Top 10+ States That Are Running Out of Tourist Attractions

1. Nevada

Nevada's tourism-dependent economy faces severe strain as international passenger traffic dropped 19.6 percent from January to February, while domestic traffic declined 6.9 percent, with 4 million travelers passing through Harry Reid International Airport in February, representing a 7.5 percent decrease compared to last year. Las Vegas, the state's primary tourist destination, has experienced particularly sharp declines in visitor numbers.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported overall February visitor volume was down nearly 12 percent from a year ago, convention attendance fell almost 20 percent, hotel occupancy dropped 3.5 percent, and the total number of room nights was down 11 percent. The state's economy is uniquely vulnerable because the hotel and casino industry generates about 38% of general fund revenue.

Nevada's reliance on international visitors, particularly from Canada and Mexico, makes it especially susceptible to border policy changes and diplomatic tensions. While New York has a large, diverse economy that can likely absorb a tourism loss without going into recession, the same probably isn't true of places like Las Vegas, as "These economies are very, very sensitive to tourism" and "This is their main economic driver".

2. Hawaii

Hawaii's tourism industry has been devastated by multiple factors, making it one of the states most affected by declining visitor numbers. The hit to Hawaii's budget has been severe with an estimated 19.6% general fund tax revenue loss, and the first week of October, the number of passengers flying to Hawaii was still down more than 90% from a year ago.

The state's extreme dependence on tourism makes any decline particularly damaging, as the travel industry represents about a quarter of the state's economy, with over 10 million tourists traveling to Hawaii in 2019, which is over seven times the state's population, with visitors spending $17.8 billion and contributing over $2 billion in tax revenue. Hawaii's remote location compounds its vulnerability, as visitors must make a significant commitment to travel there, and any deterrent factors can quickly shift travel plans to more accessible destinations.

Hotels and resorts have sustained severe losses as fewer travelers are checking in, with some remaining open with limited capacity while others have shut down entirely. The state's tourism recovery timeline has been pushed back significantly, with WTTC currently estimating that US tourism may take until at least 2030 to fully recovery to pre-Covid levels, assuming the situation does not worsen.

3. Florida

Florida, despite being one of the most visited states historically, faces significant challenges as international tourism declines impact its massive tourism infrastructure. Florida remains the leading U.S.

destination for Canadian travelers, attracting approximately 3.3 million visitors from Canada in 2024, with Canadians making up 27% of all international travelers and contributing approximately $4.17 billion in direct spending, supporting over 2.1 million jobs statewide, but with a potential 20% drop in Canadian visits, Florida stands to lose nearly $834 million and see significant job cuts in hospitality and retail. The state's tourism bureau has reported dramatic visitor decreases, with the number of visitors in the second quarter down a staggering 61% from a year ago during previous challenging periods.

Florida's dependence on theme parks and beach tourism makes it particularly vulnerable to international visitor declines, as these attractions require significant visitor volumes to maintain profitability. The pandemic canceled many spring break plans, and Walt Disney World announced massive layoffs while other major tourist destinations remained closed for months.

The state's economy, while diversified, still relies heavily on tourism revenue to fund public services and infrastructure, making any sustained decline in visitor numbers a serious concern for state finances.

4. California

California's tourism industry is experiencing its first decline since the pandemic, with the state revising its forecast for 2025 to show a negative year-over-year visitation number for the first time since the pandemic, down 0.7% overall, driven by a 9.2% decline in international visitation. The loss of Canadian visitors represents a particularly significant blow, as Canadians are a huge market for California, right neck-and-neck with Mexico, with 1.8 million Canadian travelers coming to the state last year spending over $3 billion, representing an enormous part of the local travel economy.

California's tourism decline is especially concerning given its status as the #1 tourist destination in the country, with tourism spending reaching a record-high of $157.3 billion in 2024, up 3% from another record-breaking year in 2023. The state faces additional challenges from political actions and rhetoric from the Trump administration, like tariffs and claims that Canada should become the 51st state, which have sparked backlash from Canadians, taking a toll on California industries including wine boycotts impacting wineries and growers, with Canadians second-guessing investing in or traveling to the United States.

California's diverse tourism offerings, from Hollywood to wine country to beaches, require consistent international visitor spending to maintain their economic viability.

5. New York

New York faces significant tourism challenges despite its iconic attractions, with declining figures extending to the northern regions of the state, where approximately 66% of tourism businesses in "Upstate New York," near Ottawa and Montreal in Canada, have seen a "significant drop" in Canadian bookings this year, impacted by President Donald Trump's rhetoric about Canada becoming the "51st state" and by tariff policies, with around 26% of businesses in upstate areas already reducing staff in response to the sluggish tourism. The state's tourism agency has been forced to revise its projections downward, with New York's tourism agency revising down its positive forecasts for 2025, a year that was previously expected to mark a full recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

New York City, while maintaining some resilience due to its economic diversity, still faces substantial losses from reduced international visitation. New York remains optimistic that international tourists may stay longer and spend more, given that in 2024, foreign visitors generated about half of the city's $51 billion in tourism revenue.

The decline affects not just Manhattan's famous attractions but extends throughout the state, impacting smaller communities that depend on cross-border tourism. New York City welcomed nearly 13 million international visitors in 2024, but projections indicate a sharp decline in 2025, threatening the livelihoods of countless workers in the hospitality and service sectors.

