. 2021, by age
• Premium Statistic Leading destinations travelers intend to visit in the next 12 months in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic Willingness to pay more for free booking changes in the U.S. 2021, by generation

Trust in travel and hospitality brands in the U.S. 2022, by brand type

Level of trust in travel and hospitality brands in the United States as of April 2022, by brand type

Opinion on social media presence of online travel brands in the U.S. 2021, by age

Online travel brands believed to have the best social media presence in the United States as of August 2021, by generation

Leading destinations travelers intend to visit in the next 12 months in the U.S. 2022

Leading leisure travel destinations travelers intend to go to in the next 12 months in the United States as of April 2022

Willingness to pay more for free booking changes in the U.S. 2021, by generation

Share of adults that would be willing to pay more money for free cancellation/date change/refund on accommodation in the United States as of August 2021, by generation

Impact of the coronavirus

• Premium Statistic Change in monthly number of international tourist arrivals in the U.S. 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Effect on hotel sector KPIs in the U.S. due to COVID-19 2020-2021 vs. 2019
• Premium Statistic U.S. adults concerned about taking a vacation due to COVID-19 in the U.S. 2022
• Premium Statistic U.S. public interest in staying at a hotel post COVID-19 as of March 2021

Change in monthly number of international tourist arrivals in the U.S. 2020-2022

Year-over-year change in monthly number of international tourist arrivals in the United States from 2020 to 2022

Effect on hotel sector KPIs in the U.S. due to COVID-19 2020-2021 vs. 2019

Impact on the hotel industry's key performance indicators due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States in 2020 and 2021 vs. 2019

U.S. adults concerned about taking a vacation due to COVID-19 in the U.S. 2022

Share of adults that are concerned about taking a vacation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States as of March 2022

U.S. public interest in staying at a hotel post COVID-19 as of March 2021

Level of public excitement to stay at a hotel once the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is under control and the economy has reopened in the United States as of March 2021

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Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism satellite account for 2017-2021.

The travel and tourism industry—as measured by the real output of goods and services sold directly to visitors—increased 64.4 percent in 2021 after decreasing 50.7 percent in 2020, according to the most recent statistics from BEA’s Travel and Tourism Satellite Account.

Data & Articles

• U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2017–2021 By Sarah Osborne - Survey of Current Business February 2023
• "U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2015–2019" By Sarah Osborne - Survey of Current Business December 2020
• "U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account for 2015-2017" By Sarah Osborne and Seth Markowitz - Survey of Current Business June 2018
• Tourism Satellite Accounts 1998-2019
• Tourism Satellite Accounts Data Sheets A complete set of detailed annual statistics for 2017-2021 is coming soon -->
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What are you looking for?

77+ us travel & tourism statistics (2023).

A huge country with 50 states, the U.S. is undoubtedly one of the strongest nations in the world.

It’s also a very popular destination amongst global travellers, thanks to the sheer diversity of its attractions that include manmade wonders and natural landmarks alike.

From financial metropolis to star-studded cities, there’s something for everyone!

For instance, the epic national parks found when exploring Utah and the epic coastal views and nightlife in Santa Barbara .

Did you know that 79.3 million people visit the U.S. in 2019 alone?

The direct domestic and international traveller spending in 2019 totaled to roughly $1.1 trillion.

Yes, travel and tourism plays a key role in the country’s economy.

Below, we’ve summed up some of the most important statistics about U.S. tourism, including the number of outbound travellers, its most popular destinations, and the effects of the recent Covid-19 pandemic .

Let’s dive in!

Sources : Attached with each stat is the source article or data. For a full list of all the sources used, head to the bottom of the post.

Travellerspoint

How many people visit the US each year?

There were around 79.3 million international visitations to the U.S. in 2019.

How big is the tourism industry in the US?

The direct domestic and international traveller spending in 2019 was $1.1 trillion, which resulted in $2.6 trillion of economic output.

Which country visits USA the most?

The country that visits the USA the most is Canada , with 20.7 million trips recorded in 2019 alone. This is followed by Mexico with 18.1 million trips.

