Reduced international travel to the United States this year is projected to continue, significantly impacting relevant sectors, as well as the nation’s economy and employment. Tour operators, experts, and travel agents, as well as companies both domestically and internationally, have tracked changes in tourism to the U.S. Some sources have claimed that dips in visitor foot traffic have coincided with the onset of President Donald Trump’s second term, which began in late January.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has implemented tariffs on a wide range of countries and imposed travel restrictions on nationals of many countries. Additionally, here on U.S. soil, the administration has deployed the National Guard in several major American cities, as well as aggressively cracked down on immigration, international students, and undocumented persons.
A decline in Canadian tourists has particularly impacted the economies of northern border towns in the U.S. However, other international travelers are also opting out of U.S. travel. United Kingdom-based traveler Rob Hawkins reportedly canceled a 20-day spring 2026 vacay to the U.S. with his wife, opting for South Korea and Japan instead.
“America to me is rock ‘n roll, NASA, speed, jazz, horses, bourbon, hip hop, dance, MTV (the original), Hollywood, gold medals, innovation, strength, respectful (sic) and apple pie,” Hawkins told CNN. “Not the army on the streets and the extreme division currently on show,” he added.
Governmental policies and international relations have played a factor, but so has America’s reputation regarding gun crime and mass shootings, according to USA Today. In an article published on September 17, the latter publication noted that some travelers fear visiting the U.S. or spending extended periods of time here due to the influx of gun-violence-related incidents the country has made headlines for, especially as of late. Notably, some countries even mention instances of “gun crime” or mass shootings in their travel advisories for America.
What Else Is There To Know About The Decrease In Tourism To The U.S. And Its Impacts?
In May, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) claimed that per its projection, the U.S. would lose $12.5 billion “in international visitor spending” in 2025. In addition to negatively impacting the country’s travel and tourism sectors, the organization also noted the impact on the broader American economy, including reduced foot traffic in communities and businesses, as well as potential job cuts. The decrease in international tourists is also significant as the WTTC claims that the U.S. is “the largest travel and tourism sector in the world.”
Although experts and organizations continue to sound the alarm regarding America’s decline in international tourism, the WTTC noted that domestic travel was the primary source of revenue in the travel and tourism sector in the United States. Its report said, “In 2024, nearly 90% of all tourism spending came from domestic travel, with Americans holidaying at home in record numbers. But this heavy reliance on homegrown tourism is masking a serious vulnerability; the international market is where the real growth lies, and the U.S. is losing its crown.”
