According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, “Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more.

“Rethinking tourism

“International tourist arrivals at the start of 2022 were double the level recorded in 2021. In some regions, arrivals are already at, or even above, pre-pandemic levels. The lifting of the remaining travel restrictions, alongside rising consumer confidence, will be important drivers for the sector’s recovery, bringing hope and opportunity to many millions of people around the world.

“World Tourism Day will be celebrated as the shift towards tourism is being recognized as a crucial pillar for development and as progress is well underway. May 2022 marked the first time the United Nations General Assembly held a special debate on tourism, illustrating the historic relevance of the sector. Tourism is now on the agenda of governments and of international organizations in every global region.”

Key Stats

Source: Quarterly Services Survey (QSS).

481: Air Transportation: U.S. Total – Revenue (2010-2022)

485: Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation: U.S. Total – Revenue (2010-2022)

487: Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation: U.S. Total – Revenue (2010-2022), Bar Chart below (Seasonally Adjusted)

5615: Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services: U.S. Total – Revenue (2003-2022)

Note: Click on the image above for the webpage with two tables. Click on “Bar Chart” above the top table for the interactive version of the bar chart above. The dip, beginning in Q2-2020, corresponds with the COVID-19 pandemic.

More Stats

Source: 2020 Annual Surveys of State and Local Government Finances.

2020 State & Local Government Finance Historical Datasets and Tables

Table 1, US Summary & Alabama-Mississippi [<1.0 MB] see Line 29, Air transportation (airports) [<1.0 MB]

Table 1, Missouri-Wyoming [<1.0 MB] see Line 29, Air transportation (airports) [<1.0 MB]

Note: In two Table 1 links above, “General revenue from own sources” include the following lines:

28, Highways
29, Air transportation (airports)
30, Parking facilities
31, Sea and inland port facilities
33, Parks and recreation

Source: 2019 Service Annual Survey (SAS).

Table 1: Estimated Revenue for Employer and Nonemployer Firms: 2013 Through 2019. Tourism related services include these NAICS Codes below. [<1.0 MB]

NAICS 481, Air Transportation
NAICS 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
NAICS 71, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
NAICS 711, Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
NAICS 712, Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
NAICS 713, Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
NAICS 721, Accommodations
NAICS 722, Food Services and Drinking Places

Source: 2017 Economic Census.

Table EC1771BASIC, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: Summary Statistics for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2017, showing all 4-digit NAICS Codes (table below)

Table EC1771BASIC, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: Summary Statistics for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2017, showing all 6-digit NAICS Codes (94 rows)

From the Newsroom / Random Samplings (blog):

Measuring the Impact of Tourism to Local Areas (May 2017)

“…tourism plays a significant role in the success of certain types of businesses across various areas of the country…” The blog shared links to the four travel-related infographics shown below.

Infographic: Government Revenue From Airports (updated October 2020)

Infographic: Revenue in the Travel Accommodation Industry (January 2017)

Infographic: Passenger Car Rental Establishments (February 2017)

Infographic: Revenue from Marinas (December 2016)