NEW YORK: New industry experts have warned of a sharp decrease in foreign visitors, which has impacted the outlook for US tourism. Travel to the US has become less attractive to many foreign tourists as a result of a combination of factors, including President Donald Trump’s guidelines, a strengthening money, and rising global tensions.
In contrast to the 8.8 % growth that was previously anticipated, a recent report from Tourism Economics predicts a drop in the number of international travelers to the United States will be 5.1 % in 2025. The financial effects are even worse, with paying by international visitors projected to decline by 10.9 percent.
Tourism Economics ‘ leader, Adam Sacks, warned that the situation has gotten worse since the release of the report. He said,” The effects of hostility toward the US are deepening,” suggesting that the final figures could be even lower than originally anticipated.
Why might commerce in the US collapse?
- Trade tensions and tensions between the US and China: The Trump administration’s decision to impose levies on Canada, Mexico, and China, along with risks of doing the same to the European Union, has heightened the public’s disapproval of the country. Additionally, some potential travelers have been turned off by Trump’s contentious foreign policies, especially those he has with Gaza and Ukraine.
- stricter immigration laws: Tourists and business travelers alike are concerned about the US administration’s aggressive policy toward emigration. Some organizations have reconsidered holding events in the US, while others have reduced staff travel to the country as a result of perceptions of unwelcome policies.
- Stronger US money: Go costs are more expensive for foreigners as a result of the rising power of the US money. According to researchers, rising prices are likely to lower both the number of guests and the length of their stays on average.
- Instructions from international institutions: Some European institutions, including the UK and Germany, have recently urged their citizens to be more careful when visiting the US, citing the possibility of stringent border control and ability detentions.
- Go to the US has now decreased in Canada, which accounted for 20.4 million US customers in 2024. In February, Statistics Canada reported a 23 percent decrease in the number of Canadians who came back from the US, which is the second consecutive quarterly drop.
Tourism officials in New York are now noticing the effects of 12.9 million international tourists visiting in 2024. According to Julie Coker, chairman of NYC Tourism, American tourists are rescheduling their travels and showing less involvement in Broadway displays and hotel stays. She noted that officers are closely monitoring the situation while falls from the UK and Europe are still undetermined.
Tourists respond:” A little worried, but also coming.”
Some foreign tourists are still visiting the US despite problems. Travelers from Argentina Maria Elena Lopez and Ailen Hadjikovakis both admitted they were concerned about border security but also made the trip, choosing to use their German passports rather of their Argentinian ones to avoid potential problems.
European traveler Laurent Lagardere, who is accompanied by his family in New York, said in a logical manner:” The Americans elected this leader. It’s politics. In four times, they will change if they are unhappy. He added that avoiding the US may not alter the political climate.
What is the US commerce sector’s future in danger of losing?
According to Tourism Economics, the tourism industry will lose about$ 64 billion in revenue in 2025 as a result of declining travel. Industry experts are concerned about the larger implications, especially for significant future forthcoming events like the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028.
Along with declining domestic demand, United Airlines and different airlines have now reported a “big cut” in French go to the US. Travel trust is also impacted by financial worries, prices concerns, and recessionary warnings.
Tourism Economics warned that” this will make the US more costly for email guests, lowering both customer volume and typical length of stay.”
The US tourism industry is facing one of its most difficult times in recent years as overseas travel numbers decline and economic uncertainty looms.
