The United States is experiencing a sharp and sustained slump in international tourism, as political rhetoric, tougher immigration policies, tariffs, and travel bans combine to erode the country's image as a welcoming destination.
Tourism Economics, a travel research firm, projected a steep 8.2 percent fall in international arrivals into the U.S. for 2025, with total inbound spending expected to decline by 4.2 percent -- a loss of 8.3 billion U.S. dollars in visitor spending.
Tariffs had already driven up costs and created uncertainty around imported goods, and the latest slump in international travel is making it even harder for local businesses to stay afloat. The situation has fueled fears of further job cuts in hotels, gift shops and dining businesses.
Restaurants, even in some of Los Angeles' most popular districts, are struggling to cope with rising operating costs and fewer foreign tourists.
"We hope that the tariffs are just temporary. It seems like it's this game that's being played right now, and unfortunately there are real life ramifications from this game. We are holding tight, just because we don't know what's gonna happen," said Pierro Sanchez, general manager of a restaurant named Baja Cantina.
The weakening outlook has been compounded by more complicated visa procedures and heightened policy uncertainty, reinforcing concerns that the United States is becoming harder and less inviting to visit.
Hicham Jaddoud, a professor of Hospitality and Tourism at the Bovard College of the University of Southern California, said many travelers now choose other destinations as the country's image has been undermined.
"We do have a PR problem, mainly from the tourism and hospitality area, where we struggle with the U.S. image right now. A lot of consumers have moved to different destinations," he said.
The professor added that cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami are among the hardest hit, forcing local tourism sector to redirect marketing away from global travelers toward domestic visitors.
"They can't rely on international tourism, advertising or marketing dollars have shifted from international to local, and we don't know how long that is going to last. And we all know about how some Canadians are refusing to come here, even if things go back to normal, they are refusing to come back here," he said.
US tourism slumps as policies tighten, image worsens
US tourism slumps as policies tighten, image worsens
