Uncertainty over travel rules and political concerns about the new U.S. administration appear to be taking a hefty toll on tourist travel to the United States, according to recent figures from the U.S. International Trade Administration, which show a year-on-year drop for March of 11.6%.
Travel from Western Europe in March was down from last year by 17.4%, a drop of about 178,000 travelers, leaving a total of 846,577 arrivals. The three countries that account for the largest number of European visitors to the U.S.—France, Germany and the UK—dropped by 5%, 29% and 15%. Among factors pushing the numbers down are wide-spread reports of European nationals being turned away at borders, or in some instances detained for days or weeks.
A big drop in visitors from Canada, in double digits, has especially affected areas where many Canadian visitors head for warmer weather in the winter. Also heavily affected are numbers from countries whose citizens require visas to visit the U.S.
The travel forecasting company Tourism Economics, which as recently as December anticipated the U.S. would have nearly 9% more international arrivals this year, revised its annual outlook last week to predict a 9.4% decline. While many airlines have increased available seats on routes to and from the U.S. for the summer, some say they are monitoring closely to see if changes will be needed.
Just one example of the horror stories which circulate here – and put people off travelling to the US:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/05/i-was-a-british-tourist-trying-to-leave-america-then-i-was-detained-shackled-and-sent-to-an-immigration-detention-centre