FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A growing number of foreign visitors are canceling trips to the United States, threatening to cost the U.S. tourism industry up to 64 billion dollars this year as trade tensions escalate.
Industry analysts project a 9.4 percent decline in international arrivals in 2025, reversing earlier forecasts of growth.
Government data shows overseas visits to the U.S. dropped 11.6 percent in March, while Canadian cross-border travel fell 24 percent in February.
Political tensions between Washington and Ottawa have led many Canadians to sell their U.S. vacation homes and reconsider travel plans.
Traditionally popular destinations like Florida and Arizona are feeling the impact as fewer Canadians winter in the U.S.
European travelers are also wary. Some governments have updated travel advisories, warning of potential complications for visitors.
California, the nation’s top travel destination, saw a 17.5 percent increase in international tourism spending last year, but growth is slowing. Businesses in Los Angeles, where tourism supports over 500,000 jobs, report declining demand.
Major airlines and tour operators warn that continued declines could destabilize the industry ahead of global events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Tourism officials are working to counter negative perceptions, but experts caution that reversing the trend will require significant policy shifts.