New York State saw one of the sharpest declines in international tourism in 2025, according to a new report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The report found overseas travel to New York dropped by 3% last year — a loss of more than 176,000 visitors — second only to California. Officials say the decline is having a direct impact on the state’s economy, particularly in the hospitality sector.
The downturn has been especially noticeable in regions near the Canadian border. Travel from Canada fell by more than 21%, representing a decrease of nearly 3.6 million visitors. At the same time, exports to Canada — New York’s largest trading partner — declined by $3.8 billion.
DiNapoli said the drop in international visitors is reducing tourism spending and contributing to job losses, particularly in hotels and restaurants.
According to the report, international travelers spent nearly $17 billion in New York in 2024. However, tourism-related economic activity remained flat in 2025. Hotel occupancy declined by 1.2%, and employment trends varied across the state — falling by 2.6% in the North Country and 2% in Western New York, while increasing by 1% in New York City.
Tourism-related industries employed more than 932,000 people in 2024, generating over $45 billion in wages. Nearly three-quarters of those jobs were in accommodation and food services. Through September 2025, overall employment in those sectors saw only modest growth, while jobs in accommodation and food services declined slightly.
The report also noted a drop in visitation to parks. Attendance at national park sites in New York fell by 18.2% in 2025, while state park visits declined by more than 2.3 million, with notable decreases at popular destinations including Jones Beach, Bear Mountain, and Niagara Reservation.
In addition to tourism impacts, the report found exports declined to nearly half of New York’s trading partners in 2025. While exports to some countries — including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Hong Kong — increased, overall export levels fell when excluding gains tied to rising metal prices.
The report links the declines in both tourism and trade to recent federal policy changes, including tariffs and immigration restrictions. DiNapoli said those shifts are contributing to economic challenges across multiple sectors in New York.
The State Comptroller’s Office has also launched an online tool to track federal support and monitor how policy changes are affecting industries across the state.
