Tuesday, May 13, 2025
US is facing the steepest tourism decline among major global destinations as international travelers turn away in growing numbers, driven by border detentions, visa complications, and rising political tensions. New data reveals that travel from Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean nations has dropped by over twenty percent, triggering a massive fallout in visitor spending. As other countries adopt open-door policies and relaxed entry procedures, the US stands to lose more than forty-eight billion dollars in international tourism revenue by the end of 2025, marking a sharp reversal for the world’s largest travel economy.
Canadian Boycott Deepens as Border Policies Bite
In April 2025, Statistics Canada reported that car travel by Canadians to the United States plunged by thirty-five percent year-over-year. Air travel, too, saw a stark drop—falling twenty percent over the same period. These reductions marked the fourth consecutive month of steep decline, building on previous drops of thirty-two percent in March and twenty-three percent in February for car-based travel, and fourteen and two-point-four percent for air travel, respectively.
The downturn is no longer seen as a temporary lull. Instead, it reflects a deeper, more intentional shift in traveler sentiment. The catalyst? Political rhetoric and hostile policies. In early February, President Donald Trump reignited tensions by announcing new tariffs on Canadian imports and controversially referring to Canada as the “51st state,” suggesting annexation. These remarks sparked widespread outrage north of the border and provoked then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to advise Canadians against traveling to the US shortly before he exited office in March.
Fear of wrongful detainment at US borders has since taken hold. Canadian travelers now express growing concern over being stopped or questioned by immigration officers, with anecdotal reports of extended interrogations and electronics searches at entry points. The sense of unpredictability and lack of protection has pushed many Canadians to seek out other destinations.
Mexico and the Caribbean Follow Suit
Canada is not alone in turning away. Mexico—the second-largest source of foreign visitors to the United States—saw a staggering twenty-three percent drop in travel to the US in March. This decline comes amid increasing deportation flights under Trump’s reinstated immigration crackdown, which has heightened unease across Latin America. The perception that the US is targeting foreign visitors for scrutiny, especially from neighboring countries, has led to diminished travel intent.
Caribbean nations also followed a similar pattern. Travel from the region to the US dipped by twenty-six percent in March, underscoring a regional trend where long-standing tourism pipelines are now eroding. Central America saw a comparable twenty-four percent drop, while travel from South America declined by eleven percent.
These numbers paint a stark picture of the US’s waning influence as a global tourism hub. In regions traditionally viewed as close cultural or economic partners, American destinations are quickly losing their appeal.
Broader Global Decline Adds to the Crisis
Beyond its immediate neighbors, the US is experiencing a widespread international travel collapse. Travel from Europe fell seventeen percent in March. Asia, Africa, and Oceania also recorded declines—down one, ten, and eight percent respectively, according to the NTTO.
Even affluent and traditionally high-spending travel markets such as Germany and the United Kingdom are adjusting their advisories and encouraging caution. In March, Germany issued an updated travel advisory highlighting that having a visa or ESTA does not guarantee entry into the US. The advisory came after several German nationals were detained at US borders despite meeting formal entry requirements.
Concerns are not limited to policy inconsistency. The Trump administration’s requirement that all foreign visitors aged fourteen and older submit fingerprints if staying more than thirty days has further alienated potential tourists. The rule, which now also includes Canadians—who previously enjoyed visa-free visits of up to six months—adds another layer of administrative burden and privacy concern.
Economic Toll: Forty-Eight Billion Dollar Tourism Gap Looms
The economic impact of this unfolding crisis is staggering. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the United States could see international visitor spending fall under one hundred sixty-nine billion dollars in 2025. This figure would represent a loss of approximately forty-eight point four billion dollars compared to the 2019 peak of two hundred seventeen point four billion dollars.
The projected decline equates to a 22.5 percent drop from pre-pandemic highs and confirms that the US is the only one among 184 countries analyzed by the WTTC expected to post a net fall in international tourism this year.
The US Travel Association (USTA) further supports this forecast, noting that even a ten percent decline in Canadian tourism alone could result in a loss of 2.1 billion dollars in spending and jeopardize over 140,000 tourism-related jobs.
Major Destinations Losing Ground
Once top draws for international tourists—cities like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Las Vegas—are reporting dwindling foreign arrivals. Hotel occupancy rates in gateway cities have slumped, and international seat bookings on transatlantic and transpacific flights have not recovered to pre-COVID levels.
