Tariffs lead to sharp drop in foreign travel to US

Foreign travel to the U.S. is on a sharp decline due to tariffs and dampened global sentiment, with rippling effects felt across the country's tourism sector and economy.

International travelers are feeling less inclined to visit the U.S., with recent data highlighting a drop in arrivals. According to the government's travel figures, overall visits from overseas fell by more than 11.6 percent in March compared to the same period last year.

Some of the most significant declines were seen from top tourist-generating countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Korea. Additionally, many of the US northern neighbor, Canada, are also choosing to forgo trips south of the border.

"Lots of Canadians right now, like they ignore visiting here because of the like political tensions, or like economic conditions," said a local resident.

The dent in foreign tourism is taking a direct toll on the U.S. economy. Economists predict that the country could lose tens of billions of dollars in revenue this year alone due to the reduced influx of international visitors.

New York City, which remains the most visited U.S. city, welcomed more than 64 million travelers last year. The tourism-driven spending generated over 50 billion U.S. dollars across the city and state.

However, according to industry insiders, this trend is shifting.

One longtime New York tour operator points to the changes, attributing them directly to President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda.

"In 2024, Canadian student tour groups coming to New York City amounted for gross 35,000 [U.S.] dollars of my business' income. This year, Canadian student tour groups coming to New York City gross 5,000 [U.S. dollars]. That's 30,000 [U.S.] dollars vanishing. Just poof. Up in smoke. And it's because of the tariffs. It's because of the economy. It's because of the whip, the whiplash in federal policy," said Matt Levy, owner of Spread Love Tours.

As the impacts of tariffs and shifting federal policies continue to affect the tourism sector, experts are predicting further challenges.

"It's going to be very expensive for everything for both U.S. consumers, U.S. travelers domestically, as well as international travelers, because everything is going to go up," said Richie Karaburun, associate professor of NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality.

Tariffs lead to sharp drop in foreign travel to US

Tariffs lead to sharp drop in foreign travel to US

The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the Ninth Special Olympic Games will conclude on Monday, with a full-dress rehearsal for the closing ceremony held Saturday night at Shenzhen Sports Center.

Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the rehearsal seamlessly integrated artistic performances with core ceremonial elements, including the entrance of sports delegations, flag reception, flag raising, and the singing of national anthem.

The ceremony aims to highlight themes of inclusion and unity, underlining the spirit of perseverance, solidarity, and determination. Messages of harmony between disabled and non-disabled individuals, shared values across the Greater Bay Area, and collective progress were central to the evening's presentation.

A total of 600 performers are participating in the closing ceremony, including about 130 persons with disabilities. Organizers worked to ensure a supportive environment by pairing each visually impaired performer with a non-disabled guide to assist during rehearsals and performances.

Behind the scenes, thoughtful design turns inclusiveness into action. Though visitors will see a simple, elegant stage, hidden modifications make it fully accessible. Traditional stairs have been replaced with ramps on both sides of the stage to accommodate wheelchair users and all performers, and anti-slip carpets have been laid throughout to ensure safety, especially for performers with mobility challenges.

Technical teams are also fine-tuning every detail, including stage visuals and lighting effects.

A total of 7,824 athletes from 34 delegations registered for this year's Games, held for the first time jointly across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area. The competition includes 1,876 events in 46 sports, with six winter sports already concluded. Highlights also include 131 events in 11 mass-participation sports and 599 events in nine Special Olympics sports.

Under the slogan "Passionate National Games, Vibrant Greater Bay Area," the Games are also being used to promote innovation in assistive technologies. A range of advanced products will be put into use during competition, helping move technologies from laboratories into real-world testing and market application.

Full-dress rehearsal for National Para Games' closing ceremony held in Shenzhen