Travellers denied entry, detained and then deported.<\/p>\n
Phones seized and searched.<\/p>\n
Scientists and academics fleeing because of “safety concerns”.<\/p>\n
As the Trump administration continues its crackdown on border security, stories like these are sparking increased anxiety for travellers across the globe.<\/p>\n
So why are people avoiding travel to the US?<\/p>\n
And is it safe to travel there?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some people are hesitant to travel to the US. (Reuters: Darrin Zammit Lupi)<\/p>\n
Are Australians avoiding the US?<\/p>\n
Yes, according to the US International Trade Administration.<\/p>\n
Their latest data shows Australian visitor numbers plummeted 7 per cent in March this year, compared to March 2024.<\/p>\n
That’s the sharpest drop in Australian visitors the US has seen since March 2021, during the height of the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n
Jared Mondschein, director of research at the United States Studies Centre,\u00a0says more Australians are wary of heading to the US.<\/p>\n
“I’m not sure how much this is founded on fact, but nonetheless, there are definitely Australians who are concerned,” he says.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One expert says it’s increasingly difficult for travellers to predict whether they’ll be granted entry into the US. (Reuters: Andrew Kelly)<\/p>\n
What about the rest of the world?<\/p>\n
Australians are not the only people avoiding the US in the wake of Donald Trump’s inauguration.<\/p>\n
The data from the International Trade Administration<\/a>, which counts visits of one night or more, has also shown big slumps in visitor numbers from other countries.<\/p>\n In March, overseas arrivals to the US plunged 11.6 per cent.<\/p>\n It’s a far cry from what was initially predicted for this year.<\/p>\n Tourism Economics’ inbound US travel forecast<\/a> projected an 8.8 per cent growth this year.<\/p>\n Now, it’s warning of a 5.1 per cent decline.<\/p>\n It says this is largely due to “tariff-induced” exchange rate shifts and strained diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n The United States is the third-most-visited country in the world. (AP Photo: Carolyn Kaster)<\/p>\n This comes as multiple countries, including Germany, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Canada and the UK<\/strong>, have issued travel warnings and advisories for the US.<\/p>\n More people are calling for travellers to boycott the US, with Canadians “leading the charge”, according to Mr Mondschein.<\/p>\n In February, Canada’s visitor numbers to the US plunged more than 20 per cent.<\/p>\n Lee Morgenbesser, an associate professor in comparative politics at Griffith University, says this avoidance comes with a heavy cost.<\/p>\n “I think eventually the price tag is billions,” he says.<\/p>\n “The real concern is how many billions?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Multiple countries have issued travel warnings and advisories for the US. (Reuters: Lucas Jackson)<\/p>\n What are the concerns?<\/p>\n Tourism experts say the US exchange rate and increased cost-of-living pressures are key factors, although some people are being deterred by the current political climate.<\/p>\n In particular, there are growing concerns that people who once easily entered the US are now facing “more scrutiny”.<\/p>\n This follows multiple reports of Canadian and European travellers being detained and deported at the US border.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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