The United States is seeing a sustained decline in foreign visitors, as President Donald Trump’s policies on trade, immigration, and visas dampen the country’s appeal to international tourists.
According to preliminary government data, foreign visits dropped 3 percent in July year-on-year, marking the fifth monthly decline in six months since Trump returned to office in January. Experts say the downturn reflects not only economic barriers but also the chilling effect of political rhetoric.
“Everyone is afraid, scared there’s too much politics about immigration,” Brazilian tourist Luise Francine said while visiting Washington, DC.
Analysts point to tariffs, crackdowns on immigration, and controversial remarks such as Trump’s floated ideas about acquiring Canada and Greenland as factors souring the global perception of the US.
Economist Ryan Bourne of the Cato Institute said the slide is tied to both “the president’s trade wars and fears about getting ensnared in immigration enforcement.”
Travel research firm Tourism Economics projects international arrivals will fall by 8.2 percent in 2025, a modest improvement from earlier estimates but still well below pre-pandemic levels. Airline bookings indicate the slowdown will persist in the months ahead.
The downturn is evident across several key markets. Chinese arrivals plunged nearly 14 percent in July, while visitors from India fell 5.5 percent. By contrast, travel from Mexico and Central America rose modestly, bucking the wider trend.
Adding to the strain, the Trump administration will impose a new $250 “visa integrity fee” on October 1 for travellers from countries outside the visa waiver program, raising the total cost of a US visa to $442 among the highest visitor fees worldwide.
“Any friction we add to the traveller experience is going to cut travel volumes by some amount,” warned Gabe Rizzi, president of travel firm Altour.
The World Travel & Tourism Council projects international visitor spending in the US will fall to $169 billion in 2025, down from $181 billion in 2024. In May, the group singled out the US as the only one among 184 countries where foreign visitor spending is expected to decline this year.
Industry observers warn that the US risks losing its status as a premier global destination if the policies and rhetoric continue.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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