U.S. Is Only Country To See Tourism Decline In 2025
The United States is expected to be the only one out of 184 countries to see foreign visitor spending fall in 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
I’m not surprised. I live in Australia and always wanted to travel to the US. As time goes on the likelihood of travelling there seems more bleak.
Tourism is down? No shit!
I'm in a situation where I might have to travel with a group of students, and big boss is dead set on the US. We're talking overtime, plane tickets, car rental, hotel, and a per diem. But still I'm resigning before I'll go to the US right now. If ICE or CBP sees 10% of the stuff I've said about TACO, and politics in general, online, I'd be lucky to just get shipped home.
Well yeah. Anyone too chicken to come here and get shot would logically end up somewhere else. Vacation is a zero sum game. Money not spent here will still be spent elsewhere.
Good. We fucking deserve it.
No one wants to visit. ICE is even detaining white people from Canada and UK, no one is safe from this Trump crap.
It's a bit dangerous to come to the states right now
Especially if you hate cheeto and complain about him online.
You mean Trump is bad for business?
Which means all those people saying he'd run it like a business are....stupid?
He is running it like a business, problem is, he runs most of his businesses straight into the ground.
This. Running a country like a business is not good.
Well, the idea of running a Constitutional republic "like a business" is stupid for a whole lot of reasons, but having Taco run it like one of his "businesses" is....next-level stupid.
You're literally imprisoning tourists for the most minor shit, you silly dickheads. Of course that's going to cost you money.
I DIdNt vOtE fOr ThIs
I specifically voted for the opposite of this! Lol
I never do. And yet it happens anyway.
Gee, I wonder why? Perhaps xenophobia and open hostility towards foreigners isn't good for the tourism industry? Who could have possibly foreseen this outcome? 🤔🙄
I expect this trend to continue if the federal government moves forward with it's plan to charge foreigners more money to visit national parks. One of the objectively best things about our country is our vast natural beauty protected by the federal government in perpetuity, and the national parks system is one of the few institutions that turns a profit every year and we still have the dumbass-in-chief trying to fuck that up too.
It's only been a couple of months. For many people across Europe, visiting the US is quite a trip, these are easily planned a year in advance. Therefore, many still visit the US, because otherwise they might lose serious sums of money. I'm curious to see what next years figures will look like
I bet it’s all the illegals who used to come on a tourist visa to enter and then illegally overstayed. /s
I had that thought too, but it is true that in Canada for instance the USA border guard has recently gotten a nasty reputation for detaining canadians over nonsense. It is chilling to see how little they think of the good faith relationship people from those countries have long shared.
Oh yes, there have been several press stories for tourists from the EU as well. Being questioned and detained for weeks even.
Thats what happens when you're a bunch of cunts
Yep. And also people not wanting to get human trafficked out to South Sudan or El Salvador.
Yeah....thats covered under being a bunch of cunts. Only a cunt would do that.
And not good ones like Australian cunts
No idea why a European would ever want to come here. The travel options there are much better and cheaper. Oh and you won't get thrown into a foreign prison.
Throwing aside the current administration... There's so much to see in the US. All the national parks and other sights. It's a roadtripper's dream. One of the most diverse countries as far as landscape and climate is concerned. We have Disneyland in Europe (Paris), but there's Disney World in Florida which is way bigger (never been to either, not THAT big of a fan myself, but I know there's loads of Disney fans). NYC, LA and SF are all great cities to visit I hear, though I've only been to NYC (lots of fun - there's so much to discover just by walking around)
Now as a foreigner I'm slightly scared of the current admin despite being pasty white, so I'm not going to visit again anytime soon. But one day I would like to come back for sure. Until then... I do still have a LOT of Europe to discover as well, I've only spent any real time in my neighboring countries, others I've visited very briefly.
All those national parks are on the chopping block too now. Unless major changes happen it won't be worth visiting in 10 years.
Throwing aside the current administration...
That's not true, I noped out after they want pants on head insane after 9/11, you're just seeing that amped up now. People just normalised it as they will this.
