Asia-Pacific Outpaced North America on Tourism Growth in 2025 — By a Lot

A new report shows Asia-Pacific is leading travel and tourism’s growth as North America lags — and the divergence tracks closely with each region’s approach to marketing and border access.

Asia-Pacific recorded an 8.3% increase in international visitor spend last year, according to new figures from the World Travel & Tourism Council and Chase Travel. In comparison, North America was hit with a 3.3% decline, weighed down by a 4.6% decrease in the U.S.

The slowdown in international visitation to the U.S. – which was also noted in a September WTTC report — continues to weigh on the country’s travel sector. Skift spoke to WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara while she was in Washington, D.C., for an advocacy event and meetings with U.S. officials about the organization’s efforts to spur visitation. 

The potential initiatives include more expanding global entry and restoring funding for Brand USA. But travelers from major source marke