Some of the country's premier destinations are sharing good news despite ongoing challenges to attract international visitors to the United States.

Even better, statistics prove foreign travelers still feel the love during vacations. Some key findings from the U.S. Travel Association include:

• 91% of international travelers said they were satisfied with their recent trip to the United States.
• 83% said they felt welcome during their visit.
• 61% said their trip left them with a more favorable opinion toward the United States.
• 56% said traveling here improved their perception of U.S. safety.

The same study found that more than three-quarters of travelers (78%) said they shopped at a small business during their stay, helping support local economies and communities across the country.

That context makes the record results from Orlando and Washington, D.C., even more valuable.

Orlando’s Tourism Reign Continues

Orlando isn’t giving up its tourism crown anytime soon.

Fresh 2025 numbers from Visit Orlando confirmed that the theme park capital once again ranked as the most-visited destination in the United States, welcoming a staggering 76.7 million visitors last year. That’s a 1.8% increase over 2024 and the highest visitation total in the city’s history. The milestone was announced during Visit Orlando’s annual National Travel & Tourism Week event at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC).

"While the total number of visitors reflects Orlando’s continued growth, it only tells part of the story," said said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. Beyond the numbers are the experiences that motivate travel, the memories created and the emotional connections that continue to draw travelers to Orlando year after year for the economic benefit of our community.”

International visitation dipped 2.4% year over year, driven largely by fewer Canadian travelers. But domestic demand more than made up the difference. U.S. visitation climbed 2.2% to a record-setting 70.3 million visitors, fueled primarily by out-of-state travelers, though in-state Florida visitation also rose 3.4%.

The experience is about to get even better coming to the city: Orlando International Airport is undergoing a transformation via a sweeping $5.9 billion modernization plan. Projects include a $253 million Gate Link Replacement, a $72 million interior and restroom refresh, and an expansive new concessions program designed to dramatically expand dining options throughout the airport. The broader overhaul is expected to wrap between fall 2027 and 2030.

Washington, D.C. welcomed 27.2 million visitors in 2025.

Another Broken Record in Washington, D.C.

For the third consecutive year, the nation’s capital shattered its own visitation and economic impact records, welcoming more than 27.2 million visitors in 2025. The increase over 2024 was modest—just 20,000 additional travelers—but the financial ripple effect was anything but small.

Visitors pumped a staggering $11.9 billion into the local economy, helping generate $2.4 billion in tax revenue and supporting 114,013 jobs across the city.

A key driver behind the boost was the city’s tourism recovery district (TRD), which added an extra 1% hotel tax from April 2023 through October 2025. The proceeds were funneled directly into Destination DC’s global marketing and sales campaigns.

“Overall, the record economic contribution from visitation creates immediate impact,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, of Destination DC. “That’s why now is the time to reinvest in marketing, because when DDC has additional dollars to spend and a steady source of funding, the city sees bigger returns.”

The timing of that message is especially notable given that Destination DC’s fiscal year 2026 budget was still slashed by two-thirds, despite the industry’s record-setting returns.

Domestic travelers made up the overwhelming majority of DC’s tourism boom, accounting for 25.1 million visits. International tourism, meanwhile, dipped 4% year over year. Still, the capital outperformed the broader U.S. trend, which saw international visitation fall 5.5% nationally.

Photo Credits: Visit Orlando and Destination DC