The United States is expected to see fewer international tourists arriving this year, with many would-be visitors supposedly staying away amid worries about the Trump administration's unfriendly immigration policies.
In Washington D.C., tour guide Trevor Comeau has noticed the change firsthand. Most of his guests are from abroad, but lately, he's become increasingly aware that some potential tourists feel too anxious to come.
"[Some people say:] 'I don't want to come here. I'm afraid.' And I don't love that, because they shouldn't be, not in D.C.," he said.
The economic impact of having fewer feet on the ground will also be felt, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, who project that international spending in the U.S. is expected to drop by nearly 7 percent this year, the only country among the 184 surveyed to expect a decline.
The overall number of international arrivals to the U.S. is forecast to plummet by nearly 9 percent, with the sharpest decrease being from visitors from neighboring Canada, which has long provided the largest source of foreign tourists.
Back in March, the then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly dissuaded Canadians from visiting the U.S. after President Donald Trump threatened 25-percent tariffs on Canadian imports.
Meanwhile, sweeping U.S. tariffs around the world, tough talk on immigration and mass deportations, and stricter visa requirements have all discouraged many foreign tourists from planning trips to the country.
Given the negative perception of these policies overseas, Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination DC, Washington's main marketing organization, says it has now become a tougher sell to entice people to the city. However, he noted measures are in place to improve the travel experience for those who do come.
"We're anticipating and looking forward to key journalists coming into the city, coming to the United States, sharing the experience of going through customs and the ease of going through customs because there's a lot of concern about travel to the U.S.," he said.
"The good news is that there are other markets that are showing some progress in terms of interest in coming to the United States such as Mexico, Central America, Brazil, and of course, Europe. Other components of our city that are not necessarily tied to the federal experience -- nightlife, museums, monuments, memorials, the theater, the food scene, how walkable Washington is, how green it is," he said.
Despite the current tensions, proud locals like Comeau still hope others can come and share in all their home has to offer.
"If you put aside the politics of it all, you're coming to a culturally rich city that's worth your time -- you shouldn't be afraid, because we're going to welcome you in," he said.
Int'l tourists steering clear of US due to unfriendly immigration policies