How much money do US tourists spend abroad each year?

The average U.S. tourist spends $6,080 abroad.

US Travel & Tourism Key Statistics

• The average overseas traveller spent $3,700 during their visit to the U.S. 
• The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy aims to welcome 90 million international visitors annually by 2027.
• The most popular travel destination for U.S. resident travellers in 2019 is Mexico, with 39.3 million visitors.
• The travel and tourism industry was the largest services export in 2019, producing a trade surplus of $53.4 billion in.
• In 2019, there were 9.5 million jobs in the American travel and tourism industry.
• 1 in every 20 jobs in the U.S. was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. 
• With 5.42 million foreign visitors in 2020, New York is the most popular city destination in the U.S.
• In 2021, the U.S. hotel and motel market size was valued at $171.1 billion.
• A third of the 9 million direct travel jobs were lost when the pandemic hit in 2020.
• In 2020, the number of outbound tourists from the United States fell to 33.5 million, only one third of the 2019 figure.

International inbound tourism in the US

1. there were around 79.3 million international visitations to the u.s. in 2019..

[U.S. Travel]

2. 20.7 million of those were made by Canadian residents.

Canada had the largest share of global visitations to the U.S.

The closest US state to Canada is Alaska, and there lots of interesting things to do there !

3. The second largest share of global visitations to the U.S. in 2019 was from Mexico.

This was followed by the UK (4.8 million) , Japan (3.8 million), and China (2.8 million).

4. Excluding Canada and Mexico, the U.S. received 40 million overseas visitors in 2019.

5. the average overseas traveller spent $3,700 during their visit to the u.s. , 6. each overseas traveller stayed an average of 17 nights., 7. however, international arrivals in the u.s. declined to 29 million in 2021. this is a 36% decrease from 2019., 8. the 2022 national travel and tourism strategy aims to welcome 90 million international visitors annually by 2027..

[U.S. Commerce]

9. There were approximately 5.4 million arrivals to the U.S. by overseas business travellers in 2019.

Us outbound travel statistics, 10. there were 99.74 million outbound tourists from the united states in 2019..

11. The most popular destination for U.S. resident travellers in 2019 is Mexico, with 39.3 million visitors.

We can see that a huge proportion of U.S. residents who travel internationally prefer to visit nearby countries like Mexico, with 39.3 million visitors in 2019 .

12. This is followed by Canada (15 million), the UK (3.9 million), Italy (3.2 million), and France (3.1 million).

France is the fifth most popular destinations for US residents, with 3.1 million trips made in 2019 .

13. Barbados received six times the number of U.S. visitors in 2019 than it did in 2014.

14. over the same five year period, the number of american tourists travelling to iceland and morocco rose threefold..

In comparison, 177 thousand Americans travelled to Peru in 2021.

15. As of July 2022, a survey reported that 36% of Americans plan to travel over the next three months.

16. in 2019, 9.4 million trips were taken to the caribbean from the united states..

[TourismAnalytics]

17. 19 million trips were made in 2019 from the U.S. to Europe . This decreased by 86.4% in 2020.

There were a total of 19 million European trips made by Americans from the U.S. in 2019, while only 2.58 million such trips were taken in 2020.

18. The total trips taken to Mexico by air fell from 10.2 million trips in 2019 to 5 million trips in 2020.

19. 63% of adults in the united states have taken a staycation, while 37% have not..

Staycation refers to a holiday spent in one’s home country or city, often involving visits to local attractions.

According to Thrillist, Moab is one of the top staycation destinations in 2023. Surrounded by scenic landscapes and national parks, the best things to do in Moab are centered around its nature.

American travel & tourism economy

20. the travel and tourism industry was the largest services export in 2019, producing a trade surplus of $53.4 billion in..

It’s an extremely important industry with a huge role in lowering the country’s overall trade deficit.

