U.S. tourism is in a 'Trump slump' that could push World Cup fans away

"And yet, the U.S. tourism industry is worried. While the rest of the world saw a travel bump in 2025, with global international arrivals up 4%, the U.S. saw a downturn. The number of foreign tourists who came to the United States fell by 5.4% during the year-a sharper decline than the one experienced in 2017-18, the last time, outside the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that the industry was gripped by fears of a travel slump."

"Policy stances from the Trump administration on everything from immigration to tariffs, along with currency swings and stricter border controls, have seemingly proved a turnoff to travelers from other countries, especially Canadians-the single largest source of foreign tourists for the United States. Canadian travel to the U.S. fell by close to 30% in 2025. But it is not just visitors from Canada who are choosing to avoid the United States. Travel from Australia, India, and Western Europe, among others, has also shrunk."

"The impact of Donald Trump's policies are perhaps most pronounced when looking north of the U.S. border. According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canadian visitors generated approximately 20.4 million visits and roughly $20.5 billion in visitor spending in 2024, supporting about 140,000 American jobs. The economic impact of fewer Canadian visitors in 2025 affects mostly border states that depend heavily on people driving across the border for retail, restaurants, casinos, and short-stay hotels."

The United States experienced a 5.4% drop in foreign tourists in 2025 while global international arrivals rose 4%. Canadian visits fell nearly 30% in 2025 after generating 20.4 million visits and roughly $20.5 billion in spending in 2024, supporting about 140,000 American jobs. Policy positions on immigration, tariffs, currency swings, and stricter border controls deterred travelers from Canada, Australia, India, and Western Europe. Border states that rely on cross-border driving for retail, restaurants, casinos, and short-stay hotels have felt acute economic effects. Evidence suggests the tourism decline in 2025 could continue into 2026.

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