U.S. Travel Spending abroad reached billions of dollars across major international destinations in 2025, with Mexico taking the top position at a reported $25.7 billion. According to a study released by financial services company MobiusPay in October 2026, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Dominican Republic followed Mexico among the leading destinations for spending by U.S. residents.
The study ranked more than 70 international destinations based on reported expenditures associated with personal travel, business trips, education, and health-related visits. Its findings highlight the economic connections between the United States and destinations across North America, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Canada ranked second with $12.8 billion in reported spending, followed by Italy with $12.6 billion and the United Kingdom with $12.4 billion. The Dominican Republic completed the top five with $8.5 billion.
These figures demonstrate the scale of international travel-related expenditure by Americans. However, the totals cover more than traditional holidays, so they should not be treated as tourism revenue alone.
U.S. Travel Spending Puts Mexico in First Place
Mexico led the international rankings with reported U.S. Travel Spending of $25.685 billion in 2025. That figure equals approximately $70.4 million per day, highlighting the scale of financial activity between American travelers and the neighboring country.
According to MobiusPay, personal travel accounted for approximately $22.5 billion of the total. Education and health-related travel contributed another $1.8 billion, while business travel represented approximately $1.4 billion.
Several factors help explain Mexico’s strong position. Its proximity to the United States makes it accessible by air, road, and other transportation connections. In addition, the country offers a broad range of destinations, from major cities and cultural attractions to beach resorts and coastal communities.
Established travel networks also support visits for family gatherings, shopping, business meetings, and medical services. Consequently, spending extends beyond conventional vacation activities.
Cross-border transactions also contribute to the reported figures. Certain day trips for shopping and sightseeing are included in relevant travel statistics, meaning that not every dollar necessarily comes from visitors staying overnight.
MobiusPay reports that U.S. travel spending in Mexico increased by 34% between 2019 and 2025. This comparison suggests substantial growth over the period, although the underlying annual figures and statistical definitions should be reviewed before drawing firm conclusions about the reasons for that increase.
Canada Ranks Second in U.S. Travel Spending
Canada secured second place with reported U.S. Travel Spending of $12.801 billion in 2025. This amounted to approximately $35.1 million per day, reflecting the strong travel relationship between the neighboring countries.
Personal travel accounted for around $10.3 billion, according to the study. Education and health-related visits contributed approximately $548 million, while business travel represented about $1.9 billion.
The country’s proximity and extensive cross-border connections make it an accessible destination for American residents. Travelers visit Canadian cities for sightseeing, shopping, cultural experiences, and family trips. Business connections also support regular movement between the two countries.
Major urban centers offer restaurants, museums, entertainment, and accommodation for visitors throughout the year. Meanwhile, natural attractions and seasonal activities provide additional reasons to travel.
MobiusPay reports that spending in Canada increased by 9% from 2024. This year-over-year change provides a more recent comparison than the longer-term figures available for some other destinations.
Nevertheless, the overall amount includes different categories of travel-related expenditure. Personal holidays, business visits, and education or health-related travel can have different spending patterns, so the headline total does not measure vacation spending alone.
Italy and the United Kingdom Attract Billions
Italy ranked third among the leading destinations, receiving $12.621 billion in reported spending by U.S. residents in 2025. According to MobiusPay, personal travel accounted for approximately $10.7 billion, while education and health-related visits contributed around $1.1 billion.
Italy’s cultural attractions, historic cities, food, and coastal destinations make it an important choice for American travelers. Visitors may combine trips to Rome, Florence, and Venice with stays in smaller towns or popular seaside regions.
Educational travel also contributes to spending. Students and other visitors may pay for accommodation, transportation, meals, and local services during longer stays.
The study reports that spending in Italy increased by 64% between 2019 and 2025. Although that figure indicates a substantial rise, it should be checked against the underlying annual data and consistent statistical definitions before being treated as independently verified.
The United Kingdom ranked fourth, with $12.426 billion in reported U.S. travel-related expenditure. MobiusPay reports that the total increased by 6% compared with the previous year.
Education and health-related travel accounted for approximately $2 billion of the UK’s reported total. Meanwhile, personal visits and business travel contributed to the wider figure.
London remains an important destination for international business, cultural tourism, and education. Other cities and regions also attract visitors interested in history, entertainment, sporting events, and family connections.
The figures for Italy and the United Kingdom demonstrate why analysts need to distinguish between personal travel and other categories. Although both countries attract substantial tourism, their total reported spending also reflects a broader range of cross-border activities.
Dominican Republic Records Strong Growth
The Dominican Republic ranked fifth, with reported U.S. Travel Spending of $8.514 billion in 2025. The Caribbean destination attracted substantial spending associated with personal travel, which MobiusPay estimates at approximately $8.1 billion.
The country’s beaches, resorts, warm climate, and established tourism industry make it a popular choice for American holidaymakers. Direct air connections and package travel options also help support visitor demand.
