Global Travelers Rethink U.S. Trips Over Safety Fears

International arrivals to the United States plummeted 11.6% in March compared to last year as widely reported incidents of tourists being detained or deported at U.S. borders have triggered formal travel warnings from multiple countries. The dramatic decline signals a potentially devastating blow to America’s $2.36 trillion tourism industry, with vacation bookings from traditional key markets collapsing amid growing concerns about visitor treatment.

The National Travel and Tourism Office released data Tuesday showing overseas visits dropping significantly, with air travel from Mexico down 23%. For the January-March period, 7.1 million visitors entered the U.S. from overseas, representing a 3.3% decline from the first quarter of 2024, according to Travel Weekly.

Tourism Economics, which had projected nearly 9% growth in international arrivals this year, has dramatically reversed its forecast and now predicts a 9.4% annual decline. The organization expects U.S. spending by international visitors to drop by $9 billion in 2025 alone.

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Detained, Deported, and Deterred

A series of high-profile incidents involving international visitors being detained or turned away at U.S. borders has generated substantial media coverage abroad, triggering formal government travel advisories from multiple traditional allies.

According to The Boston Globe, recent incidents include a French scientist turned away in Houston because he had criticized U.S. policies on social media, three members of a British rock group refused entry at Los Angeles Airport allegedly for similar reasons, a Canadian actress chained and jailed for 12 days when applying for a visa, and a German visitor arrested at Logan Airport who was violently interrogated and jailed in Rhode Island.

These incidents have prompted Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France to issue formal warnings about travel to the United States—an unprecedented step from nations that have historically been America’s closest allies and largest sources of international visitors.

RIP the American tourism industry. 📉https://t.co/F32bocuZ4y
— Mel 🕊️ (@meljomur) April 12, 2025

Canadians Lead the Exodus

The decline is particularly pronounced from Canada, which supplied 20.2 million visitors to the U.S. in 2024, making it the largest international market for American tourism. Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reports leisure bookings to U.S. destinations have collapsed by 40% in March compared to the same month last year.

The impact has been severe enough that Air Canada has already reduced its schedule of spring flights to Florida, Las Vegas, and Arizona due to evaporating demand. Beyond, a revenue management platform for vacation rentals, reported that Canadian searches for U.S. accommodations plunged 44% after February 1st when tariff discussions began, with Florida, Texas, and New York experiencing the sharpest declines.

Individual Canadians cite political tensions as their primary reason for avoiding American destinations. Ian Urquhart, a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, canceled his planned Vegas trip despite losing a $500 deposit. His daughter similarly canceled a trip to Sedona, Arizona, while his brother-in-law decided against his annual week-long golf trip to Scottsdale.

“None of us jumped for joy when we made those decisions, but it seemed to be one of the few ways we could signal how we felt about the bullying that has been directed towards Canada,” Urquhart explained to Travel Weekly.

Europe and Asia Redirect Vacation Plans

European travelers are similarly rethinking American vacations. Pepa Cuevas and her husband from Madrid had planned to spend a month skiing in Colorado but chose Japan instead. “Trump’s victory left us, especially me, very shocked,” Cuevas said. “For the moment, we have lost the desire to return.”

Marco Jahn, president of California-based New World Travel, which arranges U.S. travel packages for overseas tour operators, reported bookings have dropped between 20% and 50% depending on the source market. Scandinavian countries show particularly steep declines following repeated statements about taking control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Even Asian markets that have traditionally favored American destinations are shifting plans. Data compiled by JTB Tourism Research & Consulting showed South Korea has overtaken the U.S. as the top destination for Japanese tourists for the first time in years.

Long-Term Recovery Threatened

Tourism experts now project that international visits won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2029—a full four years later than previously expected. This extended timeline threatens countless tourism-dependent businesses still recovering from pandemic losses.

“Travel is a feeling. You want to go someplace where you feel good and comfortable and safe. That’s not America now and people get that. They have plenty of other choices,” Randy Durband, CEO of Global Sustainable Tourism Council, told The Boston Globe.

The financial implications are substantial for the American economy. Tourism is the country’s seventh-largest employer and contributed $2.36 trillion in 2023—more than either agriculture or the automobile industry. Tourism Economics projects the combined impact of reduced international and domestic travel could reach $64 billion in losses for 2025.

While some industry experts hope for a potential recovery if diplomatic tensions ease, others warn that rebuilding America’s reputation as a welcoming destination will require years of effort. Several countries have already begun marketing campaigns specifically targeting travelers who might have previously chosen the United States, with Canada, Mexico, and European destinations emphasizing their welcoming environments for international visitors.

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