Orlando named top US tourism destination

City makes comeback, earns $31 billion in 2022

“Destinations like Orlando, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas are back stronger than ever before thanks to the relaxation of pandemic restrictions and a strong rebound of consumer confidence.”

Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO

Home to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and many other attractions, the city of Orlando, Florida, was named the largest U.S. travel and tourism city destination for 2022 by the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The city earned over $31 billion last year from tourism, representing 20% of the city’s total gross domestic product, the Cities Economic Impact Report by the WTTC said.

The destination made a comeback from the pandemic, having earned more than 2019’s economic contribution by $2.7 billion.

Following Orlando was Las Vegas, with a direct GDP contribution of $23 billion.

Other major U.S. cities like Miami and New York City also surpassed 2019 level contributions, the report said, proving that these cities “remain iconic destinations.”

“It was a fightback year for cities across the country in 2022. Destinations like Orlando, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas are back stronger than ever before thanks to the relaxation of pandemic restrictions and a strong rebound of consumer confidence,” said WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson in a statement.

As of November 2022, Florida saw an increase in visitors – welcoming 104.5 million travelers – more than it saw in 2019.

Orlando was also the only major city destination to not only have strong spending by domestic travelers but international travelers as well. In 2022, its international visitor spending surpassed its 2019 numbers by almost 20%.

“Other popular holiday destinations like San Francisco, Honolulu and Washington, D.C., are following suit with growing sector GDP contributions that are well on their way to recovering from peak pandemic lows,” Simpson added.

To come up with the biggest tourist destinations for the Cities Economic Impact Report, researchers from Oxford Economics analyzed key travel and tourism metrics, such as contribution to GDP, traveler spending and employment, for 82 cities across the world.