Canada Follows Mexico and More to Boost US Tourism as Hotel 1883 Opens in North Dakota

Canada, Mexico, the UK and more major international markets are supporting the outlook for US tourism in 2026, while North Dakota’s Hotel 1883 adds fresh accommodation in Medora’s legendary Badlands. The hotel places international and domestic travellers close to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. At national level, the United States expects continued international visitor growth during 2026, led by several established source markets. For North Dakota, the combination of new lodging, national-park access, heritage attractions and improved visitor infrastructure creates a stronger platform for converting wider US travel demand into longer Badlands stays.

US International Tourism Arrivals in 2026 Put Major Source Markets Back in Focus

The official National Travel and Tourism Office forecast places US international tourism arrivals at 70.47 million in 2026, representing 3.2% growth from 2025. Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Brazil are all among the 12 largest source markets tracked by the US Department of Commerce. Together, the 12 markets accounted for 77.2% of total international arrivals in 2025. Mexico is forecast to generate approximately 19.03 million US arrivals in 2026, followed by Canada at 16.62 million. UK arrivals are forecast at 4.20 million and Brazil at 2.03 million. These figures are national forecasts rather than specific projections for North Dakota.

• US international arrivals are forecast to reach 70.47 million in 2026.
• Total international visitation is forecast to increase 3.2% year on year.
• Mexico and Canada remain exceptionally large inbound source markets.
• The UK remains one of the United States’ biggest European visitor markets.
• Brazil is forecast to record particularly strong growth during 2026.

Hotel 1883 Expands Medora Accommodation Near North Dakota’s Biggest Badlands Attractions

Hotel 1883 is now open in Medora, North Dakota, offering more than 100 rooms across 15 layouts near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Medora Musical and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Located on the west bank of the Little Missouri River, the year-round property features oversized windows overlooking the Badlands and adds accommodation beyond the peak summer season. Meanwhile, North Dakota welcomed 25.6 million visitors in 2025, down 2.6%, with domestic travellers accounting for 88.4% of visitation. International travel declined, largely due to reduced Canadian travel following a 23.9% drop in border crossings.

• Hotel 1883 is officially open and accepting reservations.
• The property has more than 100 rooms.
• Guests can choose among 15 room layouts.
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Presidential Library are nearby.
• The hotel operates year-round, strengthening Medora’s accommodation base.

Canada Remains Crucial to US Tourism While North Dakota Watches a Key Market Recover

Canada remains particularly important to US tourism in 2026, with the NTTO forecasting approximately 16.62 million Canadian arrivals nationwide, up 3.8% from 2025. The North Dakota picture requires additional context. State research found that reduced Canadian travel contributed substantially to North Dakota’s tourism decline in 2025, including a 23.9% reduction in border crossings. However, North Dakota reported that Canadian border entries increased in April 2026 for the first time in 15 months. This makes Canada an especially relevant market for North Dakota: its national scale is substantial, while renewed cross-border movement could support western North Dakota destinations if recovery continues.

• Canada is forecast to generate 16.62 million US visits in 2026.
• NTTO expects 3.8% growth from the Canadian market.
• Canada has historically been especially relevant to North Dakota tourism.
• North Dakota experienced weaker Canadian travel during 2025.
• April 2026 delivered the state’s first increase in Canadian border entries in 15 months.

Mexico Gives US Tourism One of Its Largest International Visitor Pools

Mexico stands at the centre of the US tourism 2026 outlook. NTTO forecasts 19.03 million arrivals from Mexico, the highest total among the individual markets in its top-12 table, representing growth of 5.8% over 2025. For North Dakota, this national demand should not be misrepresented as a state-level forecast: no official evidence currently demonstrates that a defined share of those Mexican visitors will travel to Medora. What Hotel 1883 does provide is additional inventory should international travellers include the Badlands in wider US itineraries. Medora combines lodging with a national park, presidential history, western heritage and established visitor experiences.

• Mexico is forecast to send 19.03 million visitors to the United States.
• The forecast represents 5.8% annual growth.
• Mexico is among America’s largest international tourism source markets.
• North Dakota-specific Mexican visitor projections have not been established by the cited data.
• Medora can form part of broader US road-trip and nature itineraries.

UK Travel Growth Creates Another International Audience for America’s Badlands

The United Kingdom remains one of the United States’ most significant overseas tourism markets. NTTO forecasts approximately 4.20 million UK arrivals during 2026, representing growth of 3.5% from 2025. For travellers building multi-stop American itineraries, western North Dakota offers a different proposition from established urban gateways: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands landscapes, western heritage and Medora’s expanded accommodation base. Hotel 1883 gives those itineraries another year-round lodging choice. International travellers still need domestic connections to reach Medora because the destination itself does not have a major international airport, making aviation planning an important part of a North Dakota journey.

• UK arrivals are forecast at approximately 4.20 million in 2026.
• NTTO projects 3.5% growth from the UK.
• Britain remains an important European source market for US tourism.
• Hotel 1883 expands accommodation for travellers adding Medora to US itineraries.
• Visitors normally require a domestic air connection and onward ground transport.

