Tourism Receipts - Ranking 2018
In 2018, European Union ($431.7B), United States ($242.0B), and France ($72.5B) ranked highest in tourism receipts among all countries. Nauru ranked lowest at $1.6M.
Data & analysis
- United States — 84,205,000,000.00
- France — 35,958,000,000.00
- Australia — 26,234,000,000.00
- United Arab Emirates — 24,615,400,390.63
- Italy — 20,459,000,000.00
In 2020, international tourism receipts were heavily concentrated among economies with diversified attractions and established global connectivity. The United States led with $84.2 billion, supported by its vast array of natural and urban destinations, while France’s $36.0 billion reflected its enduring cultural and culinary appeal. Australia’s $26.2 billion and Italy’s $20.5 billion further illustrate how geographic size, heritage tourism, and advanced infrastructure bind the top tier. At the bottom, Guinea’s $1.3 million and Mauritania’s $6.4 million highlight structural barriers such as limited transport links and political instability, which deter high-spending visitors. The 2020 data also captures the pandemic’s initial shock, which disproportionately disrupted smaller economies reliant on niche tourism. As global travel recovers, shifts in visa policies, climate adaptation, or the rise of digital nomadism could reshuffle the leaderboard, potentially elevating destinations with strong remote-work infrastructure or sustainable tourism models.
| Rank | Country | Value | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|