Meanwhile, domestic travelers continue to account for over ninety percent of tourism revenue, but experts warn that relying solely on US-based visitors will not be enough to stabilize the sector. International tourists tend to stay longer and spend more—on average, seven to eight times what US tourists do. Their absence has created a visible revenue gap that local economies are struggling to fill.
Competitor Nations Seize the Opportunity
While the US struggles, other countries are quickly stepping in to attract disaffected travelers. France, Japan, Brazil, and the United Kingdom have all launched aggressive tourism campaigns and streamlined visa requirements to lure global visitors—including former US-bound tourists.
Travel platforms have noted this shift, observing that Canadians are traveling less to the US and redirecting their trips to destinations such as France, Brazil, Japan, and domestic locations within Canada. The trend reflects a broader redistribution of travel demand away from the United States.
This redistribution of tourism demand reflects a broader global pivot. Countries with stable visa systems, fewer political uncertainties, and friendlier entry processes are quickly capitalizing on the US’s self-inflicted isolation.
The Dollar Factor and Policy Paralysis
Compounding these issues is the strength of the US dollar, which has made American travel considerably more expensive for international visitors. While favorable exchange rates helped boost inbound tourism in previous decades, the strong dollar in 2024 and 2025 has added financial disincentives to an already challenging travel environment.
Instead of mitigating the fallout, US policy responses have so far reinforced the negative trends. The reinstatement of fingerprint requirements, unpredictable visa application timelines, and growing incidents of secondary screening have deterred even business travelers from planning US visits.
Visa Uncertainty and Public Perception
Visa-related issues continue to surface as a top deterrent. Several embassies have reported extended wait times for interviews, opaque approval processes, and inconsistent criteria for entry. The perception of unpredictability and harsh enforcement has made the US appear unwelcoming, even hostile, to foreign nationals.
Public perception plays a critical role in destination selection. In a global tourism landscape increasingly shaped by social media, stories of unfair detainment or visa rejections circulate quickly. The resulting reputational damage can linger for years—even if policies later change.
Long-Term Consequences for the US
If current trends persist, the long-term impact on the US tourism sector could be profound. Industry experts warn that recovery may take years and require a complete rebranding of the US as a welcoming and secure destination. Structural reforms in visa processing, entry procedures, and diplomatic tone would be essential to regain lost trust.
Tourism industry groups are already lobbying for change. They are urging the federal government to reconsider recent policy measures and launch a global campaign to restore the US’s image as a leading destination. However, with election season intensifying and rhetoric hardening, substantial change seems unlikely in the short term.
Here is a clear and structured bullet point breakdown of the tourism drop by region and country as provided in your content:
Tourism Decline by Country and Region (2025)CanadaCar travel to the US (April): ↓ 35%Air travel to the US (April): ↓ 20%Car travel (March): ↓ 32%Car travel (February): ↓ 23%Air travel (March): ↓ 14%Air travel (February): ↓ 2.4%MexicoTravel to the US (March): ↓ 23%Caribbean NationsTravel to the US (March): ↓ 26%Central AmericaTravel to the US (March): ↓ 24%South AmericaTravel to the US (March): ↓ 11%EuropeTravel to the US (March): ↓ 17%AfricaTravel to the US (March): ↓ 10%OceaniaTravel to the US (March): ↓ 8%AsiaTravel to the US (March): ↓ 1%
US is set to suffer the sharpest decline in global tourism as travelers from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean retreat over rising visa hurdles, detentions, and political tensions—costing the nation over forty-eight billion US dollars in lost visitor spending.
America at a Crossroads
The United States, long the world’s most visited and highest-earning tourism economy, now finds itself at a crossroads. With travel from Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean nations falling over twenty percent—and similar trends playing out across Europe, Asia, and Latin America—the country is on track to suffer the sharpest tourism decline among major nations.
The projected forty-eight billion dollar shortfall in international visitor spending highlights not just a loss of revenue, but a loss of global confidence. While the rest of the world rolls out the welcome mat, America risks closing its doors—and with them, one of its most vital economic engines.
If the US is to recover its standing in the global tourism market, it will need more than slogans. It must rebuild bridges with its neighbors, restore consistency to its entry processes, and most of all, show the world it is open once again.
