India Becomes Second-Largest Overseas Source Market for U.S. Tourism; Destination Niagara USA Expands Outreach
Niagara Falls, NY — According to Brand USA, 2.2 million Indian travelers visited the United States in 2024, marking a 24% increase from 2023 and making India the country’s second-largest overseas source market. This milestone, as reported by the Times of India, highlights the significant growth of Indian tourism, surpassing Germany’s 2 million visitors while following the UK’s 4 million, excluding Canada’s 20 million and Mexico’s 17 million.
To leverage this growing trend, Destination Niagara USA Director of Travel Trade Sales Tina Mt. Pleasant, participated in the 11th Brand USA India Sales and Media Mission in Hyderabad, India, from January 19-24, 2025. While in India, Mt. Pleasant met with 73 tour operators, noting that 67 of them already include Niagara Falls USA in their itineraries.
“In order to accommodate the influx of Indian tourists, we are expanding our outreach to partners beyond Downtown Niagara Falls,” said Mt. Pleasant. Indian travelers are known for their longer stays, which result in a greater economic impact on the destinations they visit. New York State ranks among the top five states for Indian travelers, with Niagara Falls as the premier attraction. While the trends are encouraging, Destination Niagara USA President and CEO John Percy emphasized the need to make travel more accessible for Indian visitors. “Long visa wait times can be a problem, and as a member of the U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors, we want to help facilitate access for international tourists to the United States,” he stated.
Tourism plays a crucial role in Niagara County’s economy, with travelers spending over $1 billion in the destination in 2023, generating more than $59 million in local taxes. “Continuing outreach to these expanding markets and smoothing the travel process for international travelers has major benefits to the local economy in terms of job creation and tax savings,” Percy added. “We want to make Niagara Falls USA as enticing as possible to international markets, as they stay longer and spend more in our communities.”
Destination Niagara USA works to ensure Niagara County is a preferred international destination for group and leisure travel. It supports its mission to expand the economic prosperity of Niagara County by generating individual and group visitation. For more information, visit NiagaraFallsUSA.com.