{"id":98217,"date":"2025-05-13T14:08:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T14:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/98217\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T14:08:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T14:08:15","slug":"united-kingdom-germany-south-korea-spain-ireland-dominican-republic-and-canada-record-plunge-in-travel-to-us-as-wttc-forecasts-thirteen-billion-dollars-shortfall-know-about-the-latest-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/98217\/","title":{"rendered":"United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Ireland, Dominican Republic, and Canada Record Plunge in Travel to US as WTTC Forecasts Thirteen Billion Dollars Shortfall: Know about the latest updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Home<\/a> \u00bb Latest Travel News of America<\/a> \u00bb United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Ireland, Dominican Republic, and Canada Record Plunge in Travel to US as WTTC Forecasts Thirteen Billion Dollars Shortfall: Know about the latest updates <\/p>\n

Tuesday, May 13, 2025<\/p>\n

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The United States is poised to experience one of the most severe tourism declines in recent history, with fresh data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)<\/strong> projecting a $12.5 billion loss in travel revenue<\/strong> for 2025. This stark forecast places the US in a uniquely troubling position among 184 global economies analyzed, with the WTTC citing both long-standing policy issues and recent economic shifts as major contributors to the downturn.<\/p>\n

According to the report, visitor spending is expected to dip below $169 billion by the end of 2025<\/strong>, representing a 7% year-on-year drop and a significant 22% shortfall compared to the industry\u2019s peak in 2019.<\/p>\n

US Alone in Global Decline While Others Recover<\/p>\n

Out of all economies surveyed in collaboration with Oxford Economics<\/strong>, the United States is the only country forecasted to lose tourism revenue this year<\/strong>. This stark contrast stands in sharp relief to other countries, many of which are implementing digitized visa programs, streamlined entry policies<\/strong>, and travel incentives to welcome back global visitors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile other countries are rolling out the welcome mat, it feels like the US is hanging a \u2018closed\u2019 sign,\u201d remarked Julia Simpson<\/strong>, WTTC President and CEO. She warned that the consequences of this shift could be far-reaching, particularly given the sheer scale of the American tourism economy.<\/p>\n

Economic Weight of the US Travel Sector<\/p>\n

Tourism accounts for nearly $2.6 trillion in value<\/strong>, or about 9% of the US GDP<\/strong>, encompassing both direct spending (by tourists) and indirect economic impacts (such as supply chain contributions and employment in the hospitality sector). The sector employs around 20 million people<\/strong> and generates approximately $585 billion in tax revenue<\/strong>, which is about 7% of all federal tax receipts<\/strong>, according to WTTC estimates.<\/p>\n

Simpson described the industry as a \u201cmainstay of the American economy\u201d<\/strong>, noting that this downturn could have a cascading effect across various states and industries.<\/p>\n

Lingering Policy Challenges and Shifting Sentiment<\/p>\n

Industry experts pointed out that the problems now facing US tourism are the result of policy inertia stretching back years<\/strong>, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic<\/strong>. The United States maintained stricter travel restrictions<\/strong> longer than many other countries, creating delays in recovery. Meanwhile, the strong US dollar<\/strong> has made travel to the US expensive, pushing away potential visitors from Europe and Asia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Simpson highlighted that while currency strength matters, there\u2019s also a deepening perception problem<\/strong>. The current US administration\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d rhetoric<\/strong> is believed to have contributed to a broader sentiment shift among international travelers.<\/p>\n

Recent data from the US Department of Commerce<\/strong> supports these claims, showing sharp declines in key inbound markets:<\/p>\n