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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] As the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement, a growing number of tourists are being denied entry, detained, or deported upon arrival in the United States—prompting many would-be visitors to avoid travel to the country altogether.
On Saturday (local time), the Financial Times reported that the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) found a 17% decline in the number of Western European visitors who stayed at least one night in the U.S. in March compared to the same month last year.
Visitor numbers from Denmark and Iceland plunged by more than 30%, while arrivals from Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Norway dropped by over 20%. Overall, international arrivals to the U.S. fell by 12% during the same period—the steepest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Last week, French hotel giant Accor also announced that bookings for U.S. trips by European travelers this summer are down 25% from last year.
Industry analysts and tourism professionals cite the Trump administration’s aggressive border policies and increasingly negative global image as major factors behind the decline. Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, border inspections have become more stringent, with reports emerging of travelers from countries like Canada, Germany, and France being detained or denied entry.
There is also growing concern over invasive security checks, including the examination of travelers’ mobile phones and social media accounts, leading in some cases to detentions or deportations.
Experts warn that the downturn in foreign visitors could have long-term repercussions for the U.S. economy. Travel and tourism account for 2.5% of the country’s GDP. According to the ITA, international tourists spent $253 billion (about 360 trillion KRW) in the U.S. last year on travel-related goods and services, supporting nearly 15 million jobs—including hotel staff, taxi drivers, and other service workers.
Canadian tourists alone, who make up the largest share of foreign visitors, spent approximately $20.5 billion (29.6 trillion KRW) last year. A 10% decline in this group would translate to a $2.1 billion (about 3 trillion KRW) loss. Already, flight bookings between Canada and the U.S. are down nearly 70% compared to the same period last year—a dramatic drop, especially when contrasted with the 3.5% reduction in flight availability by airlines.
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
