International Tourism to U.S. Faces Sharp Decline
Experts warn that the United States could see a drop in tourism from abroad well beyond this summer. In 2025, travel destinations from Buffalo and Las Vegas will report fewer international visitors. The decline is attributed to the political tensions under President Trump’s presidency as well as policy changes.
Tourism Industry Projects Continue to Decline
The World Travel & Tourism Council has delivered some sobering information ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. The U.S. is the only country among 184 studied to have foreign visitor spending projected to decline in 2025.
The world’s largest travel and tourism industry is headed in the wrong direction, said Julia Simpson. While other countries are putting out the welcome mats, the U.S. Government is putting up a ‘closed sign’.
Tourism Economics predicts an 8.2% drop in international arrivals by 2025. Although slightly better than earlier predictions of a drop of 9.4%, the numbers are still well below levels before the pandemic.
Border Cities Feel the Impact Most
Buffalo’s struggles illustrate the larger challenge that U.S. destinations face. The city never saw its summer influx, despite a $500 marketing campaign aimed at Canadians.
Patrick Kaler, the CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said, “It’s so disappointing to see traffic decline so dramatically, especially due to rhetoric that could be changed.”
Canada sends more than 20.2 million tourists to the U.S. each year, which is more than any other nation. In 2025, the story will be different. For the first time in nearly 20 years, outside of pandemic months, more Americans visited Canada than Canadians.
Global Visitor Numbers Show Steep Declines
U.S. Government data confirms the decline across multiple regions
- Western Europe experienced a decline of 2.3%, with France and Germany both down 6.6%, while Denmark was down 19%.
- Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines all saw double-digit declines in Asia.
- Africa also sent fewer tourists to American destinations in July 2025.
Nevertheless, there are still some positives. The number of visitors from Argentina, Brazil, Italy and Japan has increased.
Policy Changes Create Uncertainty
Travel analysts have identified several factors that are driving this decline. Travel analysts point to several factors that are driving the decline.
The negative impact of the administration’s tariff policy has also been felt abroad.
Events Canceled Due to Climate Concerns
International competitors withdrew in large numbers from the International Lindy Hop Championships. Around half of the typical event attendees are from outside the U.S. – primarily Canada and France.
Tena Morales, co-producer of the event, said: “The climate remains the same. We’re still hearing that (dancers) don’t want to come here.”
Organisers may move the competition until Trump’s term ends.
Washington D.C. Launches Counter-Campaign
The capital of the nation projected a drop of 5.1% in international visitors by 2025. Destination DC has announced plans to counter negative rhetoric with a campaign that highlights Washington’s “more human side” by sharing stories from residents.
What’s Next for U.S. Tourism
The contrast between domestic and international tourism is striking as Labor Day weekend approaches. Experts in the industry warn that the “sentiment-drag” seen in booking data for spring and summer will likely continue through 2025.
Tourism destinations adapt by refocusing marketing efforts on domestic audiences. Visit Buffalo Niagara has, for instance, refocused its campaigns on Boston and Philadelphia while filling in the gaps with amateur youth sports events.
The bigger question is: how long will foreign travelers remain away from America, and what will be required to bring back its appeal as a destination for international tourists?
