The United States is facing a sharp downturn in international tourism, with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projecting a loss of $12.5 billion (£9.35 billion) in visitor spending for 2025. Analysts attribute the decline to a series of controversial policies and statements from the Trump administration, including tariffs, threats to annex Canada, and strict border controls, which have led many travellers to reconsider visiting the country.
According to a WTTC report, the US was the only nation among 184 analysed to see a forecasted drop in international visitor spending last year. A survey by Skift found that 46% of travellers polled said they were less likely to visit the US because of President Trump. Several countries have issued travel warnings, and some tourists have called for a boycott, labelling the US a 'hostile state'.
The chilling effect is not limited to the US. Trump's threats to acquire Greenland by force have deterred potential visitors. Heather Storgaard, a Danish resident, said she is cautious about an upcoming trip to Greenland, while Brazil-based Jackie Arruda is monitoring the situation closely before deciding whether to cancel her plans.
In Cuba, tourism operators report real alarm following Trump's comments about the country being 'ready to fall'. Jesús Noguera of Cuba Careo Tours said prospective tourists have rescheduled plans and expressed concern, adding that 'tourism simply does not thrive in instability, uncertainty and a heightened perception of risk'. However, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) noted that bookings to other threatened nations like Colombia and Mexico remain unaffected so far, as the UK Foreign Office has not issued travel advisories.
The US was expected to have a bumper year for tourism in 2026, with celebrations for Route 66's centenary, the 250th anniversary of independence, and co-hosting the FIFA World Cup. However, the current political climate has cast a shadow over these events, leaving industry experts worried about long-term damage to the country's reputation as a travel destination.
