An increasing number of travelers from Europe and Canada are avoiding trips to the United States due to concerns about detention or deportation at the border. Donald Trump’s stricter immigration policies have made it challenging for even those with valid visas or green cards to enter the country.
Rising Concerns Among International Travelers
U.S. officials recently detained three German citizens, including one with permanent residency. In another incident, authorities held a British tourist from Wales in a detention facility for three weeks. Additionally, border officials blocked the UK punk band UK Subs from entering the country at Los Angeles airport. As a result, Germany and the UK have updated their travel advisories, urging travelers to be cautious about stricter measures.
Potential Financial Impact on U.S. Tourism
Tourism experts are raising alarms over the economic impact of these policies. Tourism Economics revised its projections, forecasting a 9% decline in international visitors instead of the previously expected 5% increase. The industry could lose around $64 billion as fewer tourists choose the U.S. as their destination.
Canada has experienced the most dramatic decline. In February, car crossings back to Canada dropped by 23%, while air travel fell by 13%. Rising political tensions, amplified by harsh rhetoric and tariff threats from Trump, have further discouraged Canadian tourists from visiting the U.S.
Concerns Over Discrimination and Travel Advisories
Warnings from various countries continue to grow amid concerns about discrimination. Danish and Finnish authorities have advised transgender travelers to exercise caution. The U.S. now officially recognizes only two gender identities, prompting individuals with an “X” gender marker to contact U.S. embassies before traveling.
Oxford professor Neri Karra Sillaman, married to an American, now avoids traveling to the U.S., describing the current atmosphere as unpredictable, even for those with valid documents. Pedro Rios, a long-time migrant rights advocate, noted he has never seen so many Western travelers detained. He believes an increasingly hostile attitude toward foreigners is driving the issue.
The decline in international tourism to the U.S. appears to be part of a broader trend linked to changing immigration policies and concerns about traveler safety. As more countries update their travel advisories, the U.S. tourism industry could face even more significant losses.