Brazil Records Strong 2026 Growth Potential for US Inbound Tourism

Brazil provides another important international dimension. NTTO expects Brazilian visitation to the United States to reach approximately 2.03 million in 2026, increasing 5.8% from the 1.92 million recorded for 2025 in the forecast table. That places Brazil alongside Mexico as the fastest-growing market among the four countries highlighted in this article. The figures measure travel to the United States as a whole rather than directly to North Dakota. Nevertheless, expanding national inbound demand enlarges the potential audience for secondary destinations seeking travellers beyond America’s traditional gateways. Medora’s national park, presidential history and Hotel 1883 create components that tour planners can combine into broader western-US itineraries.

• Brazil is forecast to deliver 2.03 million US arrivals in 2026.
• Growth is forecast at 5.8%.
• Brazil is one of NTTO’s 12 largest tracked US source markets.
• The forecast does not establish direct Brazilian demand for North Dakota.
• Medora can be incorporated into broader nature and heritage itineraries.

How International Travellers Can Reach Hotel 1883 and Medora

International visitors from Canada, Mexico, the UK and Brazil will generally need to connect through a larger US aviation gateway before reaching western North Dakota. Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport is the closest commercial airport identified by Medora, approximately 36 miles from the town. The airport currently has United Airlines service with two daily round trips to Denver. Bismarck Airport, approximately 130 miles from Medora, offers a wider selection, with American Airlines connections to Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth, Delta to Minneapolis/St Paul, United to Denver and Allegiant services to Las Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa. Rental cars provide the practical final connection to Medora.

• Dickinson is the closest commercial airport to Medora.
• Dickinson is about 36 miles from the destination.
• United currently connects Dickinson with Denver.
• Bismarck provides additional domestic hub connections.
• Car travel remains important for completing the journey to the Badlands.

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Strengthens Medora’s 2026 Tourism Offer

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library adds a major cultural attraction to Medora’s tourism landscape. It officially opened to the public on 4 July 2026, coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations. Its visitor experience combines exhibits with immersive storytelling and digital technology, while its location links presidential history directly with the Badlands landscape that influenced Roosevelt. The facility operates year-round, although its hours vary seasonally. Together with Theodore Roosevelt National Park, established Medora attractions and the newly opened Hotel 1883, the library strengthens the case for spending more than a brief stop in western North Dakota.

• The Presidential Library opened on 4 July 2026.
• It is located in Medora.
• The attraction operates throughout the year with seasonal hours.
• Visitors can combine it with Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
• Hotel 1883 expands nearby year-round lodging capacity.

North Dakota Tourism Shows Early 2026 Momentum After a Softer 2025

North Dakota entered 2026 after receiving 25.6 million visitors in 2025, when total visitation decreased 2.6%. Visitors spent $3.4 billion, while the wider economic impact reached $5.6 billion. The more relevant development for the current year is improving momentum. State research reported that visitation to Theodore Roosevelt National Park was 27.3% higher year to date through April 2026, while short-term rental bookings were 18.9% above the previous year. First-quarter taxable sales and purchases also increased in accommodation and food services and in arts, entertainment and recreation. These figures pre-date Hotel 1883’s opening and should therefore not be attributed to the hotel itself.

• North Dakota welcomed 25.6 million visitors in 2025.
• Visitor spending reached $3.4 billion.
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park visitation was up 27.3% YTD through April 2026.
• Short-term rental bookings were reported 18.9% higher.
• These indicators cannot be treated as evidence of Hotel 1883’s individual economic impact.

Hotel 1883 Could Support Longer Badlands Travel Without Overstating Its Impact

From a travel-planning perspective, Hotel 1883 fills a straightforward role: it increases the supply of accommodation close to Medora’s principal attractions. That matters because the destination now combines Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Presidential Library, western heritage attractions, entertainment and year-round lodging. The hotel cannot, on currently available evidence, be credited with driving international arrivals from Canada, Mexico, the UK or Brazil. Those are national source-market forecasts. The defensible tourism connection is that growing US inbound markets enlarge the overall visitor pool, while North Dakota’s expanding accommodation and attraction base improves its capacity to compete for a portion of travellers exploring beyond major American gateways.

• Hotel 1883 increases Medora’s accommodation inventory.
• International market growth is forecast at national, not North Dakota, level.
• No verified evidence establishes Hotel 1883 as the cause of international visitor growth.
• Medora now combines nature, heritage, accommodation and entertainment products.
• Improved destination capacity can support broader itinerary development.

Conclusion

Canada, Mexico, the UK and more continue to shape the international outlook for US tourism, while North Dakota’s Hotel 1883 gives travellers another reason to base themselves in Medora’s legendary Badlands. The property’s value lies in strengthening the accommodation network around Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Presidential Library and Medora’s established western attractions. International visitors still need thoughtful aviation and road-trip planning to reach western North Dakota, but the destination now offers a more complete stay. Hotel 1883 therefore complements rather than creates America’s inbound growth, giving North Dakota additional capacity to compete for travellers seeking landscapes, history and distinctive regional experiences.