Fewer international tourists are visiting the U.S. — economic losses could be ‘staggering,’ researchers estimate

[FreeinChrist]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/28/travel-spending-us-from-overseas-tourists-to-fall-in-2025.html

The World Travel & Tourism Council said this month it expects the U.S. economy to lose a “staggering” $12.5 billion in spending from international visitors in 2025, a “direct blow to the U.S. economy overall, impacting communities, jobs, and businesses from coast to coast.”​

​

‘Perceptions of the US matter’ for travel​

Trump administration “posturing and policy” tied to issues like border security and tariffs on long-standing trade partners have created “sentiment-headwinds” among would-be travelers, Ryan wrote.​

Flight bookings to the U.S. between May and July were down 11% year over year as of April, signaling a “weak” outlook that’s likely attributable to travelers looking elsewhere, Ryan wrote. Europe and Canada are notable laggards: air bookings are pacing more than 10% and 33% behind, respectively......​

​

The U.S. Travel Association projects the U.S. will lose $21 billion in travel-related revenue in 2025 if current trends continue. Each 1% drop in spending from international visitors translates to $1.8 billion in lost revenue per year for the U.S. economy, according to the trade group.​

​

This will affect airlines, hotels, restaurants, tourist sites and more. ''

Is this 'winning'?

 

[FreeinChrist]

Another source:

Tourists are cancelling their trips to the US – this is why

International travel spending will fall 7 per cent this year, experts say

www.the-independent.com

International travel spending in the United States is projected to fall by $12.5 billion, or seven per cent, in 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).​

​

WTTC CEO Julia Simpson said the unpopular policies from the administration of President Donald Trump, fear of being stopped at the border and an unfavourable exchange rate had pushed international tourists towards alternative destinations.​

​

"Of 184 countries, the U.S. is the only one that's seeing an absolute decline in international visitor spending," Simpson said.​

 

[Fantine]

My friend went to Scotland for her anniversary and said they are very anti-Trump.
Of course he wants them to remove windmills, a very common source of energy there, because they interfere with the scenery around his golf clubs. They asked her if Americans had lost their minds. Although she felt there is now some generalized anti-americanism because they think we are all insane, they were very friendly and kind to her, especially when they knew of her political leanings.

 

[essentialsaltes]

It's not clear if it's directly related, but this is recent news here in SoCal.

Six Flags to cut 135 jobs at Knott’s, Magic Mountain and other California parks​

The company, which operates 42 amusement parks across North America, plans to reduce its staff by 10% in the coming weeks.

The cuts come during a challenging period for Six Flags and others in the tourism business. The company posted a net loss of $220 million in the first quarter of this year, citing weather variability and economic uncertainty.

State and local tourism officials are projecting a slowdown in travel to California due to Trump’s trade war and deportation policies.
--

That second link, from April just as the tariff craziness was at its craziest, which is more directly on topic.

‘I don’t trust America.’ Trump’s tariffs, detentions take a toll on local tourism​

On Tuesday, a trickle of visitors traversed the sidewalks of star-studded Hollywood Boulevard, which is usually bustling this time of year with families and students on spring break trips. Parked open-air tour buses and vans were largely empty.

“California’s message to all visitors remains the same: You’re welcomed and respected,” Caroline Beteta, president of Visit California, the state’s marketing agency, said in a statement.

Jackie Filla, president of the Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles, said local hoteliers are scrambling to keep foreign visitors coming.

“The way we are perceived globally, is we are blowing up not just our economy but everyone else’s economy,” Filla said. “People don’t think it’s good, they don’t think it’s fair, so why would they go to America?”

California is the No. 1 travel destination in the U.S., with international visitors spending $26.5 billion last year, a 17.5% increase over 2023, according to Visit California.

[2025 is looking to be only a couple percent better in California for tourism, but...]

The U.S. as a whole is expected to be even more hard hit. Tourism Economics, a Philadelphia-based travel data company, expects international travel to the U.S. to decrease 5% this year, with a 15% decline in travel from Canada.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

I'm not surprised. American's can't enjoy dinner at a restaurant. Without worrying about being harassed by ICE. Some traveler's have been detained. Nobody wants to deal with Trump nonsense. Sadly America pays. Since we're losing business.

 

[loveofourlord]

even before this Canadadians were refusing to travel to the US, causing some border towns to start to risk bankruptcy for many of their buisnesses that rely on tourism.

 

[Richard T]

The "Golden Age" likely another ironic moniker like "Affordable Care Act"

 

[FreeinChrist]

Tourist season began today and apparently it's already a wash.

When it begins depends on where one is at. A lot of Canadians come to Arizona in the wintertime, and stay for several months. Numbers were down this year. That affects local restaurants and services.

 

[ozso]

When it begins depends on where one is at. A lot of Canadians come to Arizona in the wintertime, and stay for several months. Numbers were down this year. That affects local restaurants and services.

When I looked it up I got "The US's peak tourist season is typically from June to August". And I'd say inflation has been a major factor regarding tourism.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Well, in Arizona, peak season is later January to April. Also, in the fall for a few months.
The temperatures in June and in September can hit 119 F. Most tourists don't care for that.

