Trump's policies are causing many foreigners to reconsider traveling to the United States.

New YorkInternational tourists detained at US borders. High tariffs imposed on trading partners. Threats to allies.

The onslaught of controversial policies and language by the Trump administration in recent weeks is causing tourists around the world to cancel or reconsider trips to the United States. A growing number of visitors say they feel uncomfortable or unsafe and are reluctant to support the economy of a country that some foreign officials say is waging trade wars and destabilizing its allies. A draft of a new travel ban circulating by the administration could restrict entry to the United States to citizens of as many as 43 countries, including Belarus, Cambodia, and St. Lucia.

"Many Americans are looking to escape the tense and toxic atmosphere at home. Why would anyone want to visit the U.S., especially now, with all the arbitrary immigration detentions?" and his niece in Boston this Easter.

"It's a really hostile and scary time, and frankly, there are so many other welcoming and nice places I can go to be with my family," she adds.

Even before the change of administration in January, the U.S. travel industry was struggling to recover from the pandemic, primarily due to a strong dollar, which makes it more expensive for foreign travelers to visit the country, and long visa wait times. The number of international visitors wasn't expected to reach 2019 levels until later this year, and spending by foreign visitors isn't projected to fully recover until 2026, according to the U.S. Tour Operators Association.

Worsening expectations

But these expectations may now be even harder to meet, travel experts say. Research firm Tourism Economics originally projected U.S. travel to grow 99% this year, but in February updated its outlook, now calculating that inbound travel will decline 5.1%. It also projects hotel demand will fall 0.8% in 2025, equivalent to an $18 billion drop in spending.

Much of the decline is the result of a boycott by Canadian travelers. In February, after President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada, the number of visitors from that country driving across the border fell 24% compared to the same period in 2024.

Airlines are responding to the uncertainty. Some airlines, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, cut their financial forecasts for the first few months of the year, citing weak travel spending. Scott Kirby, chief executive of United Airlines, said the company had reduced the frequency of numerous routes to Canada due to a "large drop in Canadian traffic" in the United States.

"The negative sentiment shift is expected to be sustained by a combination of evolving factors from the Trump administration, including geopolitical friction over trade and national security policies, charged rhetoric, and adversarial posturing," explains Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics. "High-visibility border security and immigration policies and enforcement actions are also expected to discourage visitation."

Uncertainty at the US border has prompted several countries, including the UK, Germany, and Canada, to update their travel advisories for the United States. They emphasize that a visa exemption does not guarantee entry into the country, and that foreign visitors suspected of violating entry rules could be detained or arrested at the border.

Arrests at ports of entry

The warnings follow a series of detentions at US ports of entry involving foreign tourists and green card holders. This month, French officials said a French scientist was denied entry because his phone, which was searched upon arrival, contained personal views on Trump administration policies. US officials rejected the claim, saying the denial was not linked to his "political beliefs."

Travel operators in Europe have yet to report major waves of cancellations on the scale of Canada, where many residents are boycotting trips to the United States, but a growing number of travelers are rethinking their spring and summer plans. Eric Dresin, secretary general of the European Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, says "turbulent times" are expected, especially if more countries are affected by U.S. policy changes.

Arrivals in the United States from Western Europe fell 1% in February after increasing 14% over the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.

Christoph Bartel, 28, a German citizen living in Norway, had planned a trip to Arizona this summer to visit national parks. He canceled his plans last week in response to the Trump administration's layoff of national park employees and the rollback of environmental regulations. "It doesn't feel good to support the US economy when the president is causing so much sabotage," says Bartel. "It's disappointing to abandon a special trip we've been planning for months, but instead we'll go to Canada or Mexico."

After Canada and Mexico, the United Kingdom is the country with the most visitors to the United States, with nearly four million last year. Travel agencies are seeing a divide between clients who visit the United States frequently and are not deterred by the political climate, and those seeking alternative destinations in response to policy changes.

The high expense of visiting the United States in the wake of the pandemic also appears to be taking its toll. "The US was always considered very good value," says Alan Wilson, the general manager of Bon Voyage Travel & Tours, a British company specializing in travel to the United States and Canada. Along with the strong dollar, hotel prices have also been rising, and sharp spikes are an issue for many visitors.

"The UK market absolutely hates the 20% tipping culture, and since the US always has its hand out for the next tip," he adds, "they would rather pay the money upfront."

Wilson says his company had experienced a 5% drop in US bookings this year compared to the same time last year. He didn't expect that figure to change much in the summer, as most clients were already booked on multi-destination US itineraries that were confirmed a year in advance.

In places like New York, Florida, and California, small travel companies are feeling the pinch and were optimistic that 2025 would bring growth. Luke Miller, the owner of family-run Real New York Tours, says his business was taking a hit after scores of visitors, mainly Canadians, canceled following Trump's tariff announcement.

"I just had 20 busloads of senior citizens canceled. That's thousands of dollars lost for my small business," Miller says, adding that he's facing cancellations through the winter holiday season and has no bookings from Europeans this summer, his second-largest market after the Canary Islands. He calls the situation "dire."

Major destinations like New York and California are making big marketing pushes to reassure international tourists that they are welcome. Visit California, the state's tourism agency, revised its overall projections for visitor spending in 2025 this month to $160 billion from $166 billion, following slowing growth in international travelers and devastating wildfires in Los Angeles in January.

"The good news is that thanks to California's strong brand on the global stage, international visitors continue to show a strong affinity for the Golden State," explains Caroline Beteta, president of the agency, in a statement. New York has had similar messages. Addressing the expense of visiting the city, Julie Coker, president of New York City Tourism+Conventions, assures that it was possible to visit on a budget and that the marketing organization would highlight these opportunities.

"This is an excellent opportunity to highlight the other boroughs and parts of New York City outside of Manhattan that are just as vibrant and feature amazing and award-winning culinary, artistic, and cultural experiences," she adds. She explains that New York has faced challenges before and is confident it can reach its goal of recovering international spending by 2026 despite the current challenges.

Miller, of Real New York Tours, is not convinced. He says that if bookings don't pick up this summer, he'll have to consider laying off staff. "The reality is that we're the hardest hit and we may not survive," he concludes.

Copyright by The New York Times