I spent quite a bit of time there and lived their briefly early this century but havent been back since.
There's so much to see in the US.
Agreed but the worlds big place and lots to see
It's a roadtripper's dream.
Or nightmare because you're forced to use a car, train travel is laughable and walkabilty is ridiculous in most places.
But to be fair for environmental and carbon emission reasons I don't fly anymore and try not to drive unless it's essential.
Slightly off topic, but If you have the time to travel; may I suggest looking into Interrail if you're not already aware of it. An interrail pass would be the European equivalent to an american road trip imo.
One train ticket helped me cover places like Portugal, Spain, and Italy, all the way through to Switzerland and onto Hungary, Poland etc and back home all over the course of two weeks.
I was backpacking solo, so just looked up hostels in whatever city i ended up in on the day. But you could just as easily use it to plan a family itinerary. The actual ticket lasts a lot longer than a fortnight too; I'm just a slave to the machine and couldn't get more time off.
Aside from politics, the US has a ton to offer for someone that wants to experience the world. The Rockies, Appalachian trail, Great plains, deserts, huge rivers and lakes, and a bunch of other natural beauties. Not that mountains and bodies of water don't exist elsewhere, but when it comes to nature, there's something for anyone that likes being out doors.
From a tourist side of things, places like Disney World, Universal, Las Vegas, New York City, and others just don't have the same thing elsewhere. I'm more into the nature side, but lot's of people really enjoy the big cities and amusement parks. The Rockies also offer some of the best snowboarding and skiing in the world, and there's only 1 Appalachian trail.
Too bad politics makes all of that less safe for foreigners and is actively enshitifying nature.
Gee, I wonder why?
Even if I wanted to visit the states. Can I risk having my holiday ruined and the money I’d lose if I was randomly turned away at the border?
It’s not even safe to transit the states at the moment.
If you got into the country, what's to stop ICE from picking you up and sending you to a prison in another country?
As an American even I don’t want to leave because I’m very critical of this administration and god forbid they’d somehow connect me with my online persona. I just don’t want the pain they could cause. I don’t “think” they could deport me (50s very white male) but who the fuck knows at this point. Gravy seals that are cosplaying as some military elite in their tacticool gear are just snatching people off of the street.
That's the beauty of not having duo process, your rights and citizenship don't matter at all Because you never get to the point to be able to prove it, you just disappear
The reality is this:
They are accosting and hassling/turning away people who aren't white. And I see pushback on this in the weirdest forms, people saying how most immigration officers are hispanic or black also, etc. That does not matter. This is entirely superficial and ordered by higher-ups and designed to drive up hate and racial tension so we don't unify. If you're not white, you face significant chances of being hassled at immigration but there are still thousands and thousands of people passing in and out of the country daily, so it's not THAT high of a chance.
As for transit across the states? Outside of some real backwater sundown towns in the deep south, there is a massive cognitive bias at work in the USA that works in two directions.
I can promise you that you can be brown, asian, hispanic, purple with polka-dots and could most likely bicycle across the entire country and you will be treated with kindness and respect and people will offer to take you into their homes across the country.
The weird disconnect that people are having a hard time digesting is that some of these same people will go online and scream about how immigrants are ruining our country and that we need to start a race war.
We don't live in a coherent reality in the USA anymore. The media world, including the internet and places like reddit and lemmy and facebook and twitter reflect a weird "mirror universe" where people are following an entirely different set of feelings.
We are in a new world of cognitive dissonance and I fully understand how off-putting that is and I recommend not visiting the country for that reason alone. Don't give this country tourism money as long as this administration remains in control.
Glory to A rstotska merica
Amerotska
It could go up if they opened the border…
The rest of the world are such bullies.
Why the fuck anyone want to come here right now? Dick-tator Dipstick running the show with his mushroom-fellating moron brigade cheering him on as if he wasn't shitting his pants and reading at a third grade level...
