The United States retained its top spot as the world’s largest tourism economy but the inbound China marked has stalled.
New research released by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says the US travel and tourism sector contributed nearly $1.6 trillion or 7.8% of US GDP.
Accounting for inflation the sector grew 2.2% last year.
However the inbound Chinese market was flat last year in part due to trade tensions.
It had registered average annual growth of 23% over the last decade.
It is a worry as the China market contributes 11% of tourism related spending in the US.
"Given the economic importance of Chinese visitors, any thawing in the trade relations between the two countries would have a positive effect for the wider US economy," said WTTC president & CEO, Gloria Guevara.
WTTC says the sector generates 15.6 million American jobs directly and indirectly.
