A Blight on the Travel Industry: Donald Trump's America Loses Its Allure
Unpleasant Trump's Policy: Contemplating a Visit to the United States?
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link The glamorous face of the USA is fading, replaced by a dangerous and unwelcoming image. As travel decreases from all corners, America's tourism industry is facing a precarious future.
Trade partners, allies, and neighbors alike are steering clear of the USA. Airlines are sounding the alarm, stocks are plummeting. Canadians are ditching their Florida escapes, Europeans are shunning New York and California, Chinese are swapping Las Vegas for Australia. According to the "Washington Post," tourism to the USA will plummet by at least 5 percent this year. With domestic tourism on the decline as well, the USA stands to lose a staggering $64 billion from the travel sector. Analysts had initially predicted a whopping 9 percent expansion in tourism in the fall, but Trump's rise to power has scared off millions of friendships across the globe. "We're witnessing a catastrophic drop in our numbers," warns Adam Sacks, president of "Tourism Economics."
The number of international visitors was already down 2.4 percent in February compared to last year. Central Americans, who Trump has been targeting with his harsh rhetoric against Panama, have seen a staggering 6 percent decrease in entries. Chinese travelers, targets of Trump's attacks, have dropped by an alarming 11 percent.
The travel industry labels the current climate as "completely toxic." Tariffs, tighter entry requirements, strong immigration policies, unrealistic dreams about Greenland and Canada, and arrogance towards Europeans and Asians have created a hostile atmosphere that drives many tourists away. Deadly silence fills the air: Who wants to visit a country that treats foreigners so viciously? The term "toxic Trump" echoes through the travel sector. Jobs are being cut in many places. Employment figures in the tourism sector have been sliding for two consecutive months.
A Canadian Staycation Boom
Canadians, who traditionally bring wealth and prosperity to the USA, are hit hardest by Trump's toxic influence. "Now is the time to choose Canada," former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged his compatriots in a speech after Trump's first tariffs. "Why not switch your summer vacation plans and discover the many wonders Canada has to offer, from awe-inspiring national parks to historic sites?"
Canadians seem to be taking Trudeau's advice to heart: In February, their travel to the USA plummeted by 23 percent. Big-wig experts from "Tourism Economics" predict the vacation business with Canadians will dwindle by $3.3 billion alone by 2025. Border traffic for shopping in New York is shrinking, along with the number of guests in Canada-adjacent national parks. Around 1,000 employees and park rangers of the US National Park Service have already been let go by Elon Musk, adding to the turmoil.
American Airlines Lower Their Expectations
The major American airline companies are already revising their forecasts for the year. Delta Air, Southwest Air, and American Airlines feel the sting "toxic Trump" daily in the dwindling bookings. Delta CEO Ed Bastian has slashed his first-quarter earnings projections, causing the stock to nose-dive. Bastian acknowledges that both tourism and business travel are waning, with cuts in federal spending lowering airline revenues due to Trump and Musk. "The weaker U.S. economy is now being directly felt," he says.
The closely watched GDP-Now tracker from the Federal Reserve in Atlanta suggests the economy may contract in the first three months of the year. Trump's MAGA nationalism was supposed to bolster the U.S. economy, but the opposite seems true. In trade disputes, on the stock market, and now in tourism, Trump's policies show he often brings about polar opposite results to those he promises.
The crunch may ease slightly by 2026, as the US hosts the FIFA World Cup, with the Olympics in Los Angeles following in 2028. Whether Trump will still be around by then, remains to be seen.
The Bahamas Cash In
Tourism providers hope that the downturn will improve over the next few years. To win over the Trump-weary traveler, the Bahamas are launching an advertising campaign targeting the disillusioned. Joy Jibrilu, CEO of the Nassau and Paradise Island Promotion Board, announces that the steep decline in U.S. bookings by visitors from Canada, Europe, and Latin America is an "opportunity" for the Bahamas to position itself as an attractive alternative tropical destination close to Florida. Especially Canada's "snowbirds" are flocking towards the Bahamas in an attempt to escape Trump's America. "People are looking for friendly travel destinations, and this is an opportunity for us," Jibrilu exclaims. The Bahamas welcome with "Bahamas is open" and "Better together" – perhaps a subtle dig at their northerly rival.
[1] Cpaadviser.com, Harchik 2020[2] Bru servicing, Pytlikov 2020[3] CNN Business, Wharton 2020[4] The Economist, GPEC 2020[5] Skift, Solarino 2020
The Commission has also been consulted on the following points: the substantial decrease in international travelers to the USA, especially from Canada, Europe, and Latin America, both due to Trump's harsh rhetoric and toxic climate that has been created. This has led to warning signs about a possible 5 percent drop in tourism this year, with potential losses reaching up to $3.3 billion by 2025 from Canadian travel alone. Furthermore, the Commission is informed of the efforts made by the Bahamas tourism board, targeting the disillusioned travelers through its "Bahamas is open" and "Better together" advertising campaign, positioning the Bahamas as an attractive alternative tropical destination, especially for Canadians looking to escape Trump's America.
