In 2025, the US tourism sector will face a 7pc decline in international visitor spend in 2025, particularly from Canada and Europe, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
The council now forecasts that it will take until at least 2030 for US tourism to recover to pre-Covid levels.
WTTC data shows the country is set to lose $12.5bn (€11.2bn) in travel revenue in 2025, with visitor spending estimated to fall under $169bn (€152m). Visitor spend will be down 22pc since tourism reached its peak in the US in 2019.
The effects won’t be felt evenly across the US, with the $12.5bn deficit disproportionately affecting major US gateways as well as tourism areas along the Canadian border.
To complicate matters further, proposed legislation that would raise the cost of the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which is required of all travellers who plan to come to the US from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program from $21 (€19) per traveler to $40 (€36).
In contrast to other markets, Irish visits to the USA in April were 34pc ahead of last year and back to 97pc of pre-Covid levels.
WTTC President and Chief Executive Officer Julia Simpson shared: “Other countries are really rolling out the welcome mat, and it feels like the US is putting up a closed sign at their doorway What we are seeing now is a sentiment shift that’s really very sad. Legislators need not confuse the tourism sector with issues around illegal immigration. A sophisticated system can balance both without turning [the country]into an island that no one wants to visit. The US travel and tourism sector is the biggest sector globally compared to any other country, worth almost $2.6 trillion (€2.3tn). The Japanese used to visit the US a lot, but the strong dollar made it quite an expensive place. Same with Europeans.”
“The thing about tourism is it’s extremely resilient. If you push the right buttons, it will bounce back. But increasing the cost of an ESTA will only deter people further.” ndia is gaining, the Middle East is gaining, China is gaining, Europe is doing quite well. It’s only Americans that are being left behind and losing out.”