Selling off our public lands-- you know, the shit people want to see when they come here...
Getting arrested for coming here AS A TOURIST and potentially being thrown in a fucking concentration camp...
Everything is way too expensive and untrustworthy
Getting arrested for coming here AS A TOURIST and potentially being thrown in a fucking concentration camp…
Yep. That would definitely rank very fucking high for me if I was a non-USian who thought about coming here. Most especially if I wasn't doing the Dark Forest theory of Internet use and/or if I was not white/xtian.
These assholes are wanting to log in to devices at the border and are trolling for political content.
https://apnews.com/article/internet-privacy-smartphones-travel-e0a3146ae7966ea0e4157dbfae1f6a81
Meanwhile, Taco is literally attacking the 4th largest economy in the world and yammering on about tariffs again.
I just don't know how the market is still (relatively) up. I think when the crash does come, it's going to be so rough.
The market is running on cocaine, hate, and broken dreams. Just give it time, and it'll be a hell of a crash.
the dollar is down
that effects valuation
North Korea could do the craziest thing right now...
Of course they won't, but they could do a 180 and give everyone a free life.
North Korea probably couldnt handle a million immigrants. China wouldn't notice if their 25ish cities with 5M each got 100,000 americans
pretty sure a majority of small (and large tbh) business owners who rely on tourism voted for exactly all the bullshit going on right now. they can go fuck themselves
Anecdotal: traveling to the smoky mountains and rented some bicycles. Owner said rentals are down 30% compared to this time last year.
They arbitrarily imprison tourists and then are surprised nobody wants to risk being imprisoned
Imagine risking being disappeared into a concentration camp just for the chance to see the Jersey Shore.
If it's between being disappeared or going to the Jersey Shore, then sign me up to be kidnapped.
The Trump Regime has made it widely known that absolutely no one is safe visiting the United States. They've made travel by Americans, to American destinations questionable, based on ICE antics.
Does America want a healthy tourism industry? Then they'd better get busy smashing fascism.
As it stands, it is simply not advisable to travel to the United States.
“They've made travel by Americans, to American destinations questionable, based on ICE antics.” I think the appropriate word instead of antics is atrocities.
The Trump Regime has made it widely known that absolutely no one is safe
visitingin the United States.
FTFY
Hoping my flight to visit the US this fall has empty seats.
(I’m a US citizen who has not been back to the states for over 5 years. Going to visit family and meet 2 of my sister’s children.)
P.S. it feels like I need this disclaimer to explain why I would go there.
Correction, you WERE a US citizen!
-ICE, probably.
P.S. it feels like I need this disclaimer to explain why I would go there.
Believe me, I understand. And I'm sure a lot of other people do, too.
I do a lot of online language exchange. I have dual citizenship, but if anyone asks, I'm Canadian.
P.S. it feels like I need this disclaimer to explain why I would go there.
You did. I live here and my reaction to your post was l, "Why the fuck would you willingly come here?"
By then, ypud better delete all your social media post just to make sure you dont lose your citizenship over some random like of a trump meme
You might be in luck, I just rode the AA56 Mia - Heathrow and there were more than a couple rows of seats with one lucky guy. Seats open here and there as well, not a packed flight to the point where overhead bins who are usually crammed were open and some still could fit stuff.
First time in about 10 years traveling I've seen this.
I’ve been lucky with this particular flight before having the entire row, but it’s been years and I’m doing a different airline this time, so hopefully it plays out the same way.
Don't give the fascists a reason to imprison you
Ew gross, you are going to the US, on purpose!? 🤣
More so for people with families. Individuals might be prepared to risk it but no one with kids is likely to.
Good.
American here. I wouldn’t want to visit here either. I do Nazi this as a good destination spot.
so clearly you're doing something about it, right?
Clearly doing as much as you are
Have the day four years death of freedom, liberty, and prosperity you voted for, Americans.
Listen, ketamine billionaires goin around distributing presidency is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not some farcical ignorant ceremony.
Really? Not even countries in open war saw a decline?
