Brand USA chief Fred Dixon highlights surge in Indian travel to US

Travel from India to the United States continues to grow strongly, with India now the second-largest overseas source market for US tourism , Brand USA president and CEO Fred Dixon said during Brand USA Travel Week India in Bengaluru. Visitor numbers from India are up about 40 per cent compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2019, underlining the resilience and spending power of Indian travellers.

“We’re thrilled that travel to the United States from India continues to grow at a really incredible pace,” Dixon told PTI. “We’re up 40 per cent in terms of visitation volume since before the pandemic.” He said more than two million Indians travelled to the US in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of strong recovery. “That has now made India the second-largest market into the United States from overseas,” he said.

While New York, California and Florida remain the most popular destinations , Dixon said repeat Indian visitors are increasingly travelling beyond traditional gateways. “India is now in the top 10 source markets for most US destinations, if not the top five,” he said, pointing to wider dispersion of Indian travellers across the country.

Dixon said the growing importance of India was reflected in the strong participation at Brand USA Travel Week India, which brought together around 75 representatives from US destinations and travel businesses. He said the engagement highlighted long-term confidence in the Indian outbound market.

Looking ahead, Dixon said 2026 would be a landmark year for US tourism, driven by major global events . “It’s an incredible year for us,” he said, highlighting the FIFA World Cup to be held across 11 US cities in June and July, the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States around July 4, and the anniversary of Route 66 . Calling Route 66 “the greatest symbol of the great American road trip,” Dixon said interest in self-drive holidays is rising among Indian travellers.

Emphasising the economic impact of Indian visitors, Dixon said India is not only the second-largest overseas market by volume but also the second-highest spending market. He described Indian tourists as long-stay and discerning travellers, making them especially valuable to the US tourism economy.

Looking ahead, Dixon said the outlook for the India–US travel corridor remains positive. “If the last two years are any indication, I think the Indian market is going to continue to climb,” he said, adding that Brand USA has been bullish on India for a long time, with upcoming global sporting events expected to sustain demand.