U.S. Travel and Tourism Exports Reach $20.4 Billion in September 2026

International visitors invested almost $20.4 billion on travel to the United States and tourism-related activities within the nation in September 2026, according to just recently launched information from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO).

The regular monthly overall was more than 1 percent greater than in September 2025. Costs by Americans taking a trip abroad increased quicker, increasing 6 percent year over year to almost $20.7 billion. As an outcome, the United States taped a $269 million travel and tourist trade deficit for the month.

Regardless of the September deficit, the sector kept a year-to-date trade surplus of almost $5.2 billion.

From January through September 2026, worldwide visitors invested an approximated $185.6 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related items and services. That was down by less than half of 1 percent from the exact same duration in 2025.

Usually, global visitors injected roughly $680 million daily into the U.S. economy throughout the very first 9 months of 2026.

Travel purchases stayed the biggest export classification

Direct purchases of travel and tourism-related items and services by global visitors amounted to almost $11.2 billion in September, below $11.3 billion a year previously– a 1 percent decrease.

This classification consists of costs on accommodations, food, entertainment, home entertainment, presents, regional transport and other costs connected with taking a trip in the United States.

Travel invoices represented 55 percent of overall U.S. travel and tourist exports in September, making them the market’s biggest export element.

Traveler fare invoices increased 7 percent

U.S. air providers got $2.8 billion in guest fares from global visitors in September, up 7 percent from September 2025.

Guest fare invoices represent costs by foreign locals on global flights run by U.S. providers. The classification represented 14 percent of overall U.S. travel and tourist exports throughout the month.

Education, medical tourist and short-term employee costs increased

Global costs related to education and health-related tourist, together with expenses by border, seasonal and other short-term employees in the United States, reached $6.4 billion in September.

That was up more than 3 percent from the previous year. Jointly, these expenses represented 31 percent of U.S. travel and tourist exports throughout the month.

A combined image for the travel economy

The September information provide a combined photo for the U.S. travel economy. International visitor costs continued to grow month over month, supported by gains in traveler fares and education, medical tourist and short-term employee expenses. Direct travel purchases, nevertheless, decreased somewhat.

At the very same time, Americans’ costs abroad grew significantly faster than worldwide visitor costs in the United States, developing a modest regular monthly trade deficit. The sector however stayed a net exporter through the very first 9 months of 2026, with a multibillion-dollar year-to-date surplus.