21. Without the tourism industry, the U.S. trade deficit would be 9.3% higher at $630 billion, instead of $576 billion.

22. in 2025, international travel spending in the u.s. is predicted to reach $198 billion., 23. overall, domestic and international travellers spent over $680 billion in 2020., 24. this number comprises of $642.2 billion by domestic travellers and $38.1 billion by international travellers., 25. the direct domestic and international traveller spending in 2019 was $1.1 trillion, which resulted in $2.6 trillion of economic output., 26. the total domestic and international expenditure on business tourism in the united sates was $354 billion in 2019 alone..

The G20 member country with the highest business travel spending in 2019 was the U.S.

Jobs in American travel & tourism industry

27. in 2019, there were 9.5 million jobs in the american travel and tourism industry., 28. 1 in every 20 jobs in the u.s. was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. .

Jobs varied in different fields, including food services, arts, entertainment, and transportation.

29. In 2022, 5.1 million people are employed in the U.S. tourism industry.

[IBIS World]

30. In terms of employment growth, the number of employees in the travel industry has decreased by 2.9% on average between 2017 and 2022.

This decline is mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

31. Tourism businesses in the United States have an average of 10.4 employees.

32. in terms of employment, travel was within the top 10 industries in 49 states and d.c..

This became only in 25 states in 2021.

33. The American glamping industry was worth $463.7 million in 2021, or 28.9% higher than 2020.

[Grand Review Research]

A subsector in the US travel and tourism industry that is on the rise is the glamping industry, which had a market share of $463.7 million in 2021 .

Popular travel destinations in the US

34. with 5.42 million foreign visitors in 2020, new york is the most popular city destination in the u.s., 35. new york is the city with the fourth most cultural attractions worldwide, with 2,119 attractions open to the public..

The city with the highest number of cultural attractions is Tokyo.

36. After New York, the most popular city destinations in the U.S. are Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.

As the fourth most popular city destination in the US, there are surely many things to do in San Francisco .

Likewise, there are also lots of things to do in Las Vegas that would cater to different types of travellers.

Read more: Las Vegas Travel & Tourism Statistics

37. The cheapest city in the U.S. for backpacking is New Orleans, with an average cost of $94.7 dollars per day.

New Orleans is reportedly the most affordable city destination for backpacking in the country.

This includes a dorm bed in a hostel, three budget meals, two rides on public transportation, one paid visit to a cultural attraction, and a small entertainment fund.

38. The second cheapest U.S. city for backpacking is Miami Beach ($97.9 per day).

And surprisingly, LA is the fourth cheapest city for backpacking in the US . There are quite a lot of things to do in Los Angeles that are free or affordable.

US travel & tourism activities

39. the most popular cultural activity for travellers in the u.s is visiting history or art museums (65% of respondents)..

[CondorFerries]

40. For overseas visitors to the U.S., shopping is the most popular activity (54%), followed by visiting historical or cultural sights (49%) and dining in restaurants (49%).

Shopping is one of the things you must do when in Seattle , as it's full of independent shops and major department stores alike.

41. 33% of visitors will usually book a beauty and spa session during their stay in the U.S.

42. 15% of people who visit the united states will stay at a mindfulness or meditation retreat., 43. in 2020, magic kingdom (walt disney world) had 7 million visitors, making it the world’s most visited amusement park. .

It received 20.96 million visitors in 2019, much higher consider the pre-pandemic circumstances. This was also the highest number of visitors compared to other amusement parks worldwide.

44. Disney’s Animal Kindgom recorded 4.17 million visitors in 2020. It’s the fifth most visited amusement park in the world.

45. the most visited waterpark worldwide is the typhoon lagoon at disney world, in orlando, fl. it welcomed 2.25 visitors in 2019., 46. as of march 2020, 51% of travellers in the u.s. believed there were not enough sustainable travel options available., sports impact on us travel industry, 47. the total size of the north american sports market (united states, canada and mexico) was $71.1 billion in 2018., 48. in 2018, over 150 million people attended professional events for the five major sports leagues..

The five major sports leagues include MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLS.

49. With 190 million domestic trips, sports travel constituted 8% of the domestic travel market in 2018.

50. travellers attending or participating in a sports event spent an aggregate of $41 billion..

