International tourists held at the US border. The abrupt invoices imposed on commercial partners. Threats against long -term allies.
The attack of contested policies and language by Trump’s administration in recent weeks is causing tourists around the world either to cancel or review trips to the United States. A growing number of visitors say they feel unwanted or unsafe and are reluctant to support the economy of a country that say that some foreign officials are waging trade wars and destabilizing its allies. A new travel ban on administration could limit citizens from up to 43 countries, including Belarus, Cambodia and Agia Loukia, from entering the United States.
“So many Americans want to escape the tense and toxic atmosphere at home. Mallory Henderson, 53, said in London’s marketing adviser, who usually visits the United States twice a year, but canceled a journey to visit her brother.
“It’s a truly hostile and scary time. And honestly. There are many other attractive and enjoyable places I can go to meet with my family,” he said.
Even before the change of administration in January, the US travel industry struggled to recover from the pandemic, mainly due to the dollar power, making it more expensive for foreign travelers to visit the waiting times of big visa. Incoming international numbers of visitors are not expected to reach 2019 until later this year and foreign visitors are not expected to recover by 2026, according to the US travel union.
But these expectations can now be even harder to reach, say travel experts.
The Tourism Research Company had initially predicted trips to the United States to increase by 9 % this year, but in February, it informed its prospects, expecting that incoming trips would be reduced by 5.1 % and the demand for hotels decreased by 0.8 % in 2025 – 18 billion dollars. Much of the decline is the result of a boycott by Canadian travelers. In February, after President Trump announced the invoices in Canada, the number of Canadians that led to the border decreased by 24 % compared to the same period in 2024.
Airlines respond to uncertainty. Some, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, have reduced their financial forecasts for the first months of the year, citing softness in travel expenses. Scott Kirby, Managing Director of United Airlines, said the carrier had reduced the frequency of many routes in Canada due to a “large fall in Canadian circulation” in the United States.
“The displacement of the negative feeling is expected to be supported by an evolving mix of Trump administration factors, including geopolitical friction in trade and national security policies, indebted rhetoric and controversy,” said Adam Sacks, president of tourism.
“High -visibility security and immigration policies and border enforcement actions are also expected to discourage visits,” he added.
Uncertainty at the US border has led several countries, including Britain, Germany and Canada, to inform their travel tips on the United States, stressing that visa exemption does not guarantee entry into the country and that foreign visitors who are suspected. The warnings come after a series of reservations in the ports of US entrance including foreign tourists and green card holders. This month, French officials said a French scientist refused to enter because his phone, which was sought on arrival, contained personal views on Trump’s administration policies. The US authorities rejected the claim, saying that the refusal was not linked to his “political beliefs”.
‘Not feeling right’
Travel agencies in Europe have not yet reported large waves of cancellations in the Canadian scale, where many residents are boycotting trips to the United States, but a growing number of travelers re -examine spring and summer plans. Eric Dresin, the Secretary General of European Travel Associations of Active and Tourism Workers, said “hectic times” are expected, especially if more countries are affected by US policy changes.
Arrivals in the United States from Western Europe declined by one percent of February after a 14 % increase in the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the US National Travel and Tourism Office.
Christoph Bartel, 28, a German citizen living in Norway, had planned a trip to Arizona this summer to visit national parks. He canceled his plans last week, responding to the firing of the National Park officials by the Trump administration and the reversal of environmental regulations.
“It is not right to support the US economy when the president is causing so much sabotage,” Mr Bartel said. “It is disappointing to abandon a special trip we have designed for months, but we will go to Canada or Mexico.”
After Canada and Mexico, Britain supplies the largest number of visitors to the United States, with nearly four million last year. Travel agencies see a split between those customers who often visit the United States and are not discouraged by the political climate and those looking for alternative destinations in response to policy changes.
The enormous cost of visit to the United States after the pandemic also seems to take a tax.
“America has always been considered a very good value,” said Alan Wilson, chief executive of Bon Voyage Travel & Tours, a British company specializing in travel to the United States and Canada. Along with the dollar power, hotel prices are also increasing and abrupt tips are a problem for many visitors.
“The British market hates 20 % culture absolutely and how America always has its hand to keep it for the next free free of charge,” he said. “They would prefer to pay the money forward.”
Mr Wilson said his company had seen 5 percent decline in US reservations this year compared to the same period last year, but did not expect that the number would change a lot from summer, as most customers have already been recorded on multi -destinations confirmed one year.
The crisis is hurting
In places like New York, Florida and California, the crisis is felt by small travel companies, which were optimistic that in 2025 it would bring growth. Luke Miller, owner of the family company Real New York Tours, said his business was decimated after the collapse of mainly Canadian visitors canceled after Mr Trump’s announcement on invoices.
“I had only 20 elderly buses cancel their upcoming tours. This is thousands of dollars for my small businesses,” Mr Miller said, adding that he is receiving cancellations as far away as the winter holiday season and has no reservations from Europeans this summer, the second largest market. Call the “heart-wranging” situation.
Large destinations such as New York and California are increasing marketing efforts to reassure international tourists that they are welcome. Visit California, the Tourist Agency of the State, revised its total views on 2025 visitors who spend $ 160 billion from $ 166 billion after slowing the growth of international travelers and catastrophic fires.
“The good news is, thanks to the strong California brand on the world stage, international visitors continue to have a strong affinity for the gold state,” Caroline Beteta, the president of the organization, said in a statement.
New York had similar messages. Treating the costs of a visit to the city, Julie Coker, president of New York Tourism+ Conventions, said it was possible to visit a budget and the Marketing Organization would underline these opportunities.
“This is an excellent opportunity to highlight the other municipalities and departments of New York outside Manhattan that are just as vibrant and have amazing, award -winning cooking, arts and cultural experiences,” he said, adding that New York has faced it before. despite the current challenges.
Mr. Miller of Real New York Tours is not convinced. He said that if the reservations did not get this summer, he would have to consider dismissing staff.
“The reality is that we are hit harder and maybe we don’t survive,” he said.
Christine Chung They contributed reports.
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