Financial Times: Europeans cancel trips to the US.
RT reported on April 13, citing the Financial Times, that the US is witnessing a sharp decline in tourist arrivals from Europe amid rising political tensions and concerns about hostile border activities under President Donald Trump.
President Trump has pursued a hardline approach to global affairs, recently imposing a series of new tariffs on U.S. trading partners. While he temporarily suspended these tariffs for most countries for 90 days, China was not exempt. Since then, Washington and Beijing have repeatedly retaliated with tariff increases, rattling global stock markets.
According to Paul English, co-founder of the travel website Kayak, who spoke to the Financial Times, Trump's policies have damaged consumer confidence worldwide.
"In just two months, Trump has destroyed America's reputation, clearly demonstrated by the sharp drop in EU tourists to the U.S.," English said. "This is not just another blow to the American economy, but a reputational loss that could take generations to recover from."
According to a report by the International Trade Administration (ITA), the number of overnight visitors from Western Europe to the United States decreased by 17% in March compared to the same period last year. Visitors from countries such as Ireland, Norway, and Germany saw declines of more than 20%.
Several European countries have updated their travel advisories, warning of increased risks when traveling to the United States.
The total number of international visitors to the U.S. fell 12% in March – the sharpest decline since 2021, when the tourism industry was still impacted by pandemic-related travel restrictions, according to data from the ITA.
According to the Financial Times, this downward trend poses a threat to the US tourism industry, which accounts for approximately 2.5% of the country's total GDP of $29 trillion.
Oxford-based research firm Tourism Economics has lowered its forecast for international visitors to the US in 2025 by 18%, predicting a 9.4% decline following Trump's announcement of "Liberation Day" tariffs last week. Negative sentiment, border policies, unfavorable exchange rates, and economic uncertainty are all expected to negatively impact the US tourism industry.
Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, noted that Trump's harsh remarks targeting Canada, the EU, and Greenland had "seriously impacted sentiment in the United States, and consequently, tourism."
Since taking office, the US president has repeatedly called for the annexation of NATO allies such as Canada and the Danish territory of Greenland.