51. In 2019, 37% of international travellers in the U.S. said they were interested in an NBA, NFL or MLB experience. 

This was an increase from 24% in 2018, which indicates a growing demand from international travellers to attend American sporting events.

US hotels statistics

52. in 2021, the u.s. hotel and motel market size was valued at $171.1 billion..

This has increased from the total of $127 billion in 2020 , and is expected to rise to $258.13 billion in 2022.

53. The U.S. hotel occupancy rate in 2021 is 57.6%, an increase from just 44% in 2020.

54. There were 33.9 million adults using Airbnb in the United States in 2017. This is expected to reach 45.6 million in 2022.

In 2017, 33.9 million adults used Airbnb in the United States. 

55. As of January 2022, an average hotel room in Miami cost $304, the highest out of all other American cities.

The average rate for a hotel room in New York was $235, which is the second most expensive in the country.

56. The revenue per available room (RevPAR) of the American hotel industry was $72 in 2021, compared to $45.48 in 2020.

The revenue per available room is calculated from the average daily rate (ADR) and the occupancy rate.

57. The leading hotel company in the Americas is Wyndham Hotel Group, with approximately 7,000 properties there. 

The second and third place fall to Choice Hotels International and Marriott International respectively.

58. In terms of number of guestrooms, Marriott International takes the title with 985,756 guestrooms in the Americas alone.

This is followed by Hilton Worldwide with a total of 757,431 rooms.

59. 3 in 4 hotels in the US allow pets.

Approximately 75% of all hotels in the United States allow pets , which is a huge encouragement for people who want to travel with their pets.

US tourism booking

60. 48% of all experience bookings are made after travellers arrive at their destination..

[TrekkSoft]

61. In 2019, “near me” searches on Google Maps grew 150% from the previous year.

62. 51% of us travellers spend less than a week researching once they decide to go on a trip..

[Facebook IQ]

Just over half of travellers from the U.S. spend less than one week to research and plan their trip .

63. The most bookings are made at 10am CET, while 6am CET is the time of the day with the least amount of bookings made.

The highest number of online bookings for US travellers are made at 10am CET.

Why Americans travel

64. 55% of gen z travel to expand their knowledge and experience, while 40% travel to avoid stress and relax., 65. 37% of millennial and gen z travellers are most willing to splurge on food and drink experiences..

Taking food tours is one of the best things to do in Portland , as it's a true haven for foodies.

In fact, 37% of millennial and Gen Z who travels are willing to spend more on culinary experiences.

66. They are least willing to splurge on accommodation and airfare upgrades.

67. 66% of solo travellers travel alone because they want to see the world without having to wait for others..

[SoloTravelerWorld]

In the US, 66% of solo travellers say that they like to travel alone because of the ability to explore without waiting for other people.

68. 48% of solo travellers like the feeling of freedom and independence.

69. other popular reasons for solo travelling include wanting to meet new people, for personal growth, and having different interests than their friends., 70. in 2019, u.s. travellers took 464 million domestic business trips., 71. 28% of family travellers travel for play vacation, while 27% are for a relaxing trip. 13% say that their trips are a holiday to visit family or friends, and 11% are for a sightseeing vacation..

[ShortTermRentalz]

Family vacation is one of the major reasons for travelling in the U.S. In fact, 28% of family travellers travel for play vacation.

Covid-19 pandemic impact on US travel & tourism

72. from february to april 2020, 8.2 million jobs were lost in the leisure and hospitality industry..

This accounted for 37% of the total decrease in nonfarm employment during this period.

73. A third of the 9 million direct travel jobs were lost when the pandemic hit in 2020.

74. In 2021, 2.3 million jobs generated by travel were still lost, which means it was back to only 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

75. international arrivals rose back up in 2021, rising to 22.1 million from just 19.2 million in 2020..

This was a huge effect of the global vaccination programs and lifting of international and domestic travel restrictions.