According to the study, spending in the Dominican Republic increased by 84% between 2019 and 2025. This was the largest reported percentage increase among the five leading destinations.
The figure points to a notable change over the six-year period. However, a percentage increase alone does not explain the underlying causes. Changes in travel demand, prices, spending patterns, and the composition of recorded expenditures may all influence the final result.
The Dominican Republic’s position also illustrates the economic importance of Caribbean travel to the United States. Visitors spend money on hotels, restaurants, transport, excursions, and other services, creating activity across the local tourism economy.
Still, the study’s total includes the categories defined in its methodology. It should not automatically be interpreted as the amount earned by hotels or the wider tourism industry.
France, Japan, and Spain Complete the Top Eight
France ranked sixth, attracting a reported $7.679 billion in spending by U.S. residents during 2025. Its international appeal includes museums, historic landmarks, food, fashion, and destinations beyond Paris.
Japan followed in seventh place, with $6.953 billion. The country attracts American visitors through its cultural heritage, major cities, cuisine, technology, and distinctive regional experiences.
Spain ranked eighth, recording $6.818 billion in reported spending. Its cities, Mediterranean coastline, cultural attractions, and hospitality sector continue to draw international travelers.
Greece and Germany completed the top 10, with reported totals of $4.785 billion and $4.566 billion, respectively.
Together, these destinations show the geographic range of American travel expenditure. European countries feature prominently in the rankings, while Japan demonstrates the importance of destinations in Asia.
However, the rankings reflect reported spending rather than visitor numbers alone. A country with a smaller number of travelers could record substantial expenditure if visitors stay longer or spend more per trip. Conversely, a destination with many short visits may generate a different spending profile.
For that reason, U.S. Travel Spending provides one measure of international travel activity, but it cannot independently establish which destinations receive the most visitors or deliver the highest tourism revenue.
What the U.S. Travel Spending Figures Include
Understanding the methodology is essential when interpreting the reported totals. International travel statistics compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and published by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office measure spending associated with travel between the United States and other countries.
Depending on the statistical series, these expenditures can include lodging, food, entertainment, local transportation, and other purchases. Certain education, medical, and temporary-worker expenses may also fall within the relevant categories.
Transactions involving Mexico and Canada can include specified cross-border activities, including day trips. Therefore, the figures do not necessarily represent spending by overnight tourists alone.
This distinction matters when comparing destinations. A total that includes business travel and education-related expenses measures a broader economic relationship than a figure limited to hotel stays or holiday purchases.
The reported amounts also should not be confused with the revenue retained by local businesses. Travelers may spend money across several industries, and the final economic benefit depends on the types of goods and services purchased, local operating costs, and other factors.
Furthermore, the MobiusPay study’s figures should be interpreted according to its published methodology. Comparing its totals with other datasets requires consistent definitions, time periods, and expenditure categories.
Why International Travel Spending Matters
International travel expenditure affects businesses in many sectors. Hotels and short-term accommodation providers benefit from overnight stays, while restaurants, shops, transport companies, and attractions receive spending from visitors during their trips.
Education and health-related travel can generate different patterns of demand. Students may remain in a destination for extended periods, while people traveling for medical services may use accommodation and transport close to hospitals or specialized facilities.
Business travelers can also support hotels, conference venues, restaurants, and local transportation providers. Their spending may be linked to meetings, trade events, investment activities, and commercial relationships.
For destination planners, these differences help explain why total travel expenditure offers a broader perspective than visitor counts alone. Spending patterns can reveal the range of economic activities connected to international mobility.
However, expenditure totals should be considered alongside other indicators, including arrivals, overnight stays, average visitor spending, accommodation occupancy, and tourism-related employment. Together, these measures provide a more complete picture of a destination’s performance.
Mexico Maintains a Leading Position
The MobiusPay study places Mexico well ahead of the other destinations in the 2025 rankings. Its reported $25.685 billion in spending was approximately twice the totals recorded for Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
That gap highlights the scale of travel-related financial activity between the United States and Mexico. Geographic proximity, transport links, tourism infrastructure, and cross-border connections all form part of the relationship.
Canada’s second-place ranking reinforces the importance of travel between neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Italy and the United Kingdom show the continued importance of long-distance travel to Europe, while the Dominican Republic highlights the Caribbean’s role in American outbound travel.
The figures also reveal why destinations should not rely on a single metric when assessing tourism success. Spending totals can reflect travel frequency, trip length, prices, business activity, and other factors.
Ultimately, the rankings offer a useful snapshot of where U.S. residents spent money abroad in 2025. Their full significance depends on how the data are defined and how they compare with other measures of international travel.
As travel patterns continue to evolve, U.S. Travel Spending will remain an important indicator of the economic connections between American travelers and destinations worldwide. Mexico’s leading position highlights the strength of its relationship with the U.S. market, while the other top-ranked countries demonstrate the wide range of destinations benefiting from American travel expenditure.
