Foreign Travelers Are Rethinking Travel to the U.S.

International tourists detained on the borders of the United States. Steep rates imposed on commercial partners. Threats against longtime allies.

The assault of policies and the language contested by the Trump administration in recent weeks has been causing cancellation or reconsider travel around the world in the United States. An growing number of visitors claims to feel unwelcome or unancier and are not reluctant to support the economy of a country that some foreign officials say that he is conducting commercial wars aNd destabilize its allies. A draft of a new travel ban The circulation through the administration could limit citizens from a maximum of 43 countries, including Belarus, Cambodia and St. Lucia, from entry to the United States.

“So many Americans are trying to escape the tense and toxic atmosphere at home. Why should someone want to visit, especially right now with all arbitrary detention to immigration?” Mallory Henderson, 53, said marketing consultant in London who usually visits the United States twice a year, but has canceled a trip to visit his brother and nephew in Boston this Easter.

“It is a truly hostile and frightening moment and, frankly, there are many other inviting and pleasant places that I can go to meet my family,” he said.

Even before the change in the administration in January, the US travel industry was struggling to recover from the pandemic, mainly because of the force of the dollar, which makes it more expensive to visit foreign travelers and long visa waiting times. It was not expected that the numbers of incoming international visitors reached the levels of 2019 until the end of the year and the expenditure for foreign visitors is not expected that it will take place completely until 2026, According to the US Travel Association.

But these expectations can now be even more difficult to achieve, travel experts say.

The research company Tourism economy He had originally foreseen travel to the United States to grow by 9 % this year, but in February he updated his perspectives, expecting that incoming travel decreased by 5.1 percent and the hotel demand decreased by 0.8 percent in 2025, the equivalent of a decrease of $ 18 billion of expenses. Most of the decline is the result of a boycott of Canadian travelers. In February, after President Trump announced the rates on Canada, the number of Canadians who guide beyond the border decreased by 24 % compared to the same period of 2024.

Airlines are responding to uncertainty. Some, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, Cut their financial forecasts For the first months of the year, citing the softness in travel expenses. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, said that the carrier has reduced the Frequency of numerous routes for Canada Due to a “big decrease in Canadian traffic” in the United States.

“The movement of the negative sentiment is expected to be supported by an evolution mix of administrative factors of Trump, including geopolitical friction on national commercial and security policies, charged rhetorical and contradictory posture,” said Adam Sacks, president of the tourism economy.

“It is also expected that the safety policies of the borders and immigration to high visibility and application actions discourage visits,” he added.

The uncertainty on the border with the United States has guided several countries, too Great Britain, Germany AND CanadaTo update their travel advice for the United States, highlighting that a renunciation of visa does not guarantee entry into the country and that foreign visitors suspected of breaking the entry rules could be arrested or arrested on the border. The warnings come after a series of detention in the US entrance ports that involved foreign tourists and green cards holders. This month, French officials said a French scientist The entrance was denied Because his phone, which was searched on arrival, contained personal opinions on the Policies of the Trump Administration. US authorities rejected the complaintBy saying that the refusal was not linked to his “political beliefs”.

“It’s not right”

Travel operators in Europe have not yet reported large waves of cancellations on the Canada scale, where many residents are boycott travels in the United States, but an increasing number of travelers are taking up their spring and summer plans. Eric Dresin, the general secretary of European associations of travel agents and tour operators, “Turbulent times” are planned, in particular if more countries are affected by the changes of US policies.

Arrivals in the United States from Western Europe decreased by 1 % in February after increasing by 14 % of the same period last year, according to the preliminary data of National Office of Travel and Tourism in the United States.

Christoph Bartel, 28, a German citizen who lives in Norway, had planned a trip to Arizona this summer to visit the national parks. He canceled his plans last week in response to the Trump Administration shoot with the employees of the National Park and reversal of environmental regulations.

“It is not fair to support the American economy when the president is causing so much sabotage,” said Bartel. “It is disappointing to abandon a special journey that we have planned for months, but we will go to Canada or Mexico instead.”

After Canada and Mexico, Great Britain provides the largest number of visitors in the United States, with almost four million last year. Travel agencies are seeing a division between those customers who frequently visit the United States and are not discouraged by the political climate and those who are looking for alternative destinations in response to political changes.

The pure expense to visit the United States in the wake of the pandemic also seems to have a toll.

“America has always been considered a really good value,” said Alan Wilson, CEO of Bon Voyage Travel & ToursA British society specialized in travel in the United States and Canada. Together with the strength of the dollar, even the prices of hotels have increased and steep advice are a problem for many visitors.

“The British market absolutely hates the culture of 20 % and the way America has always resisted for the next tip,” he said. “They would prefer to pay the money in advance.”

Wilson said that his company witnessed a 5 % recession in US reservations this year compared to the same period last year, but did not expect that number to change a lot in summer, since most customers are already booked on US multi-pre-investigation itineraries that have been confirmed one year in advance.

The crunch is hurting

In places like New York, Florida and California, the creaking was warned by small travel companies, which were optimistic that 2025 would bring growth. Luke Miller, owner of the family -run company Real New York tours, He said his activity was decimated after mainly Canadian visitors canceled following the announcement of Mr. Trump on rates.

“I just had 20 loads of elderly people canceled their next tours. They are thousands of dollars of losses for my small business,” said Miller, adding that he is receiving cancellations until winter holidays and has no reservations from the Europeans this summer, his second largest market after Canada. He called the “heartbreaking” situation.

The main destinations such as New York and California are increasing marketing efforts to reassure international tourists to be welcome. Visit California, The State Tourist Agency has revised its total projections for 2025 visitors who spent this month at $ 160 billion from $ 166 billion, following the slowdown in the growth of international travelers and devastating fires in Los Angeles in January.

“The good news is that, thanks to the strong California brand on the global scene, international visitors continue to show a strong affinity for the golden state,” said Caroline Beteta, president of the agency.

New York had similar messages. Facing the expenses to visit the city, Julie Coker, president of Tourism of New York City+ Conventions, He said it was possible to visit a budget and the marketing organization would have highlighted these opportunities.

“This is an excellent opportunity to highlight the other districts and parts of New York City outside Manhattan who are equally vibrant and have a surprising and rewarded culinary, art and cultural experiences”, added, adding that New York had faced obstacles before and it is confident that he would have been able to achieve his goal of recovering international expenses of 2026 despite the current challenges.

Mr. Miller of Real New York Tours is not convinced. He said that if reservations have not increased this summer, he should have taken over the dismissal of the staff.

“The reality is that we are affected more hard and we may not survive,” he said.

Christine Chung Contributed relationships.

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