Conflicts with adjacent nations, hurdles to entrance, and heightened chances of expulsion: The policies implemented under President Trump impact the U.S. tourism sector significantly. Stay updated here.
Herbert Bopp has no immediate plans to visit the United States. The German expatriate residing in Canada mentions on his blog, "For many years, we enjoyed visiting our southern neighbor." However, since President Trump took office in January, Bopp decided to suspend all trips to the U.S. as an act of protest.
“He aims to turn Canada into the 51st state, slanders our prime minister, and mocks anything associated with maple syrup,” states Bopp. “We’re expected to back someone like that with our funds.” Canadian dollars ? Certainly not."
Recently, Trump initiated a trade conflict with his northern ally, threatening to impose tariffs on Canadian imports .
The individual, who is 76 years old, isn’t alone in his lack of interest in visiting the United States soon. Data provided by Statistics Canada indicates that the number of Canadian travelers crossing back into their country via car from the U.S. in February saw a decline of 23%, compared to figures from the previous year.
The U.S. Travel Association, a nonprofit group that represents the American travel sector, found it necessary to highlight the significance of Canadian tourists for the U.S. economy amid rising tensions. The association stated in a press statement, “Canadians form the leading contingent of international visitors coming to the United States.”
The previous year saw approximately 20.4 million visitors from a nearby nation contribute a total of $20.5 billion throughout their visit, which helped sustain around 140,000 American jobs, as stated by the organization. Upon seeking additional remarks, a spokesperson for the group opted not to comment.
The US tourism sector anticipates a surge.
Over the coming ten years, the U.S. tourism sector aims for an upsurge. The nation will be serving as the host for various events. FIFA World Cup In 2026 (shared with Canada and Mexico), the Winter Olympics are scheduled for Los Angeles, which will host the Summer Olympics in 2028. Additionally, the Rugby World Cup is set to take place in the United States in 2031.
Prior to Trump assuming office at the beginning of this year, the U.S. tourism sector had already experienced a decline in foreign visitors. Data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office indicates that the country recorded slightly more than 72 million international entries into the United States in 2024. This number stood at approximately 80 million for both 2018 and 2019. The figures show a notable decrease even before his administration began impacting travel trends. Both France and Spain Meanwhile, they have surpassed the USA as the globe's most sought-after travel destinations.
When considering who visits the United States, Canadians lead as the largest group of travelers, followed closely by Mexicans, with nearly 17 million individuals. Next come tourists from the UK (around 4 million), India (about 2.2 million), and Germany (approximately 2 million). The tourism sector aims to maintain these substantial visitor counts; however, this ambition coincides unfortunately with an untimely situation.
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has indicated plans to potentially prohibit entry into the United States for citizens of nations failing to comply with their stringent vetting requirements. Additionally, they have implemented tighter visa regulations along with enhanced scrutiny at points of entry and an increased rigor in enforcing deportations.
A number of German nationals faced denial of entry and were detained when they arrived in the United States. Jessica Brösche, a 29-year-old tattoo artist from Berlin, found herself in ICE custody for over six weeks after she tried to enter the U.S. through Tijuana, Mexico, under the jurisdiction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Consequently, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin is currently updating German travelers about the more stringent regulations "A criminal record in the U.S., providing incorrect details about your reason for staying, or even exceeding your visa duration slightly at any point of entering or leaving could result in being arrested, detained, and deported," according to the ministry’s website.
The German government also issued a warning to trans individuals And for nonbinary citizens and residents intending to visit the U.S., they have been advised that individuals with an "X" marker on their passports or those whose recorded gender does not match their gender at birth should reach out to a U.S. embassy or consulate prior to travel.
As one of his initial official actions, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January that formally acknowledges only two biological genders In the United States — males and females.
U.S. travel companies observe declining interest.
Timo Kohlenberg, who leads America Unlimited—a German travel company specializing in tours to the USA and Canada—has observed a decline in interest among Germans planning vacations in the United States. Since March, he reports a significant decrease in bookings. Customers are frequently opting for destinations like Canada instead, often mentioning U.S. policy issues as their reason.
Martin Lohmann from the research body Forschungsgemeinschaft Urlaub und Reisen, however, believes this won’t become a notable tendency. With extensive experience analyzing tourist behavior over many years, he asserts that most travelers typically do not let political occurrences sway their choice of holiday location. “Four years under Trump were already behind us,” notes Lohmann, adding that these circumstances did not significantly affect tourism.
Across various U.S. locations that attract many Canadian tourists, circumstances have notably changed.
For instance, in Vermont—a state bordering Canada—local media outlets have covered numerous instances of Canadians deciding against visiting the United States as a show of opposition to Trump and his policies.
Blogger Herbert Bopp is one of those individuals. He empathizes with Americans who disapprove of the president's policies but are simultaneously impacted by Canada’s boycotts, despite this, he aims to "make a statement" by avoiding travel to the United States—at least for now. The article was originally in German.
Author: Jonas Martiny