Travel Industry Leaders and Trump Set Lofty New Goals for U.S. Tourism by 2030
Some of the biggest names in the U.S. travel industry recently met with President Donald Trump at the White House to set a new goal. They want the United States to welcome 100 million international visitors a year by 2030.
The Sept. 2 meeting included U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman along with executives from American Airlines, Hilton, Marriott, IHG Hotels & Resorts and several other major travel companies. Leaders from Booking.com, MGM Resorts, Caesars, Carnival, Universal and Hard Rock were also represented in the meeting.
The meeting came after a busy summer that included the 2026 FIFA World Cup and ongoing America 250 celebrations. U.S. Travel hopes to keep that momentum going over the next several years.
Reaching 100 million visitors would be a big jump from where the country is now. The federal government’s latest tourism forecast estimated that 68.3 million international visitors came to the United States in 2025.
Travel Leaders Want 100 Million Visitors by 2030
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After the meeting, the U.S. Travel Association said its next goal should be to attract 100 million international visitors each year by 2030. Freeman said the group also wants the United States to become the world’s most visited country.
The organization estimates hitting that target could bring $81 billion in additional spending and support more than 400,000 American jobs.
Freeman pointed to 2018, when the United States welcomed nearly 80 million international visitors, as proof the country has reached close to that level before.
Trump Discussed Visas and Air Travel
During the White House meeting, Trump said his administration had cut visa wait times by 40 percent and implemented the One-Stop Pilot Program, which is intended to make international flight connections faster.
He also said $12.5 billion had been invested in modernizing U.S. air travel. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also attended the meeting, and Trump said additional work is planned for airport and air traffic control equipment.
The Government’s Current Forecast Falls Short of That Goal
The National Travel and Tourism Office, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, currently expects international visitation to reach 70.5 million in 2026.
That forecast projects continued growth over the next several years, reaching 85.2 million visitors in 2030.
