Washington Joins Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Alaska, Minnesota and More as US Tourism Continues Its Freefall for Eight Months Straight and Is Projected to Decline Until the End of 2025

In 2025, U.S. tourism has faced a steady and alarming decline, with states like Washington, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Alaska, and Minnesota all experiencing significant drops in visitor numbers. This downturn, which has persisted for eight months straight, shows no signs of slowing down and is projected to continue throughout the remainder of the year. While some states, such as Washington, initially started strong with promising tourism figures, external pressures like rising travel costs, changing consumer preferences, and increased competition from neighboring states have all contributed to this widespread decline.

What’s driving this tourism freefall? Rising travel expenses, economic uncertainty, and shifting trends in travel preferences are just a few of the factors at play. With states competing for visitors amid these challenges, the tourism sector must now confront these obstacles head-on, reassessing strategies to revive interest and reverse the declining trend. As projections for the rest of 2025 remain grim, it’s clear that the road ahead will require innovation, resilience, and a fresh approach to keeping tourism alive and thriving in these states.

New Jersey’s Struggle: A Downward Trend in Visitor Numbers

New Jersey’s tourism sector experienced a decline from 2024 to 2025, as indicated by a steady drop in monthly visitation figures. Despite a relatively strong start in 2024, with peak numbers in the early months, the state saw a noticeable downturn, culminating in lower visitor counts by mid-2025. The state’s annual tourism revenues, which had shown steady growth for several years, were adversely impacted by a combination of factors. For instance, in 2025, the total visitors for the year, 5.7 million, represented a decrease compared to the previous year’s 7 million total. Key factors contributing to the decline included rising travel costs, changes in consumer preferences, and shifts in travel patterns as many opted for nearby alternatives. Economic uncertainty also played a role in dampening discretionary spending on travel. With the state’s iconic attractions such as the Jersey Shore and vibrant cities like Atlantic City, still appealing, the downturn may be attributed more to external factors such as competition from neighboring states, and even shifting tourism trends. The decline calls for a reevaluation of New Jersey’s tourism strategies to revive interest and rebuild momentum in future years.

Monthly Tourism Data (2024 vs. 2025)

Washington Faces a Sharp Decline in Tourism

Washington started this year on a very strong note, with promising tourism figures in the early months of 2024. The state saw impressive visitation numbers, particularly during the summer season, helping to boost its tourism revenues. However, by 2025, there was a noticeable decline in the number of visitors, dropping from 13.9 million in 2024 to 10 million in 2025. This reduction represents a sharp decline of nearly 4 million visitors, signaling a troubling shift. Several factors contributed to this downturn, including higher travel expenses, increased competition from neighboring states, and shifts in consumer preferences. Furthermore, economic challenges and weather-related disruptions had a significant impact on travel patterns. Despite Washington’s well-known attractions, such as Seattle’s Space Needle and its scenic national parks, these external pressures led to a reduction in tourism numbers. The decline highlights the need for Washington to rethink its tourism strategies, potentially focusing on more targeted marketing campaigns, enhancing the visitor experience, and developing new attractions to revitalize the state’s tourism industry.

Monthly Tourism Data (2024 vs. 2025)

Mississippi’s Fall: From Strong Start to Sharp Decline

Mississippi also started with a promising start in 2025, showing strong visitor numbers in the early months. However, a significant decline has been observed throughout the year, leading to a sharp decrease in total tourism figures. By the end of 2025, the state saw only 10.9M visitors, down from the 14.4M recorded in 2024. Notably, the first few months of 2025 displayed some fluctuation, with 1.2M visitors in October, 1.1M in November, and a dip to 887K in February. In comparison, 2024 maintained more stability, with consistent numbers, including 1.5M visitors in August and 1.4M in July. The decline continued in 2025, especially with months like February and April showing lower visitor counts compared to 2024. Despite recovery attempts, 2025 still ended on a downward note, with September 2025 recording 1.3M visitors, slightly lower than September 2024, which had 1.2M visitors. These figures suggest that Mississippi’s tourism sector faces significant challenges in reversing the decline, and external factors could have played a role in this downturn.

Ohio’s Tourism: Fluctuations Mark a Year of Decline

Ohio also began 2025 with a strong performance in tourism numbers but experienced some fluctuation throughout the year. By the end of 2025, the state recorded a total of 201K visitors, down from 250K in 2024. The most significant growth for 2025 occurred in March, with 26.2K visitors, and a peak of 29.9K in June. However, despite the positive months, the year ended with fewer visitors than expected, especially with a dip in October and the months following. In 2024, Ohio had a more consistent performance, including high points like 33.0K visitors in June and 30.5K in July. The numbers for 2025 in the early months, such as 12.6K in October and 12.5K in November, were slightly higher than the same months in 2024. Despite some recovery in the later months, Ohio’s tourism sector saw a decline in 2025. External factors, changes in visitor preferences, or competition from neighboring states could have played a role in this downward trend.

