New York City Sees Slight Visitor Growth Despite Fewer International Travelers (Intermediate)

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In 2025, New York City welcomed 65 million visitors, a small increase of 0.7% from the previous year. The gain came mostly from domestic travel, which helped balance a decline in international arrivals. According to NYC Tourism + Conventions, the city received 52.4 million domestic visitors, up 1.7%. Overnight domestic trips, which make up just over half of all domestic visits, rose 2.3%. The strongest U.S. source markets included the New York tristate area, Philadelphia, Washington, Los Angeles, and Boston.

International travel moved in the opposite direction. The city recorded 12.5 million international visitors, down 3.2% from 2024. Still, tourism officials said the situation was better than earlier forecasts had suggested. Visits from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Mexico increased, even while broader global challenges affected travel patterns.

Tourism remained a major part of the city’s economy. Visitors created $84.7 billion in total economic impact, including $55.6 billion in direct spending and $7.5 billion in local and state tax revenue. The hotel sector also performed well. New York ranked first in occupancy among the 25 largest U.S. markets, with an average occupancy rate of 84.2%. Luxury and upscale hotels led growth, while midscale hotels saw a 7% drop in occupancy. At the same time, the city’s average daily hotel rate climbed 5% to $334.

NYC Tourism expects more growth in 2026. It projects 66.3 million visitors next year, including 53.4 million domestic travelers, which would break a record set in 2019. International visits are also expected to recover to 12.9 million. The 2026 FIFA World Cup could bring about 1.2 million visitors to the New York-New Jersey area and produce $3.3 billion in economic impact.

Table of Contents

Vocabulary Words List

welcomed: received guests or visitors
increase: a rise in number
previous: coming before
gain: an improvement or increase
domestic: inside the same country
balance: to make two sides more equal
decline: a decrease
arrivals: people coming to a place
According: as stated by a source
overnight: lasting at least one night
source markets: places where visitors come from
recorded: officially measured
forecasts: predictions about the future
broader: wider or more general
patterns: repeated ways things happen
economy: the system of money and business
impact: a strong effect
direct spending: money spent directly by visitors
revenue: income received
sector: one part of an industry
ranked: placed in an order
occupancy: how full hotels are
luxury: very high-quality and expensive
upscale: high-end or more expensive
midscale: middle price level
rate: a measured price or level
projects: expects or estimates
recover: to return to a stronger level
produce: to create
area: a place or region

Fill In The Blanks Listening Practice

In 2025, New York City 65 million visitors, a small of 0.7% from the year. The came mostly from travel, which helped a in international . to NYC Tourism + Conventions, the city received 52.4 million visitors, up 1.7%. trips, which make up just over half of all visits, rose 2.3%. The strongest U.S. included the New York tristate , Philadelphia, Washington, Los Angeles, and Boston.

International travel moved in the opposite direction. The city 12.5 million international visitors, down 3.2% from 2024. Still, tourism officials said the situation was better than earlier had suggested. Visits from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Mexico increased, even while global challenges affected travel .

Tourism remained a major part of the city’s . Visitors created $84.7 billion in total economic , including $55.6 billion in and $7.5 billion in local and state tax . The hotel also performed well. New York first in among the 25 largest U.S. markets, with an average of 84.2%. and hotels led growth, while hotels saw a 7% drop in . At the same time, the city’s average daily hotel climbed 5% to $334.

NYC Tourism expects more growth in 2026. It 66.3 million visitors next year, including 53.4 million travelers, which would break a record set in 2019. International visits are also expected to to 12.9 million. The 2026 FIFA World Cup could bring about 1.2 million visitors to the New York-New Jersey and $3.3 billion in economic .