International Focus – Topline Numbers Don’t Tell the Complete Story

International visitation to the United States looks fundamentally different than it did a year ago. For the first time in over two decades (outside of the pandemic), Mexico has surpassed Canada as the top source of inbound travelers—a shift that signals more than just changing numbers. It reflects evolving travel patterns, economic pressures, and geopolitical realities that destinations across the country are navigating in real time.

Through August 2025, I-94 arrival data shows Mexican visitation up 11% year-over-year, while Canadian arrivals have contracted by 21%. The gap is significant: what was once a reliable Canadian lead has become a substantial deficit.

This matters because Canadian and Mexican travelers together account for roughly half of all international visitors to the US. When one of those markets shifts dramatically, the ripple effects reach destinations nationwide—though not evenly, as we’ll explore in this blog.

Read the full blog at: https://www.zartico.com/blog/international-focus-topline-numbers-dont-tell-the-complete-story