Texas Tourism Statistics

Visitors in Texas spend over $90 billion annually.³

• Visitors spent $83 billion in Texas in 2019. Total spending dropped to $56.6 billion in 2020 due to the pandemic but began to recover in 2021, reaching $75.7 billion.³
• By 2022, spending climbed to $91.6 billion³, and in 2023, it reached $94.2 billion, exceeding the pre-pandemic year by 13.5%.
• Spending rose to $97.5 billion in 2024, a 3.5% increase from the previous year³, and hit a record $98.7 billion in 2025⁵, up 1.2% and 18.9% above the pre-pandemic level of 2019.

How much did tourists spend in Texas in 2025?

• Visitors spent $98.7 billion across Texas in 2025, an increase of 1.2% from the previous year.⁵

Texas Visitor Spending Breakdown

Visitors in Texas spend most in food services, accommodation and local transportation.

• In 2025, visitors spent about $86.3 billion at Texas destinations⁶. Food service took the largest share (23.6%, about $20.4 billion), followed by accommodation (22.0%, about $19.0 billion) and local transport and gas (19.8%, about $17.1 billion)⁷.
• Other sectors include retail sales (12.8%, about $11.0 billion), arts, entertainment and recreation (9.1%, about $7.9 billion), air transport (7.6%, about $6.6 billion) and food stores (5.0%, about $4.3 billion)⁷.

• In 2024, overnight visitors to Texas stayed an average of 4.6 days. Including day trips, visitors spent an average of 2.9 days traveling in the state³.

Note: 2024 is the latest year available. Travel Texas has not yet published its 2025 visitor profile, which is where this figure comes from.

Road trips are the most common way to visit Texas. In 2024, 59% of overnight visitors arrived by car and 25% by plane.³

• Driving is even more common for Texans: 80% of in-state visitors drove in 2023, while about half (49%) of out-of-state visitors arrived by air.²
• The most visited region is Prairies & Lakes, which includes Dallas–Fort Worth, with 36.5% of visits in 2024, followed by the Gulf Coast (17.5%).³
• Texans head to the Gulf Coast, Hill Country and South Texas Plains more than out-of-state visitors do, while out-of-state visitors lean toward Prairies & Lakes and Big Bend Country.³
• For more on driving trips, see our road trip statistics, or compare one-way car rentals such as Dallas to Houston and Austin to San Antonio.

About a quarter of overnight visitors (25% in 2024) fly into Texas.³ The state's seven busiest commercial airports handled more than 200 million passengers in 2025, led by Dallas Fort Worth.

• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) was the busiest, with 85.7 million passengers in 2025, down 2.5% from 87.8 million in 2024.¹⁶
• George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) in Houston handled over 48 million passengers, and Houston's Hobby Airport (HOU) over 13.9 million.¹⁷
• Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) served 21.7 million passengers, down 0.4% on 2024.¹⁸
• Dallas Love Field (DAL) handled about 16.9 million passengers, down from 17.9 million in 2024.¹⁹
• San Antonio International (SAT) served 10.7 million passengers, down from 11.1 million in 2024.²⁰
• El Paso International (ELP) served 3.8 million passengers, down from 4.0 million in 2024.²¹

• Visitor Spending: Tourists spent approximately $98.7 billion in Texas in 2025⁵, highlighting the state’s appeal as a travel destination.
• Employment: Travel spending supported around 1.3 million jobs across the Texas economy, directly and indirectly²⁶, encompassing roles in hospitality, transportation, and entertainment.
• Earnings: Employees in the tourism industry collectively earned about $37.2 billion in 2025, up 2.4% on the year⁷, reflecting the sector’s role in providing substantial income opportunities.
• Tax Revenue: Tourism activities generated approximately $9.2 billion in state and local tax revenues²⁷, contributing to public services and infrastructure development.

• History and Heritage: Iconic sites like The Alamo and the UNESCO-listed San Antonio Missions attract history buffs from around the world.
• Cultural Attractions: Events like SXSW and the State Fair of Texas, along with Austin’s vibrant live music scene, celebrate the state’s cultural diversity.
• Natural Wonders: Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains, and South Padre Island showcase Texas’s stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures.
• Unique Experiences: Space Center Houston and Natural Bridge Caverns offer one-of-a-kind attractions for science and nature enthusiasts.
• Food and Family Fun: Tex-Mex cuisine, local breweries, theme parks, and renowned zoos make Texas a family-friendly culinary and entertainment hub.

What is the number one tourist attraction in Texas?

The number one tourist attraction in Texas is The Alamo, located in San Antonio. This historic site is renowned for its pivotal role in the Texas Revolution. The Alamo has become a symbol of Texas pride and resilience, attracting millions of visitors each year who come to learn about its rich history and significance.