76. In 2020, the number of outbound tourists from the United States fell to 33.5 million, only one third of the 2019 figure.

77. in 2021, that figure rose to 49.1 million., 78. travel exports decreased dramatically by almost 65% from 2019 to 2020., 79. in terms of how many personal trips baby boomers are planning to take within the next year, 34% answer 4 or more..

34% of baby boomers in America wanted to take 4 or more personal domestic trips in the next year.

As a global finance and culture center, it’s only natural that tourism in the United States will continue to grow, especially as we transition into a post-pandemic era.

Hopefully, this post has been comprehensive enough to help you understand more about travel and tourism in the U.S.A.

Did we miss any interesting aspect?

Drop us a comment below!

And check out these other insightful statistics…

• Airbnb Statistics
• Booking.com Statistics
• Female Travel Statistics
• U.S. Commerce
• U.S. Travel
• Facebook IQ
• ShortTermRentalz
• SoloTravelerWorld
• TourismAnalytics
• CondorFerries

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Business Insider

I'm a native Hawaiian. Locals are tired of tourists treating the island like a theme park – here's what to know before you visit.

Posted: November 9, 2023 | Last updated: November 9, 2023

• Keani Rawlins-Fernandez grew up in Hawaii and has seen tourism increase over the years.
• Now a local council member, Rawlins-Fernandez says locals can feel overrun by tourists.
• She said her advice for tourists is to be respectful and not entitled. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, a vice chair of the Maui County Council, about how tourism has affected her life in Hawaii. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

The tropical islands of Hawaii have long been a dream destination for tourists, drawn by the pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and an "aloha" free spirit. But for me it's home.

Many economic, social, and financial issues arise with unrestricted tourism, and I don't know how Hawaii will continue to cope with these numbers.

I grew up in Molokai, the only island of Hawaii where the economy is not reliant on tourism . Here, agriculture and farming are our main industries.

As a policymaker, I use my platform to fight against unrestricted tourism, counteract our current housing crisis, and campaign to protect our ocean and reef health.

It's my responsibility to advocate for my local community

When I was growing up, big corporations fell in love with the white-sand beaches, canoes, and divers and transformed our land into a shoreline of resorts like Waikiki in Oahu. They attempted to do this in Molokai, but the community fought it.

I went to law school to become a policymaker because it was my kuleana — responsibility — to advocate for my community the same way my elders did.

I was inspired by the work of Uncle Walter Ritte, a Native Hawaiian activist and educator who protested the military bombing practices on Kaho'olawe and won its eventual return to Native Hawaiian control from the US military.

I hold the County Council seat for the Molokai residency area and am part of the Efficiency Solutions and Circular Systems Committee, where I can discuss high-level budgets and allocation of resources to solve economic inequality that has been around for generations.

Tourism has displaced Native Hawaiians by driving up costs

The number of tourists in Hawaii is overwhelming the local population and threatening the islands' cultural heritage.

Native Hawaiians, already displaced from their lands during colonization, are experiencing a housing crisis. When houses become available, they are bought by tourists instead of locals .

People are buying our land as investment properties, so our Kanaka 'Ōiwi — locals — are forced to move further out , and they can't maintain their local traditions or routines. Basically, they need to start over and make a new place their home.

The cost of living has skyrocketed as demand drives up real-estate prices. Residents of islands like Maui and Oahu, where tourism is at peak levels, rely on resorts and hotels for jobs to support their livelihood.

During COVID, there was no tourism, and their jobs were the first to go. My island in Molokai fared better because the model is to cater to local businesses and local patrons instead.

We can't commute easily because tourists are getting their sunset pictures

A large part of Hawaii's economy is reliant on tourism, but in popular tourist areas, overtourism is placing huge strains on the infrastructure and environment — especially when the number of visitors exceeds the resident population.

For example, famous sights like Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head on Oahu draw crowds of tourists for sunrise or sunset views. This clogs up our highways during the hours when locals are trying to commute or drop their kids off at school.

