International tourism to the United States has experienced a significant downturn, with European visits dropping by 17% in March compared to the previous year. The decline appears driven by multiple factors, including political tensions, concerns over treatment of foreign visitors, and economic uncertainty.
The overall decrease in global tourism to the US reached 12%, marking the most substantial decline since COVID-19 restrictions were in place. Looking ahead, the situation appears even more concerning, as major hospitality group Accord reports that summer reservations from European travelers have fallen by 25% across their luxury brands including Sofitel, Novitel, and Fairmont.
Adding to the industry’s challenges, travel cancellations have surged, with first-quarter cancellation rates jumping 17% compared to the previous year. The impact is particularly pronounced among French, German, and British travelers, who are canceling at rates 40% higher than last year.
While the timing of Easter – which shifted from March last year to April this year – contributed partially to the decrease, industry experts suggest deeper underlying causes. Tourism Economics president Adam Sacks indicates the decline reflects broader reactions to the Trump administration, while French tourism consultant Didier Arino describes the situation as unprecedented outside of war zones or health crises.
The impact on the US economy could be substantial, given that tourism contributes 2.5% to GDP, with international visitors spending $253 billion last year. While some of the decline may be attributed to growing recession concerns, recent incidents involving foreign visitors have sparked widespread anxiety among potential travelers.
Several high-profile cases have highlighted increasingly stringent treatment of foreign visitors. British citizen Becky Burke’s experience, which involved 19 days of detention and deportation in chains for alleged visa violations during a backpacking trip, has deterred other potential visitors. Among them, fellow Brit Farah Mendlesohn abandoned $1,000 in travel commitments, canceling her planned Pacific Northwest vacation after learning of Burke’s ordeal.
The administration’s approach to foreign nationals has raised additional concerns following the case of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, who was imprisoned in Louisiana and faced deportation based on his political activism, without formal charges or due process rights. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s unilateral authority in such cases, recently upheld by a federal court, has created unease among international travelers who have expressed political views online.
This atmosphere has led to decisions like that of Danish citizen Robert Christiansen, who canceled plans to visit his daughter studying in Texas, citing concerns about both flight safety and his previous social media posts expressing views contrary to the administration’s positions.
Various travel industry executives have noted the unprecedented nature of this decline. The CEO of French luxury tour operator Voyageurs du Monde reported a 20% drop in US bookings since Trump’s inauguration, describing it as unparalleled in his three decades of experience in the industry.
The combination of stricter border policies, high-profile detention cases, and political tensions has created a perfect storm affecting US tourism, with potentially lasting implications for the sector and broader economy. While some travelers may be responding to economic uncertainties, the pattern of cancellations and concerns about treatment at borders suggests that policy and political factors are playing a significant role in deterring international visitors.