New Orleans Tourism Statistics

New Orleans, Louisiana, is a city known for its cultural heritage, music traditions, Creole cuisine, and annual events such as Mardi Gras.

• From January to May 2026, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) handled 5.08 million passengers, 6% fewer than the 5.40 million in the same months of 2025.¹
• Every month so far has been below the same month of 2025, from 2.5% lower in February² to 10% lower in March.³
• International scheduled passengers fell by 32%, to 68,579.¹
• Airport counts include residents flying out as well as visitors flying in, so they show the direction of travel demand rather than a visitor total.

International and domestic tourists spent a record $10.8 billion during their trips to New Orleans in 2025.⁴

• In 2019, tourists in New Orleans generated $10.05 billion in expenditure.⁴ Spending then fell sharply in 2020 due to the pandemic, a year New Orleans & Company published no spending figure for.
• International and domestic tourist spending recovered in 2021 with $8.33 billion spent.⁵
• In 2022 and 2023, visitors spent $9.10 billion and $9.60 billion, respectively.⁵
• Tourists spent $10.0 billion in 2024 (New Orleans & Company's revised figure), a 4.2% increase over 2023 and just below 2019.⁴
• Spending reached a record $10.8 billion in 2025, 8% more than in 2024 and 7.5% above 2019.⁴

How much did tourists spend in New Orleans in 2025?

• Domestic and international tourists spent $10.8 billion while exploring New Orleans in 2025.⁴

How much does it cost to visit New Orleans?

• In 2025, visitors to the Greater New Orleans region spent an average of $303 per person per day⁶, up from $275 in 2023.⁷

Most visitors to the Greater New Orleans region come from within driving distance, according to the 2025 Louisiana Visitor Profile.

• About 74% of visitors arrived by car in 2025, while 20% flew and 6% used other transport.⁶
• Among Louisiana’s main origin markets, the largest share of visitors came from the New Orleans area itself (24.3%), followed by the Houston area (10.5%), Waco–Temple–Bryan, Texas (8.2%), Baton Rouge (8.1%) and Mobile–Pensacola (5.6%).⁶
• The average visitor was 49 years old, with a household income of $124,646. Gen X and millennials each made up 35% of visitors.⁶
• Travel parties averaged 1.6 people.⁶

About three in four visitors reach New Orleans by car⁶, and the city makes an easy base for driving trips along the Gulf Coast and up the Mississippi. Driving distances from central New Orleans:⁸

• Gulfport, Mississippi: 78 miles (126 km)
• Baton Rouge: 81 miles (131 km)
• Lafayette: 135 miles (218 km)
• Houston: 348 miles (561 km)
• Memphis: 394 miles (633 km)
• Nashville: 531 miles (855 km)
• Miami: 863 miles (1,389 km)

New Orleans, Louisiana’s cultural heart, continues to stand out as one of the most visited and celebrated cities in the United States.

• The city was ranked #2 in the United States in the Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards 2025”⁹.
• New Orleans ranked #3 nationally for hosting large-scale conventions⁵, outperforming major cities like Chicago and Las Vegas.
• It won TripAdvisor’s “2024 Best US Food Destination Travelers’ Choice Award”⁵ and was honored by the Creative Tourism Network as the “World’s Best Creative Destination.”¹⁰
• Globally renowned for events like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the city continues to uphold its reputation as one of the most vibrant and culturally rich destinations in the world.

Mardi Gras is New Orleans’ biggest event of the year.

• About 1.2 million out-of-town visitors came to New Orleans for the last days of Mardi Gras 2026 (February 12–17), 20% more than over the same stretch in 2025.¹¹
• 40% of those visitors traveled from more than 250 miles away.¹¹
• Downtown neighborhoods logged about 2.2 million visits across the 2026 Carnival season, the most since 2020, according to smartphone location data.¹²
• A Tulane University study of Mardi Gras 2023 put its total economic impact at $891 million, equal to 3.07% of New Orleans’ GDP.¹³
• That is nearly three times the $322 million estimated for Mardi Gras 2009¹⁴, though the studies’ methods have changed over time.
• The city earns $2.64 for every $1 it spends staging Mardi Gras, and the celebration adds about $14 million in state tax revenue.¹³

• Explore the French Quarter: Stroll through Jackson Square for historic charm and street performances, and enjoy the vibrant nightlife on Bourbon Street.
• Immerse in Live Jazz: Visit Preservation Hall for intimate live jazz performances showcasing New Orleans’ musical roots.
• Discover Museums: Explore the New Orleans Museum of Art and The Historic New Orleans Collection to dive into art and local history.
• Savor Local Cuisine: Indulge in beignets at Café du Monde and tour Mardi Gras World for a taste of festival culture.
• Connect with Nature: Visit the Audubon Zoo and relax in the expansive City Park with its gardens and trails.