The state Department of Transportation wants to create more parking spots or widen highways. Instead, people should consider group trolley systems like the ones in Zion National Park in Utah, which I recently visited, to manage tourists. This makes more sense than allowing tourists to rent their own car for the duration of their visit.

Locals feel like their home is a theme park — and it can be dangerous

Our locals feel like their homes are treated like a theme park and there's no more privacy.

We've heard stories of tourists trespassing on properties for photo opportunities. But they need to understand that unlike television or social-media posts, this is real life.

There aren't always safeguards and railings at places like our waterfalls or volcanoes. Tourists have passed away or become severely hurt. It puts our emergency responders at risk if tourists are trespassing in dangerous places.

Our beaches and reefs are being degraded for the sake of tourism

Excessive tourist activity is also taking a major toll on Hawaii's fragile island ecosystems.

For instance, the natural sand dunes in Hawaii enable a cyclical restoration of the white-sand beaches. However, the construction of resorts and hotel chains on the dunes disrupts this cycle, preventing the beaches from replenishing lost sand. With the dunes unable to supply fresh sand, the beaches steadily erode away.

I've seen temporary seawalls being built in front of condos and resorts which interrupt the natural cycle of sand migration. We see how degraded our coral reefs, essential for marine wildlife, are in the face of pollution, sunscreen toxins, and careless snorkelers.

We are islands, and we don't have that much land to bury trash in landfills, so excessive rubbish ends up in our waters and damages the ecosystem.

Tourism has perks, but it needs to be managed better

There are some positives to the steady increase in tourists, like those tourists who volunteer with the Red Cross. However, extractive tourism needs to stop. I also want our community to rely on other jobs, because tourism ebbs and flows.

My message to tourists is to visit responsibly, respect local culture, and minimize one's footprint. Support local businesses over chain restaurants, go on tours instead of taking your own or a rented vehicle, make sure you're staying at a legitimate Airbnb or VRBO, and come with respect and gratitude, not entitlement.

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APEC Summit

2023 apec summit: everything to know about san francisco road closures, security and more.

Here's everything you need to know about 2023 APEC Summit road closures, security and more in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco will soon host world leaders and hundreds of CEOs for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit -- or APEC .

The "Super Bowl of World Economies" will be held from Nov. 11-17.

Here's everything you need to know about road closures, security, who will be there and more.

RELATED: Day-by-Day timeline of APEC Summit in San Francisco

What is the APEC summit?

The 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit -- also known as APEC -- will host 21 member economies from the Pacific Rim regions, including President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

It was founded in Canberra in 1989 as an informal dialogue forum to promote regional economic integration.

APEC's members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

This year's conference is being held at San Francisco's Moscone Center.

You can learn more about APEC here .

VIDEO: Will SF be able to rehabilitate its image during APEC summit?

How will APEC impact San Francisco?

Prepare for street closures, transit impacts, and in-person service changes from Nov. 11 through 17.

Expect extra security in and around the Moscone Center during APEC. In certain parts of the city, employees and patrons should plan ahead and build in extra time to get around.

"There will be an extraordinary amount of law enforcement, military, and public safety personnel in San Francisco for this event well above what anyone has seen before," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Brown with the U.S. Secret Service.

Along the outer perimeter, SF police will be supported by about 1,000 CHP officers.

In the inner "higher security zone" at Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens, the Secret Service will secure the area with a 14-foot unscalable fence.

This higher security zone will be limited to people with credentials.

Road closures, commute impact in San Francisco

SFMTA says the bulk of the travel and transit impacts will take place from Nov. 13-19.

San Francisco

On Interstate Highway 80, eastbound lane no. 1 and westbound lane no. 5 will be closed for four days beginning Nov. 14 at 5 a.m. until Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.

Controlled access to the Bay Bridge Pedestrian and Bike Path will be implemented. Transit bus services will not be impacted, and Treasure Island on- and off-ramps as well as the Fremont Street off-ramp remain open.

Moscone Center

Embarcadero

U.S. Highway 101

On northbound U.S. Highway 101, the Dana Bowers Vista Point off-ramp just north of the Golden Gate Bridge will be closed from Nov. 14 through Nov. 18.

