Published on
October 16, 2025
In 2025, the UK joins Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Japan, China, and others to propel a U.S. travel freeze for nine successive months, driven by political tensions, rising costs, and a strong dollar. This ongoing decline in international tourism to the U.S. is reshaping the global travel landscape, with key international markets choosing alternative destinations over traditional American hotspots. Factors like increased border scrutiny, heightened political instability, and the economic pressure of expensive travel are compelling travelers to reconsider the U.S. as their first choice. Countries that have historically been major contributors to U.S. tourism are now redirecting their outbound visitors to regions like Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, further impacting the U.S. tourism sector’s ability to attract international visitors. As this trend continues through 2025, the U.S. faces significant challenges in restoring its position as a leading global travel destination.
United Kingdom: 15% Decline in U.S. Tourism
The United Kingdom has experienced a 15% decline in U.S. tourism in 2025, driven by the strong U.S. dollar and political instability. This decline is especially noticeable in major U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles, which have traditionally attracted high-spending British tourists. Stricter U.S. immigration policies and heightened border security have further discouraged British visitors. The UK’s travel shift is affecting the U.S. economy, particularly in retail and cultural tourism, where British visitors were key contributors. With fewer British tourists, U.S. cities face a significant reduction in spending on shopping, dining, and cultural experiences, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to restore confidence and address the barriers causing the decline.
Mexico’s Shift in Travel Preferences
In 2025, Mexico saw a 7.4% drop in hotel bookings and leisure travel to the U.S., largely due to the U.S. dollar’s strength and increased border security. Many Mexican tourists, previously regular visitors to U.S. cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, are opting for destinations closer to home, such as Latin America and Caribbean islands. The change in travel patterns highlights the growing influence of political tensions and rising travel costs, which are pushing many Mexican tourists to reconsider the U.S. as a travel destination.
Canada: 34% Decline in U.S. Tourism and $29 Billion Revenue Loss in 2025
In 2025, Canada has experienced a sharp 34% decline in tourism to the U.S., significantly impacting major states like California, Florida, and New York, which have traditionally relied on Canadian visitors for substantial revenue. Contributing factors include stricter border controls, the strong U.S. dollar, and growing political tensions, making travel to the U.S. more difficult and expensive for Canadian tourists. As a result, many Canadians are opting for alternative destinations in Mexico, Europe, and other parts of Latin America. This decline is expected to result in a $29 billion loss in tourism revenue by the end of the year, with key sectors such as retail, hospitality, and entertainment facing a significant downturn due to fewer Canadian visitors. The loss of Canadian tourism underscores the urgency for the U.S. to address these challenges and restore confidence in cross-border travel.
Brazil: 4.6% Decline in Visitor Arrivals
Brazil has seen a 4.6% decline in tourist arrivals to the U.S. in 2025, a sharp departure from previous years. Factors such as visa delays, the strong U.S. dollar, and political instability under the Trump administration have contributed to this decrease. Brazilian travelers, traditionally a significant source of visitors to cities like Miami and Orlando, are now opting for more affordable destinations in Europe and Southeast Asia. The decline in Brazilian tourism has had a major impact on the retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors, with cities that once relied heavily on Brazilian spending now grappling with a downturn.
Japan: 15% Decline in Tourism to the U.S.
Japan recorded a 15% decline in travel to the U.S. in 2025, continuing a downward trend in Japanese arrivals. The strong U.S. dollar, combined with rising travel costs, has made visiting the U.S. less appealing to Japanese tourists. Additionally, stricter visa requirements and increased border security have deterred Japanese visitors, who are now opting for closer, more affordable destinations like South Korea, Thailand, and France. This reduction in Japanese tourism is affecting U.S. cities like California and Hawaii, which have long relied on high-spending Japanese tourists for retail, dining, and leisure activities.
China: 20% Decline in Visitor Numbers
China has experienced a 20% decline in tourism to the U.S. in 2025, driven by a combination of factors, including visa delays, the strong U.S. dollar, and political tensions. The introduction of a new visa fee has made U.S. travel more expensive, and the strained relations between the U.S. and China have contributed to the perception of the U.S. as an unwelcoming destination. This has significantly impacted major U.S. cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, where Chinese tourists were once a major source of revenue, particularly in luxury retail and hospitality sectors.
Decline in Canadian Tourism to the U.S. – State by State ImpactStateTourism DeclineKey StatisticsImpactFlorida3.4% in Q170% drop in summer air bookingsFewer snowbirds and beachgoers; loss in retail and hospitalityNew York20%25% drop in northern border crossings, 21% in JuneQuiet shopping streets; loss in luxury tourism and retail spendingWashington29%912,000 vehicles crossed from BC (Feb-Apr)Retail and dining in border towns affectedMaine30% since January85,000 fewer visitors in May compared to 2024Decline in summer tourism, affecting local businessesNew Hampshire30%Loss in ski resort and summer tourismNegative impact on small businesses, inns, and restaurantsNevada11% in Las Vegas (June)Reduced flights between Canada and Las VegasFewer gamblers and conference guests; loss in hospitality revenueMichigan11% in border crossings18% drop in car travel in MarchLoss in retail, shopping, and tourism activitiesMontana33-38% (May-June)Reduced Canadian visits to Glacier and local townsSignificant impact on border towns like Kalispell, WhitefishCaliforniaDouble-digit dropFewer visitors to San FranciscoDecline in tourism and retail spendingSummary of Tourism Decline from Various Countries to the U.S. in 2025CountryTourism Decline (%)Key Contributing FactorsImpact on U.S. TourismCanada34%Border security concerns, strong U.S. dollar, political tensions$29 billion revenue loss, 140,000 jobs at riskGermany28%Stricter U.S. immigration policies, rising costsLoss of high-spending visitors, impact on luxury retail and cultural tourismBrazil4.6%Visa delays, rising costs, unwelcoming perceptionLoss in retail, dining, and tourism sectorsMexico7.4%Border security concerns, rising costs, preference for other destinationsDecline in shopping, dining, and entertainment revenueIndia8%Stricter visa regulations, rising travel costsSignificant impact on retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectorsUK15%Political instability, stronger U.S. dollar, rising costsDrop in tourism spending, especially in shopping and cultural venuesSouth Korea15%Rising costs, immigration concernsImpact on major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, New York, and San FranciscoSpain25%Strong U.S. dollar, rising costs, political instabilityLoss of interest in U.S. destinations, shift to alternatives in Europe and Latin AmericaJapan15%Strong U.S. dollar, rising costs, immigration concernsEconomic impact in California and Hawaii, reduction in leisure spendingChina20%Geopolitical tensions, visa delays, rising costsMajor loss in spending, particularly in retail and luxury tourism
US saw 15% decline in UK tourist arrivals as UK, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Japan, China, and others propelled a US travel freeze for nine successive months, driven by political tensions, rising costs, and a strong dollar.
Conclusion
In 2025, the UK joins Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Japan, China, and others to propel a US travel freeze for nine successive months, caused by a combination of political tensions, rising costs, and a strong dollar. This shift in global travel patterns reflects the growing challenges the U.S. faces in maintaining its appeal as a top destination. As international travelers turn to more affordable and politically stable alternatives, the U.S. tourism industry must adapt its strategies to regain its position in the global travel market.
