Trump says steep drop-off in international travel to U.S. is 'not a big deal'
U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed the steep drop in international tourists to the U.S. during a scrum with reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
“It’s not a big deal,” he responded to a reporter in an exchange shared by CBS News on X . She had remarked that “there are fewer people suddenly that want to travel to the United States.”
He suggested citizens from other countries were probably displaying national pride. “There is a little nationalism there, I guess, perhaps.”
Then he shifted to other topics such as the impact of China and Japan keeping their currencies low relative to the U.S. dollar, making it hard to see American tractors there.
But the reporter persisted and asked whether incidents of international travellers being detained at U.S. entry points might be deterring tourists.
Trump continued to downplay the issue: “No, we treat our tourists great. We are the tourism capital of the world. There’s no place like this and there may be a little bit of nationalism, but I doubt it.”
President Donald Trump told CBS News' @nancycordes he thinks one of the reasons tourism to the U.S. is down could be due to "nationalism" on the part of tourists from other countries, though also said he “doubts it.”
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 24, 2025
“There’s a little nationalism there, I guess, perhaps,” he… pic.twitter.com/kXW9V4JJzY
The steep decline in visitors to the U.S. has been attributed to a combination of factors , including Trump’s tariffs, confrontational rhetoric, travel advisories issued by other countries, and — as noted in the Oval Office exchange — high-profile detentions of foreign visitors.
Canadians cancelling trips to U.S. amid fear of difficulty at U.S. border
Several countries, including Canada , Germany, France and the U.K., have updated their travel advisories, warning citizens about potential difficulties when visiting the U.S.
The recent shift is pronounced among travellers from Canada and Western Europe , historically the largest sources of foreign visitors to the U.S. For instance, there were 17 per cent fewer land border crossings by Canadians in March (nearly 900,000 fewer travellers), with 31.9 per cent fewer returning visitors by land and 13.5 per cent fewer by air .
Drop in visitors to U.S. is worldwide
In March 2025, there was an 11.6 per cent year-over-year decrease in overseas visitors to the U.S., contributing to a projected 5.5 per cent annual decline for 2025, according to Tourism Economics. This follows a 3.3 per cent global visitor drop (air, sea and land) in early 2025 compared to 2024 .
“ Travel to the U.S. from almost everywhere is falling under Trump,” wrote the WWU Center for Economic and Business Research in an April 20 post to X that included a chart showing declines from many parts of the world.
Travel to the U.S. from almost everywhere is falling under Trump. If sustained, the drop could translate to billions of dollars in lost tourism revenue, industry experts project. https://t.co/aM22LnOJ6C pic.twitter.com/4qzQV8oTG5
— WWU Center for Economic and Business Research (@PugetSoundEF) April 20, 2025
Tourism is a crucial economic sector for U.S.
But tourism is a vital sector of the U.S. economy , supporting millions of American jobs and contributing significantly to tax revenues and local economies. Even a 10 per cent drop in Canadian tourism could result in a $2.1-billion loss in spending and put 140,000 jobs in the U.S. hospitality sector at risk.
So, despite Trump’s response, industry experts and economic analysts have warned that the decline in tourism could have substantial economic repercussions, with estimates of up to $90 billion in lost revenue for the U.S. economy this year.
Tourism industry groups and economic analysts have sounded the alarm, warning that the combination of trade hostilities and a hostile travel environment could destabilize the entire U.S. tourism economy. The United States Tour Operators Association has specifically cautioned that continued tariff hikes and political tensions could cost the industry up to $64 billion this year, with a projected 9.4 per cent decline in international visitors for 2025.
The anticipated decline in tourism has already prompted airlines, such as Air Canada , to cut flights to U.S. destinations due to decreased demand, further compounding economic losses in affected regions.
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