International tourism in the U.S. is not immune to the ‘Trump effect,’ but despite some data indicating a decline, travel to the country appears to be holding steady for now—except for the Canadian market, which has opted for a boycott.
Fears over immigration policies under Trump and rising prices amid a trade war over tariffs are some of the reasons tourists may hesitate to visit the U.S.
Additionally, the Trump Administration has revoked visas for thousands of university students in recent months, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reminded the public that having a U.S. visa “is not a right,” but rather a “privilege granted to those who respect the laws and values.”
These developments, along with highly publicized incidents involving foreigners at U.S. borders—where some have reported being scrutinized even on their social media—have spread concerns about the entry process into the country.
President Donald Trump stated at a press conference last week that “a little nationalism” might be behind the decline in foreign tourist visits, though he added that he “doubted it,” since the country “treats tourists great” and is “the tourism capital of the world.”
According to Goldman Sachs estimates, the reduction in travel could result in a loss of nearly $90,000 to the U.S. GDP this year.
Declines in International Tourism
Foreign tourists have always had a special interest in visiting the U.S., and thanks to this sector, the country has enjoyed a large trade surplus compared to the rest of the world.
However, the so-called ‘Trump effect’ may be causing them to reconsider their options, as March data shows a 9.7% drop in international tourists compared to the previous year (a 4.4% decline in the first quarter), according to the International Trade Administration (ITA).
Despite this, trips to the U.S. are typically booked in advance, and in the case of Europeans, they often travel during Easter, which fell later this year, possibly contributing to the 14.3% drop in March, according to ITA data.
Canadian Boycott
Due to Trump’s threats to the neighboring country’s sovereignty, tourism from Canada—which accounts for nearly a quarter of foreign visitors—is plummeting: the number of return car trips from the U.S. fell to 1.5 million in March, a 31.9% drop compared to the same month in 2024, according to public agency Statistics Canada (EC).
Visitors from Canada typically favor destinations like Maine, Arizona, or Florida, where around a million Canadians, known as ‘snowbirds,’ spend their winters.
As a result, a boycott has gained momentum: 60% of Canadian adults said these policies are discouraging them from traveling south of the border in the next 12 months, according to a study by Longwoods International.
In response to this decline, California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a campaign to attract Canadian visitors, and some of the major airlines (Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, and Flair) are reallocating capacity toward Europe.
Mixed Views in New York
In New York, the first months of the year are typically the “slowest,” and NYC Tourism + Conventions states that they have not yet detected changes in their projections for spring and summer, according to its president and CEO, Julie Coker, who acknowledged they are aware of economic shifts and rising prices that tariffs may cause.
However, Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC), explained that over the last three months, tourism from Canada has declined, and to a lesser extent, from Europe, despite the devaluation of the U.S. dollar against other currencies.
He also added that bookings for September and October are slowing down, even though these months are usually high-traffic periods with events like the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.
Image: Infobae