But per the bookings, it looks like June to August will not be great.

 

[loveofourlord]

When I looked it up I got "The US's peak tourist season is typically from June to August". And I'd say inflation has been a major factor regarding tourism.

right because it's not what people have themselves said, or the cancled bookings, or towns in financial trouble due to tourism down and many more things, it's inflation right. Keep telling yourself that, you seem good at lying to yourselof about stuff.

 

[ozso]

Well, in Arizona, peak season is later January to April. Also, in the fall for a few months.
The temperatures in June and in September can hit 119 F. Most tourists don't care for that.

But per the bookings, it looks like June to August will not be great.

I typed in 'what time of year does the grand canyon get the most visitors' and got: "The Grand Canyon typically sees its highest visitor counts during the summer months (June-August)."

 

[ozso]

right because it's not what people have themselves said, or the cancled bookings, or towns in financial trouble due to tourism down and many more things, it's inflation right. Keep telling yourself that, you seem good at lying to yourselof about stuff.

I said it's a factor, not the only reason. I think it's also quite possible that hype and sensationalism generated by certain media is needlessly frightening people into staying home.

 

[Fantine]

The dollar is weak right now. Foreign tourists get much more value for their money. But we are not deemed to be a friendly country anymore, rightfully so. If they want a taste of North America, Canada is very beautiful and much cooler in the summer than the US.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I typed in 'what time of year does the grand canyon get the most visitors' and got: "The Grand Canyon typically sees its highest visitor counts during the summer months (June-August)."

Yes, that is in Northern Arizona and it is cooler. Many Canadians come down for the winter months (Jan - April) and come down to Phoenix and Tucson and the surrounding areas where it is warmer, and they spend a lot of money while here. The number were down. Many Canadians have mobile homes here in 55+ communities and it appears many are choosing to put them up for sale.

Folks who go to the Grand Canyon in the summer also travel to Bryce Canyon National Park and Arches National park in Utah. Many families in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson and other southern AZ communities travel up to the Grand Canyon. We usually go every other year to stand at the edge and contemplate how insignificant we are in the span of time. Currently though, there is no overnight lodging in the park in the South Rim because of water issues. The amount of tourism at the Grand Canyon is not the best indicator of International tourism elsewhere in the US.

 

[ozso]

Yes, that is in Northern Arizona and it is cooler. Many Canadians come down for the winter months (Jan - April) and come down to Phoenix and Tucson and the surrounding areas where it is warmer, and they spend a lot of money while here. The number were down. Many Canadians have mobile homes here in 55+ communities and it appears many are choosing to put them up for sale.

Folks who go to the Grand Canyon in the summer also travel to Bryce Canyon National Park and Arches National park in Utah. Many families in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson and other southern AZ communities travel up to the Grand Canyon. We usually go every other year to stand at the edge and contemplate how insignificant we are in the span of time. Currently though, there is no overnight lodging in the park in the South Rim because of water issues. The amount of tourism at the Grand Canyon is not the best indicator of International tourism elsewhere in the US.

Alright. But outside of Southern Arizona and similar desert latitudes, throughout most of the United States, tourist season starts June 1st.

Incidentally I lived in Las Vegas for nearly 25 years and also spent years on a Vegas vacation forum, so I know that's the case there. I'm also familiar with Arizona (been there lots of times) and Utah.

 

[ozso]

I would imagine what's happening all over the US in the video below is another factor in a decline in tourism. I used to love visiting Seattle, but not anymore because it's become like this.

 

[Gene2memE]

The US is the only large tourism destination globally where tourism revenue is forecast to go backwards in 2025. Estimates about lost international tourism revenues for the US for 2025 are as follows:

Oxford Economics: $8.5 billion.
World Travel and Tourism Council: $12.5 billion
US Travel Association: $21 billion (including $10 billion from Canada alone).

Personally, I think they're all a little optimistic (based on assumptions that ill-feelings around Trump administration actions are going to progressively ebb through the year).

The BIG things here are 1) perceptions around the friendliness of the US as destination and traveller personal safety and 2) personal opposition to Trump administration policies.

Here in Australia, we're getting regular stories about Australian tourists being detained or suffering various injustices. That's scaring people off. Plus, when a country is acting like a drunken bully when it comes to global politics and economics there are that many fewer people who want to spend their money there.

The (English) company I work for has moved our planned North American conference for 2026 from the US to Canada. That's purely as a response to concerns raised by potential attendees about the seemingly arbitrary actions of US CBP, along with visa hurdles and perceived political hostility.

What's crucial here is the reputational damage that's occurring. Once people start spending money on other destinations, they're more likely to keep spending money there.

 

[loveofourlord]

I said it's a factor, not the only reason. I think it's also quite possible that hype and sensationalism generated by certain media is needlessly frightening people into staying home.

not needlessly I think even if it was a small number it doesn't sound like it's worth the risk.

 

[ozso]

not needlessly I think even if it was a small number it doesn't sound like it's worth the risk.

Right, that's what fermongering I'm talking about does.