During the closure, there will be no access to Dana Bowers Vista Point for vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians.

The Golden Gate Bridge Pedestrian Path will be closed at the north end of the bridge, and there will be no pedestrian access from Marin County. However, the bicycle path on the west side of the bridge will remain open between Marin County and San Francisco.

Interstate Highway 80

The Fourth Street off-ramp on eastbound I-80 and the Fifth Street off-ramp on westbound I-80 will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily starting Nov. 15 until Nov. 17.

For a better experience, click here to view the full map in a new window

Public Transit

People traveling in San Francisco should expect congestion downtown, traffic delays, transit reroutes, delays and crowding on Muni and SF Paratransit.

Bay Area transportation officials are advising people that public transit might be the best option when heading to and from San Francisco next week during APEC.

BART, Caltrain, San Francisco Bay Ferry and AC Transit all are running regular service during the conference. This comes as numerous roads will be closed on freeways and city streets during the conference. Some Muni train and bus lines will be rerouted.

The T and F trains will be rerouted, as well as 12 bus lines that run in and around Moscone Center.

SamTrans expects some routes leading to Downtown San Francisco to be re-routed, and Golden Gate Transit is closing one of its park-and-ride locations near the Golden Gate Bridge.

You can find more information about transit impacts on SFMTA's website here .

You can sign up for real-time email or text alerts about Muni service here .

Secret Service, SFPD detail new security measures

APEC will be the biggest gathering of world leaders in San Francisco in nearly eight decades. And that means a lot of security measures and the possibility for many last-minute changes.

The Secret Service says starting Monday night, fencing and concrete will go up on Nob Hill and then the next day, barriers will go up at Moscone Center after a full security sweep.

Expect the area around the Legion of Honor -- more than six miles away near the outer Richmond District -- to also see strict security.

Secret Service and police say there are some updates to the maps they first released in mid-October.

The green zone around Moscone Center is for local traffic. Pedestrians can go in without screening or ID. Rideshare services and food delivery though, are not allowed in the green zone by Moscone Center. Instead, drivers will stage one block away.

San Francisco police says its entire department has been mobilized for APEC. This is the first time in decades.

"Every able body officer will be working. We will be working 12-14 hours shifts. We will have coverage day time and night time. Our goal is to be prepared for a nothing and everything that will come our way," said Chief Bill Scott.

Impact on San Francisco Chinatown Tourism

San Francisco's homelessness, drug addiction crisis, and shuttered business have made headlines around the world. But many communities are fighting back against any Doom Loop narrative.

Some neighborhoods like Chinatown are worried that the detours and the headlines may keep visitors away.

So local businesses have launched a series of events to "activate" their community.

Chinatown's community leaders met with SFMTA to discuss the numerous road closures and transit detours ahead of APEC.

Some in Chinatown expressed concerns the detours would limit tourism to the area, but SFMTA vowed this week to still make access to Chinatown as easy as possible.

RELATED APEC STORIES & VIDEOS:

• Day-by-Day timeline of APEC Summit in San Francisco
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• How APEC summit will make your SF commute harder for an entire week
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• APEC Summit tight security plans concern businesses in San Francisco SoMa District
• SF Chinatown's leaders expect tourism boost during APEC summit despite tight security
• How intense APEC Summit security will impact SF roads, public transportation, and tourism
• Will SF be able to rehabilitate its image during next month's APEC summit? Here's what experts say

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How APEC summit will make your SF commute harder for a week

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Egypt Tourism Was Having a Record Year, but Cancellations Are Rising

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

November 6th, 2023 at 1:45 PM EST

If the conflict ends or remains contained, American travel to Egypt could recover faster than expected.

Dawit Habtemariam

Egypt tourism is facing cancellations from many American tourists due to the Israel-Hamas war.

Great Wonders of Egypt , a Cairo-based destination management company that specializes in cultural tourism and adventure tourism, said over half of its American travelers have canceled their trips for November and December.

