Foreign traveler arrivals in the United States are expected to decline by 5.1 percent in 2025 compared to last year, against a previously projected increase of 8.8 percent, Tourism Economics said in a report published late last month.
Since the report’s publication, “the situation has deteriorated further,“ and the outcome will likely be even worse, Tourism Economics president Adam Sacks said, citing “the effects of antipathy towards the US.”
Government bodies like the US Agency for International Development have been decimated, thousands of civil servants from lawyers to park rangers have been laid off, and Trump has drawn up controversial plans for the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
“Some organizations will feel pressure to avoid hosting events in the US, or sending employees to the US, cutting into business travel,“ it added.
Among residents of 16 European and Asian countries surveyed by YouGov in December, 35 percent of respondents said they were less likely to come to the United States under Trump, while 22 percent were more likely.
For tourists from France, Uzbekistan, and Argentina interviewed by AFP in New York's Times Square, Trump's stance has not upended their plans.
“We were a bit scared about the situation, but we didn’t change our plans,“ said Lopez.
The Americans “elected this president. It’s democracy. If they’re not happy, they’ll change it in four years,“ said Laurent Lagardere, 54.
Some 77.7 million foreign tourists were expected in 2024, up 17 percent year-on-year, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, which does not yet have final figures for last year.
Tourists from Western Europe -- who made up 37 percent of visitors in 2024 -- are the most likely to choose other destinations, along with Canadians and Mexicans.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians returning from the United States fell 23 percent in February year-on-year, the second consecutive monthly decline.
She lowered her forecast for the year in February but said that so far, only Canadians are saying no to Trump's America.
But British and German authorities have just warned their nationals to be extra vigilant with their travel documents, citing the risk of arrest.
According to Tourism Economics, the tourism sector could lose about $64 billion in revenue in 2025 due to the decline in international and domestic travel.
“This will make the US more expensive for inbound travelers, dampening both visitor volume and average length of stay,“ noted Tourism Economics.
Professionals also fear the effects of tightening immigration policy on major sports events hosted by the United States, such as the Ryder Cup (2025), the FIFA World Cup (2026), and the 2026 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 'Antipathy' to US: Tourists turning away from Trump's America )
Also on site :