6. Texas

Texas, as one of the largest tourism destinations, faces mounting pressure from declining international visitor numbers and changing travel patterns. Florida, California, New York, Nevada, Michigan, and Texas are now confronting a major challenge: how to recover the billions in revenue typically generated by Canadian travelers.

The state's diverse tourism offerings, from major cities like Houston and Dallas to cultural attractions in Austin and San Antonio, require consistent international visitor spending to maintain their economic impact. Texas has historically benefited from its proximity to Mexico and strong business travel connections, but current political tensions and border policies are affecting these traditional visitor flows.

The state ranks fifth behind California, Texas, Florida and New York in domestic visitation, but the decline in international tourism threatens this position. The state's economy, while diversified beyond tourism, still depends significantly on visitor spending to support employment in hospitality, retail, and related service industries.

Texas faces particular challenges in maintaining its appeal to international business travelers and leisure visitors from Mexico, Canada, and other key markets that have historically contributed billions to the state's economy.

7. Michigan

Michigan's tourism industry suffers from its heavy dependence on Canadian visitors, making it extremely vulnerable to cross-border travel disruptions. According to Sault Ste.

Marie's International Bridge Administration, passenger car traffic in April was down 44% compared with last year, and while the waning bridge traffic may not mean much from Canada's second-largest province and most popular destination, to the historic Michigan town it certainly does, as "They have 70,000 people, and if they're not coming over and buying in our stores, then it affects us much more". The state's tourism infrastructure, particularly in border communities, has been built around serving Canadian visitors who no longer come in previous numbers.

Hotel bookings in the city of 14,000 are already down 77% year to date in some Michigan border communities. Michigan's tourism industry faces the challenge of replacing high-spending Canadian visitors with domestic tourists who typically spend less and visit for shorter periods.

The state's natural attractions, including the Great Lakes region and outdoor recreation opportunities, struggle to maintain visitor levels without their traditional Canadian customer base. Michigan, Florida, California, New York, Nevada, and Texas are among the hardest hit by the decline in Canadian tourism, forcing local businesses to drastically adjust their operations and staffing levels.

8. Alaska

Alaska ranks as the least visited state in the country, with only 13 percent of respondents saying they had visited Alaska, making it the least-visited state. The state's remote location and limited accessibility create significant barriers for tourists, requiring expensive flights and extensive travel time from most U.S.

population centers. Alaska's tourism season is extremely short, concentrated primarily in the summer months when weather conditions allow for outdoor activities and cruise ship visits.

Alaska being both far from the Lower 48 and having the shortest tourist season contributes to its low visitor numbers. The state's tourism infrastructure is limited compared to other destinations, with fewer hotels, restaurants, and tourist services available outside of major cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Alaska has an outsized reputation among the traveling set as a cherished cruise destination and a place to view wildlife like bears and eagles, and a natural haven for people who enjoy fishing and embracing outdoor adventure, but this reputation doesn't translate into high visitor numbers due to accessibility and cost barriers. The state's dependence on seasonal employment in tourism makes it particularly vulnerable to any disruptions in visitor patterns or travel restrictions that could further reduce its already limited tourist traffic.

9. Vermont

Vermont consistently ranks among the least visited states despite its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. Despite welcoming an average of 13 million US and overseas tourists each year, Vermont still ranks as one of the least visited US states.

The state faces significant geographic challenges, as Vermont isn't precisely on the way to…well, anywhere, making it a destination that requires intentional planning rather than convenient stopping. Vermont's tourism industry suffers from quiet marketing, as you don't see a lot of tourism promotions about Vermont, remaining quiet like the wind rustling its iconic fall foliage.

The state's small size and limited urban centers restrict its ability to accommodate large numbers of visitors or offer diverse attractions beyond outdoor recreation and seasonal activities. An estimated 100,000 international explorers and 13-14 million US travelers venture to Vermont every year, but these numbers pale in comparison to major tourist destinations.

Vermont's economy benefits from tourism, but the state struggles to expand its visitor base beyond traditional New England tourism patterns. The state's attractions, while charming, lack the scale and recognition needed to compete with major national destinations for tourist attention and spending.

10. Wyoming

Wyoming faces unique challenges as one of the least populated and least visited states in America. There are just six people per square mile in the scenic northwestern state of Wyoming, making it the least populated place in America, and it's also among the least-visited despite being a gateway to seven national parks including wonderous Yellowstone and less-known Grand Teton.

The state's vast distances between attractions and limited tourism infrastructure create accessibility challenges for visitors. With neighbors like Montana's Glacier National Park and Wyoming's Yellowstone, Idaho's wonders often stay in the background, and most people flock to Wyoming's Yellowstone gates but Montana's Gardiner is as beautiful and a lot less crowded.

Wyoming's tourism industry depends heavily on Yellowstone National Park, but many visitors enter through other states, limiting the economic benefit to Wyoming communities. Wyoming certainly has its own set of famous tourism draws, most prominently Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park, yet as a whole, the state's sprawling natural wonders and cowboy culture offer so much more to see.

The state's remote location and sparse population mean that tourism services are concentrated in a few areas, making it difficult for visitors to explore extensively. Wyoming's harsh winter weather also limits its tourism season, concentrating visitor activity into a few months when weather conditions permit outdoor recreation and sightseeing activities.

Get more from Travelbucketlist!

What do you think about this topic? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! Want more stories like this? Follow us and never miss out!