Tourism to the US has declined significantly, with experts attributing the drop to Donald Trump's policies. The number of international travelers has decreased by over a million, impacting both air and road travel. The tourism industry, particularly in places like Las Vegas, is feeling the effects, with some dubbing it the 'Trump slump'. Meanwhile, Swedish travelers can benefit from cheaper flights as airlines lower prices to fill seats.
Tourists Shun the US Due to Trump's Policies
Tourists Shun the US Due to Trump's Policies
Travel to the US has decreased compared to last year, with many blaming the waning interest on Donald Trump.
Several media outlets have reported throughout the year and summer that the number of travelers to the US has declined. Last week, the American publication The Economist presented figures showing that over a million fewer international travelers have arrived at US airports this year, a decrease of nearly four percent compared to 2024.
Between May and July this year, the decline was most pronounced, with inbound travel dropping by almost six percent. And it's not just air travel that's affected—car travel between Canada and the US fell by nearly 40 percent in July alone, according to AP.
Experts Blame Donald Trump
The decline coincides with Donald Trump's return to the White House, which several experts believe has negatively impacted tourism. In an AP article, Julia Simpson, CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, commented:
– In other countries, they roll out the welcome mat, but the US government puts up a 'closed' sign, she says, echoing other experts who have said that Trump's trade tariffs and hardline immigration policies have negatively affected the image of the US.
In Las Vegas—where tourism has decreased by as much as a tenth compared to last year—they call the declining tourism the 'Trump slump'. They partly blame protests against the immigration agency ICE in Los Angeles.
– The lifeline for Las Vegas is Southern California, says Ted Pappageorge from Nevada's largest union for restaurant workers to Time Magazine.
– What we hear from our members is that the raids and crazy trade tariffs are keeping people away. If you tell the whole world they're not welcome, then no one will come here.
Cheap US Flights for Swedes
One effect of the decreased interest in foreign tourism in the US is that travel prices have plummeted. Travel agency giant Ticket tells Privata Affärer that bookings to the US have dropped by nearly 23 percent compared to last year.
– It's likely that airlines are currently facing lower demand and are therefore lowering prices. This is something we usually see when flights still need to be filled, and then there is a chance for travelers to make real bargains, says Tiyoneh Jah, communications manager at Ticket.