Tourists avoid traveling to the United States!

In just a few weeks, the outlook for US tourism has been clouded by some of President Donald Trump’s policy decisions, which have angered some foreign visitors, as well as fears of rising prices and a stronger US currency.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign visitors to the United States is expected to decline by 5.1% in 2025 compared to last year, compared to a previously projected increase of 8.8%, according to a report in the Tourism Economics Bulletin late last month, knowing that their spending is expected to decline by 10.9%.

Since the report’s publication, the situation has deteriorated further, and the outcome will likely be worse, as the impact of antipathy toward the United States will increase.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China and threatened to impose them on the European Union.

Programs at numerous government agencies, such as the US Agency for International Development, were canceled, thousands of civil servants, from lawyers to park rangers, were laid off, and Trump laid off controversial plans for the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

“A situation in which the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric are polarizing… will discourage people from traveling to the United States,” said Oxford Economics’ Tourism Economics newsletter, adding, “Some organizations will feel pressure to avoid hosting events in the United States or sending their employees there, which will reduce the number of business trips”.

The World Tourism Forum Institute said that a combination of strict immigration policies, a strong dollar, and global political tensions could significantly impact international arrivals, which could reshape the country’s tourism sector for years”.

Among residents of 16 European and Asian countries surveyed in a YouGov poll conducted in December, 35% of respondents said they were less likely to come to the United States under Trump, compared to 22% who expressed the opposite opinion.

The number of foreign tourists is expected to reach 77.7 million in 2024, a 17% increase year-on-year, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, which doesn’t yet have final figures for last year.

Tourists from Western Europe, who accounted for 37% of visitors in 2024, are the most likely to choose other destinations, along with Canadians and Mexicans.

The US Travel Association warned in early February that tariffs would deter Canadians, who constitute the largest segment of foreign tourists to the United States, numbering 20.4 million in 2024.

According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians returning from the United States fell by 23% in February year-on-year, marking the second consecutive monthly decline.

British and German authorities recently urged their citizens to exercise extreme caution regarding their travel documents, citing the risk of arrest.

United Airlines has observed a significant decline in travel from Canada to the United States, in addition to a decline in demand for domestic travel, as has occurred with many of its competitors.

According to the Tourism Economics report, the tourism sector could lose approximately $64 billion in revenue by 2025 due to a decline in international and domestic travel.

Americans appear to be concerned about the economic outlook, and terms like recession and inflation are scaring tourists, along with the potential for a rising dollar, experts say.

Tourism Economics noted that this would make the United States more expensive for inbound travelers, reducing visitor numbers and average length of stay.

Professionals also fear the repercussions of tightening immigration policy on major sporting 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.