Intrepid Travel, which serves a large number of American tourists, has seen an increase in cancellation requests for tours in Egypt through 2023 — with the vast majority opting to book trips elsewhere, said a spokesperson.

“We think the season’s really going to be lost for most operators who handle the U.S. market through the Christmas period,” said Kelly Torrens, vice president of product for Kensington Tours.

Egypt Tourism Impacted Over Fear of War Spreading

When the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7, American cancellation requests came for the two immediate weeks but none came for November and December, said Basem Salah, co-founder and director of operations for Great Wonders of Egypt. Yet as the war escalated, cancellations for subsequent months mounted.

Cruise operators Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean recently told investors that there has been a slowdown in bookings and a rise in cancellations for the Middle East region. Both companies removed Israel from their itineraries. 

Egypt tourism can be affected even though the conflict hasn’t spread there. “They just feel unsafe to be in the region, and this is happening because, to them, they don’t know what’s happening tomorrow for us,” said Salah.

2024 Could Be Better for Egypt

This year has so far been a strong one for Egypt tourism, with a record 10 million tourists in the first eight months. 

“It was going very well. It was busy everywhere. It had been a wonderful season,” said Salah.

Tour operators are hopeful for 2024, and they can look to past history for some positive patterns.

In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tour operators reported a spike in cancellations in April and May for Ukraine’s neighboring countries. As time passed and fears of the conflict spreading ceased, bookings recovered through the summer. A similar scenario could play out for Egypt.

Yet weak bookings for spring trips in Egypt point toward pessimism.

“We’re hopeful that the winter and the spring will be good, but we just don’t know at this point, and new bookings are still trickling in, but they’re very light compared to what they would typically be for sure,” said Torrens. “We think a lot of [travelers] would rather just make other plans and think about Egypt for 2025, so we don’t think that it’s very short-term,” said Torrens. 

Earlier this month, credit agency Fitch downgraded Egypt’s credit rating . “In Fitch’s view, the Israel-Hamas war poses significant downside risks to tourism,” the agency said .

The Egyptian government responded by saying the concerns were overstated.

Some cruise operators are optimistic about Egypt in 2024.

“We are more bullish about the ability to return to places like Egypt and other places in the Middle East,” said Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer in a third-quarter earnings call.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the month of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was February 2022.

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Photo credit: Americans are nervous about traveling to Egypt as the Isarel-Hamas war rages on. Spencer Davis / Unsplash

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Panama Travel and Tourism Market

Panamanians visit the United States for various reasons, including tourism, business, education, and family visits. Here are some key points regarding tourism from Panama to the United States:

• Tourism and Leisure Travel : many Panamanians travel to the United States for leisure and tourism purposes. Popular destinations include major U.S. cities such as Miami, New York City, Los Angeles, and Orlando, as well as tourist attractions like Disneyland and national parks.
• Business Travel: Panama has a strong and growing business relationship with the United States due to the Panama Canal and trade ties. Business travel, including meetings, conferences, and trade-related activities, contributes to travel between the two countries.
• Education: a significant number of Panamanian students pursue higher education in the United States, attracted by the quality of U.S. universities and colleges. They come to the U.S. to enroll in undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Family Visits : many Panamanians have relatives and friends living in the United States, and they visit the U.S. to reconnect with their loved ones.
• Direct Flights : there are several direct flights between Panama and various U.S. cities, making travel more convenient for Panamanians. Panama’s main international airport, Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, serves as a major hub for connecting flights to the United States.
• Tourism Promotion : the tourism industry in Panama promotes travel to the United States and vice versa, as both countries seek to attract tourists and strengthen their bilateral ties.

Tourism from Panama to the United States contributes to the economic and cultural exchange between the two countries. The availability of diverse attractions and opportunities in the United States continues to make it a desirable destination for Panamanian travelers. Travel trends may evolve over time in response to changing circumstances and global events.

If you are interested in the tourism sector in Panama, contact your USEAC Business Specialist or contact Diana Lozano, Commercial Specialist in Panama by email at [email protected] .