International Tourism Receipts
Total revenue from international tourism including spending on goods and services by international visitors.
Quick Reference
Unit
USD
Category
Economy
Metric Code
tourism_receipts
How It's Calculated
Expenditures by international inbound visitors including payments to national carriers for international transport. Includes spending on lodging, food, local transport, entertainment, shopping, and other services. Measured in current US dollars. Based on balance of payments data, tourism satellite accounts, and visitor surveys compiled by UNWTO and national tourism boards.
Why It Matters
Tourism receipts are a critical foreign exchange earner for many economies, especially small island states and countries with rich cultural/natural heritage. Tourism generates employment, stimulates infrastructure development, and promotes cultural exchange. For tourism-dependent economies (Maldives, Seychelles, Caribbean nations), receipts can exceed 20% of GDP and are vital to economic stability.
Understanding the Values
Very Low: < $100 million (limited tourism - landlocked/conflict countries) Low: $100M - $1 billion (developing tourism sectors) Moderate: $1B - $10 billion (established regional destinations) High: $10B - $50 billion (major tourism economies - Thailand, Turkey, Mexico) Very High: > $50 billion (global tourism leaders - US $240B, Spain $92B, France $77B, Thailand $60B) Tourism as % of GDP: - Low dependency: < 3% (most developed economies) - Moderate: 3-10% (many emerging markets) - High: 10-20% (Thailand, Greece, Croatia) - Very high: > 20% (Maldives 67%, Seychelles 50%, Caribbean islands) Note: COVID-19 caused 60-80% declines in 2020-2021; recovery varies by region.
Related Metrics
GDP (Nominal)
Gross Domestic Product at current market prices in US dollars, measuring total economic output.
International Tourist Arrivals
Number of international inbound tourists (overnight visitors) arriving in the country.
Current Account Balance
Net balance of international trade in goods, services, income, and transfers as percentage of GDP.
Data Quality & Coverage
Coverage: 180+ countries Update frequency: Annual (1-2 year reporting lag) Source: UN Data / UNWTO / World Bank Limitations: Methodologies vary by country - some include domestic tourism, others exclude certain categories. Informal tourism spending (Airbnb, cash transactions) may be undercounted. Business vs leisure travel not always distinguished. Exchange rate fluctuations affect comparisons. Data collection disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022).