The US is on track for 2 million fewer international visitors in 2026, and the decline got worse every month of the summer. That is the latest read from Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, as reported by Travelweek on 2 October 2026.
What the numbers say
- International visitation fell 2% in June, 7% in July and 11% in August year over year, despite FIFA World Cup matches in 11 US cities.
- Canada is down 23% over two years, Germany 16% and France 15%, according to Axios figures cited by Travelweek.
- Freeman puts 2026 still about 20% below pre-pandemic highs.
What to do with it
If your demand leans on those markets, rate will not fix your 2027 budget. A source market audit by nationality and by month will. Find the months where Canadian or European guests carried your base, size the gap, and decide which segments can fill it.
Does the late-summer rebound change the plan? Not yet. Car crossings from Canada rose 10% and air travel 3.6% in the last weeks of summer, but one signal is not a trend.
Related: the US RevPAR streak breaks in September.
