Home » Latest Travel News » Portugal Joins Spain, Alicante, Italy and France Confronting Billions in Losing Tourism Revenue With Thousands of Flight Cancellations and Visitors Plunge Amid Europe Leading to Shutdown Really: Everything You Need to Know

Published on
October 29, 2025

Europe’s tourism industry is facing unprecedented losses due to a combination of wildfires, strikes, airline cutbacks, and geopolitical tensions. Major destinations like Paris, Nice, Marseille, and Rhodes saw flight cancellations, leading to billions in lost revenue and job losses. France’s tourism sector alone risks a loss of $245 billion, with short stays and low spending exacerbating the crisis. The Greece wildfires in 2023, particularly in Rhodes, forced tourists to flee and led to flight repatriations, damaging the sector’s profitability. Additionally, Ryanair’s 1.2 million seat cuts in Spain, including Zadar, further weakened regional tourism. Strikes in France and Spain, coupled with high airport fees, led to widespread flight disruptions, negatively affecting airports like Alicante and Billund. Phuket’s tourism also took a hit, as declining numbers of Middle Eastern tourists left the region vulnerable to a slower recovery. Countries like Italy and Portugal are seeing similar downturns, as the flight disruptions and rising aviation costs continue to hinder recovery. In conclusion, rebuilding trust and collaboration is essential to restore tourism’s vitality across these regions.

European country Evidence of the 2025 travel advisory Travel concerns addressed Germany On 19 March 2025 the German Federal Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Germans travelling to the United States after three German citizens were detained at U.S. entry points. Euronews notes that the updated advice warns that “possessing an electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA) … does not automatically guarantee entry into the US” and that travellers may be arrested or deported if they overstay or give false information[1]. The article explains that Germany issued the update because three German citizens were recently denied entry and detained by U.S. border officials[2]. Germany’s advisory reflects concern over U.S. immigration enforcement. It warns citizens that a valid visa or ESTA is not a guarantee of entry and that travellers who provide incorrect information or overstay may face arrest, detention or deportation[1]. The advisory was prompted by the detention of three German nationals[2]. United Kingdom Reuters reported on 20 March 2025 that Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) revised its advice for citizens travelling to the United States. The updated guidance warns that travellers who break U.S. entry or visa rules may be liable to arrest or detention and highlights that American authorities enforce entry rules strictly[3]. Archived versions of the guidance showed that earlier versions only said U.S. authorities enforce entry rules; the new version explicitly mentions arrest or detention[4]. The revision came after media reports of a British national being detained for over ten days[5]. The UK advisory focuses on stricter U.S. border enforcement. It tells British travellers to obey all entry and visa rules and warns that non‑compliance could result in arrest or detention[3]. Netherlands NL Times reported on 25 March 2025 that the Dutch government tightened its travel warning for the United States, particularly for LGBTQ+ travellers. The updated warning notes that the U.S. government has tightened entry controls and requires travellers to indicate their gender at birth on ESTA or visa applications; it cautions that laws and customs toward LGBTIQ+ people in the U.S. may differ from those in the Netherlands[6]. The article explains that the warning follows U.S. policy changes and reminds travellers that some U.S. states have introduced laws that could negatively affect LGBTQ+ people[7]. Later in the year (23 June 2025) the Netherlands issued a separate warning advising Dutch citizens in Qatar to stay indoors after Iranian missile attacks; the embassy urged people to avoid crowded areas and remain vigilant[8]. The March advisory addresses U.S. immigration and gender‑marker policies. It warns Dutch travellers—especially those who are gay, lesbian, transsexual or another gender minority—to be aware that U.S. entry forms require a gender at birth and that attitudes and laws toward LGBTQ+ people in some states may differ markedly from those in the Netherlands[6]. The June warning addresses safety during Iranian missile attacks in Qatar, advising Dutch citizens to stay indoors and avoid crowds[8]. Finland Travel and Tour World reported on 14 April 2025 that Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued an updated travel warning urging citizens to reconsider travel to the United States. The warning cites increased border enforcement, political instability and heightened risks for non‑binary and transgender travellers; it recommends that travellers whose passport gender entries do not match their sex assigned at birth consult the U.S. consulate before travelling[9]. The advisory notes that similar warnings had been issued by Germany, the UK and Denmark[10]. Finland’s advisory focuses on tightened U.S. immigration policies and gender‑documentation rules. It warns that travellers with non‑binary or mismatched gender markers could be denied entry and urges them to seek advice from the U.S. consulate[9]. Denmark India Today (with Associated Press inputs) reported on 24 March 2025 that Denmark updated its travel advisory for transgender citizens travelling to the United States. The Danish foreign ministry warned that because the U.S. only recognises male and female genders on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa applications, citizens who have a gender designation “X” or who have changed their gender should contact the U.S. embassy before travelling[11]. The advisory emphasises that the U.S. has stopped issuing travel documents with an “X” marker and travellers must ensure their documents align with their gender at birth[12]. Denmark’s advisory addresses gender‑marker policies in the U.S. It instructs transgender travellers, particularly those with an “X” gender marker, to consult the U.S. embassy before travelling and notes that the U.S. no longer issues travel documents with non‑binary markers[11]. Ireland On 9 October 2025 Travel and Tour World reported that Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued an urgent travel advisory for citizens heading to the United States. The advisory highlights ongoing protests in Chicago related to immigration policies and urges Irish travellers to exercise caution near protest zones, monitor local news and follow guidance from authorities[13]. The advisory also reminds travellers to ensure their passports and ESTA/visa documentation meet U.S. entry requirements and to stay aware of evolving situations[14]. Ireland’s advisory responds to civil unrest in the U.S. It encourages travellers to avoid protest areas in Chicago, monitor news updates and comply with immigration and documentation requirements[13].

In 2025 several European countries issued or strengthened travel advisories in response to mounting travel concerns:

  • Germany updated its U.S. travel advice in March 2025 after several German citizens were detained at the border. The revised guidance warns that possession of a visa or ESTA does not guarantee entry and cautions travellers that they could be arrested or deported for overstaying or providing false information[1].
  • The United Kingdom quickly followed with a March 2025 update emphasising that British travellers who break U.S. entry rules could face arrest or detention and must comply with all visa conditions[3].
  • The Netherlands issued multiple advisories: in March 2025 it warned LGBTQ+ travellers about U.S. gender‑marker policies and differing attitudes toward LGBTIQ+ people[6], and in June 2025 it urged Dutch citizens in Qatar to stay indoors during Iranian missile attacks[8].
  • Finland advised citizens in April 2025 to reconsider travel to the U.S., highlighting risks from stricter border enforcement and policies affecting non‑binary and transgender travellers[9].
  • Denmark updated its advisory in March 2025, telling transgender citizens to consult the U.S. embassy before travelling because the U.S. no longer recognises non‑binary gender markers on travel documents[11].
  • Ireland issued an urgent advisory in October 2025 urging caution around immigration‑related protests in Chicago and reminding travellers to stay informed and ensure their documentation is in order[13].

These advisories underscore growing concerns among European governments over strict U.S. immigration enforcement, gender‑documentation policies, and civil unrest, as well as broader geopolitical tensions (as seen in the Netherlands’ warning for Qatar). Travellers from these countries are urged to stay informed, comply with entry rules and seek guidance before visiting high‑risk areas.