Anger Against Trump Forecast to Cost the US International Visitors

Anger over the Trump administration’s tariffs and rhetoric will likely cause international travel to the United States to fall even further than expected this year, an influential travel forecasting company said Tuesday.
Tourism Economics said it expects the number of people arriving in the US from abroad to decline by 9.4 percent this year. That’s almost twice the 5 percent drop the company forecast at the end of February.
At the beginning of the year, Tourism Economics predicted a booming year for international travel to the US, with visits up 9 percent from 2024.
But Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks said high-profile lockups of European tourists at the US border in recent weeks have chilled international travelers. Potential visitors have also been angered by tariffs, Trump's stance toward Canada and Greenland, and his heated White House exchange with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“With each policy development, each rhetorical missive, we’re just seeing unforced error after unforced error in the administration,” Sacks said. “It has a direct impact on international travel to the US.”
The decline will have consequences for airlines, hotels, national parks, and other sites frequented by tourists.
Tourism Economics expects travel from Canada to plummet 20 percent this year, a decline that will be acutely felt in border states like New York and Michigan but also popular tourist destinations like California, Nevada, and Florida.
The US Travel Association, a trade group, has also warned about Canadians staying away. Even a 10 percent reduction in travel from Canada could mean 2.0 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending, and 14,000 job losses, the group said in February.
Other travel-related companies have noted worrying signs. At its annual shareholder meeting on Monday, Air Canada said bookings to the US were down 10 percent for the April-September period compared to the same period a year ago.
Sacks said he now expects foreign visitors to spend $9 billion less in the US compared to 2024, when international tourism to the country rose 9.1 percent.
“The irony is that the tariffs are being put in place to help right the trade deficit, but they're harming the trade balance by causing fewer international travelers to come and spend money here,” Sacks said.
Sacks said international arrivals had been getting close to returning to 2019 numbers, before the coronavirus pandemic halted most travel. Now he thinks they won't get back to that level until 2029.
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
IMF Cuts Global Growth to 2.8% as Trump’s Tariffs Bite
IMF slashes global growth outlook to 2.8%, citing Trump’s tariffs and trade uncertainty as major threats to US, China, and global stability.15 Indonesians Caught in Trump Immigration Crackdown, One Deported
These Indonesians have violated US immigration laws, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.Some Jan. 6 Rioters Pardoned by Trump Are Now Embraced as Heroes and Candidates for Office
Activists said “rebranding these rioters as heroes is a dangerous distortion of history.”Fact Check: Trump’s $2 Billion Tariff Claim Doesn’t Add Up
Trump claims tariffs bring in $2b a day, but federal data shows revenue is far lower. Economists say his math ignores basic trade effectsIndonesia’s Property Market Stays Resilient Amid Escalating US-China Trade War
The sustained demand is supported by Indonesia’s growing urban population and the increasing need for housing in major cities.Visa Cancellations Sow Panic for International Students in the US
Students from India and China together account for more than half the international students at American colleges.Trump Declared ‘Fully Fit’ to Serve as Commander in Chief After Physical Exam
Trump's doctor declares him "fully fit" after a recent physical exam, noting improved health, weight loss, and no major health concerns.Egg Prices Increase to Record High Despite Trump's Predictions
More than 30 million egg-laying chickens were killed to prevent the spread of bird flu in the US earlier this year.Markets Plummet Worldwide as Trump Stands Ground on Trade War
Trump defends tariffs amid global market turmoil, blaming past leaders and urging Fed rate cuts as recession fears intensify.Indonesia Says US Envoy’s Absence Has Little Impact on Trump Tariff Negotiations
Indonesia tries to dispel worries that having no ambassador would affect its bargaining power when discussing Trump's tariffs.The Latest
Trade War Has US Airlines Trimming Flights and Withdrawing Financial Guidance
Delta Air Lines pulled its January prediction that the company was on track for the best financial year in its history.China Dismisses Claims of Ongoing Tariff Talks with US as Groundless
“Any claims about the progress of China-US trade negotiations are as groundless as trying to catch the wind," a spokesman said.Jahja Setiaatmadja Bids Farewell as BCA CEO, Hendra Lembong Cleared as Successor
Hendra, 53, was appointed as the new CEO during BCA’s annual general meeting of shareholders on March 12.Indosat Urges AI Adoption in Mining to Boost Efficiency and Output
AI-driven technological breakthroughs have the potential to dramatically increase mining output and boost the sector's contribution to GDP.First Groups of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims to Depart on May 2
Despite having the largest Hajj quota, millions of Indonesians remain on waiting lists, with many facing wait times of a decade or more.Most Popular