Alaska’s Highs and Lows: A Steep Drop in Visitors

Alaska began 2025 with a strong start but saw fluctuations throughout the year, resulting in a decline in total visitor numbers. By the end of 2025, the state had reached 265K visitors, down from 384K in 2024. The month of July 2025 saw the highest number of visitors, with 63.0K, along with a similar peak in September. March and April showed notable growth with 16.7K and 21.3K visitors, respectively, but were still lower than 2024, where March saw 18.5K and April had 20.4K visitors. Alaska experienced a significant increase in visitor numbers in the summer of 2025 compared to the early months, with June reaching 56.8K and July 63.0K. In contrast, 2024 was more consistent throughout the year, including strong months like June (66.1K), July (68.6K), and August (61.8K). Despite some growth in the later months of 2025, the overall total for the year was much lower than 2024, reflecting a decline in the tourism industry, possibly influenced by changing trends, external factors, or global travel shifts.

Minnesota’s Tourism: A Clear Drop from Peak to Decline

Minnesota’s tourism numbers in 2025 showed a clear decline compared to 2024. In October 2025, visits increased slightly to 191,000 from 183,000 in 2024. November also saw a small increase, with 161,000 visits in 2025 compared to 155,000 the year before. December remained almost unchanged, with 195,000 visits in 2025 compared to 196,000 in 2024. January 2025 saw a small rise to 232,000 visits, up from 220,000 in 2024. However, from February onward, the trend shifted, with February 2025 recording 216,000 visits, a drop from 231,000 in 2024. March showed a similar decline, with 267,000 visits in 2025, down from 281,000 the previous year. April saw a notable decrease, with 199,000 visits in 2025, compared to 215,000 in 2024. May also experienced a decline, with 191,000 visits, down from 212,000 in 2024. June’s numbers were similarly lower, with 258,000 visits in 2025 compared to 279,000 in 2024. July saw the largest drop, with 267,000 visits in 2025, down from 299,000 in 2024. Overall, 2025 recorded 2.0 million visits, a significant drop from 2.8 million in 2024, showing a clear downturn in tourism this year.

Others took a Hit: Florida, Hawaii and More States See Significant Declines in 2025

Florida Sees Notable Decline in Tourism: In 2025, Florida’s tourism dropped from 19.4 million visitors in 2024 to 15.9 million, a 3.5 million decrease. This decline was seen across nearly every month, with significant drops in March and July. Factors like economic shifts, higher travel costs, and changing visitor preferences contributed to this downturn. Florida may need to reassess its tourism strategies to regain lost ground.

Hawaii Experiences Decline in Tourism: Hawaii saw a drop from 1.8 million visitors in 2024 to 1.5 million in 2025. The decline was particularly evident in the summer months, with July seeing a slight drop from 171K in 2024 to 172K in 2025. Economic factors and shifting travel preferences likely influenced this downturn, signaling a need for updated tourism strategies.

Michigan Faces Significant Decline: Michigan recorded a decrease in tourism from 14.4 million in 2024 to 10.9 million in 2025, with notable drops in February and July. Economic factors and shifting travel preferences are contributing to this trend, requiring state leaders to reconsider their tourism strategies.

Illinois Faces Decline in Tourism: Illinois’ tourism dropped from 6.8 million visitors in 2024 to 5.5 million in 2025. The decline was particularly noticeable in February, indicating broader challenges in the travel sector.

Massachusetts Struggles with Declining Tourism: Massachusetts saw a decline from 3.8 million visitors in 2024 to 3.2 million in 2025, reflecting the broader challenges facing U.S. tourism.

Arizona Sees Decline in Tourism: Arizona’s tourism fell from 3.8 million in 2024 to 3.2 million in 2025, driven by economic factors and shifting travel patterns. The state will need to adapt its tourism strategies to recover.

US Tourism Decline: Industry Leaders Sound Alarm

U.S. tourism is facing a continued slump, with eight months of decline expected to extend through 2025. This downturn is raising concerns about potential economic impacts, including job losses, reduced business revenue, and a broader national economic slowdown.

Key Projections from Experts:

WTTC forecasts a $12.5 billion drop in international spending for 2025, with the U.S. being the only country out of 184 surveyed to see a decline in foreign visitor spending.

Tourism Economics revised its forecast, now predicting an 8.2% decrease in international arrivals, a “sustained setback” that may last until 2029.

The U.S. Travel Association warns that higher visa fees and changing policies have contributed to a drop in global tourism, with a loss of 14,000 jobs tied to fewer Canadian visitors alone.

Challenges in the U.S. Hospitality Sector:

Ted Pappageorge from Nevada’s Culinary Workers Union links the Las Vegas tourism decline to fears over immigration crackdowns.

Amanda Hite of STR points to inflation, economic uncertainty, and shifting travel patterns affecting hotel demand.

Domestic Travel Remains Strong: Despite challenges in international tourism, domestic travel is booming. 92% of Americans plan to travel in 2025, with 56% expecting to travel more than in 2024. This surge in domestic travel is expected to drive a 3.9% increase in spending, reaching $1.35 trillion in 2025. Popular destinations, especially in “drive-to” markets like national parks and beach towns, are seeing a steady increase in visitors.

External Pressures: The Rising Costs and Shifting Preferences

In conclusion, tourism across several states in 2025 experienced noticeable declines compared to 2024. New Jersey, Washington, Mississippi, Ohio, Alaska, and Minnesota all faced downturns, with various external factors contributing to the reduction in visitor numbers. Rising travel costs, changing consumer preferences, and increased competition from neighboring states played significant roles in the decline. Despite iconic attractions and natural beauty, the shifts in tourism trends suggest the need for states to reassess their tourism strategies. Targeted marketing efforts, enhanced visitor experiences, and the development of new attractions could help reverse the downward trend and boost tourism in the coming years.

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