Depends how you define "tourist," I suppose.
2025...
I doubt many people are sad that they had to cancel their trip to South Sudan lol
Well, who wants to do holidays is a fascist country, with the constant fear not to see Yellowstone or Niagara Falls, but Guantanamo instead.
The American side of Niagara falls sucks balls anyways.
Pro tip: the American side of Gitmo sucks balls even worse
I am not doubting, but I am surprised that the article does not even mention Israel. I can't see their tourism growing this year
Israel‘s tourism is in a pretty bad slump. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-859360
About 250,000 people in Israel work in the tourism industry, and tourism makes up 2.8% of the Israeli economy, Aronson said. She noted that 2019 was the record year for incoming tourism, with 4.6 million tourists. In 2024, there were about 1 million tourists, and 2025 will probably see about 1.3 million by the end of the year.
According to Ben Ari, one reason tourists don’t come is that they can’t get travel insurance for Israel.
People from countries that have warnings about traveling to Israel can’t get insurance, Aronson said. She added that the ministry is working with foreign governments to reduce travel warnings.
I'm equally perplexed. So tourism to places like North Korea or places in active war like Libya or South Sudan have gone up?
I suspect it's unchanged from its already low number in those places.
During the civil war in the usa in the 1800s, locals would leave their house, bring a blanket, and a picnic basket. They would sit on top of a hill, and watch the battle, like it was entertainment.
Maybe that's making a comeback?
North Korea has just built a beach resort. https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2025/jul/07/kim-jong-un-opens-beach-resort-north-korea-in-pictures
To be fair, hard to decline when it's already low. Even if they did include Israel or other countries mentioned in the replies, it's still totally possible their tourism isn't lower this year than last. Especially places where it was already pretty much 0 or statistically insignificant. Not declining doesn't mean it went up, just means it's at least the same percentage it was last year.
It's because Israel is one of the USA. It was a clarity moment.
The Gaza shore is lovely this time of year, would be nice to visit if not for ALL THE GENOCIDE!!!
Israel has had a ceasefire for a bit. Unlike last year, when it was fighting all the time.
I am surprised Alligator Auschwitz Concentration (soon to be death) Camp has not been touted as a tourist attraction by the white house yet.
Aren't they selling t-shirts? It would not surprise me if a few dumbasses from outside the country would want to visit the place...
Yes. A lot of places are already selling shirts, both for and against it. Here are some images of them.
Netanyahu, formally accused of "war crimes" and "starvation as a method of warfare", also murder and persecution, in no less than the International Criminal Court, is still welcome. He's even called the "greatest man" alive by the POTUS, a close friend whom Netanyahu knows his most intimate secrets. Meanwhile, the embassador of the USA in Mexico cancels visas to complete strangers through Twitter because they voiced their opinions on the way they are treating Mexicans everywhere in the USA, from Mexico. 1+1=2.
How is Israel‘s tourist industry doing at the moment?
Not a shock knowing how things in America have changed.
Ireland mustn't count (small) Their stats only go to may, but month on month they have been seeing a decline in tourism.
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ibt/inboundtourismmay2025/
You would be right to be highly suspicious of this article. I have no doubt that tourism will decline in the US. Bigly. But in no other country by even a tiny bit?
What stats do they cite?
The United States is expected to be the only one out of 184 countries to see foreign visitor spending fall in 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Ok, so right off the bat they mislead with their headline.
Now do those 184 countries the WTTC estimated for include war-torn ones? And they're all expected to do as well or better than last year? Press x to doubt.
This is not a trump effect. I think the US is starting to lose appeal overall, and tourism is a side effect of this. I remember when people were waiting for the next movie, album, tv series from the US, now it all seems meh at anything that comes out of Hollywood is uninteresting.
I'm Irish. Irish people loved to holiday in the States. Now, I hear more and more stories from work colleagues, friends and family where holidays to US are cancelled or reconsidered as ** a direct result** of Trump policies.
Don Glover "good" gif here.