[Text/Observer Network Qi Qian] After Donald Trump took office as the US President, he caused chaos in the transatlantic relations between the US and Europe. According to a report by the Financial Times on April 12, due to the Trump administration's tightening of immigration and entry policies, as well as its pressure on European countries regarding tariffs and security threats, the US tourism industry has suffered a severe impact, with the number of European tourists traveling to the US plummeting drastically.

Data from the US International Trade Administration shows that the total number of overseas visitors to the US fell by 12% year-on-year in March, marking the largest drop since March 2021 when the tourism industry was mired in difficulties due to pandemic restrictions. Meanwhile, the number of Western European tourists staying in the US for at least one night dropped by 17% compared to the same period last year. Among them, the number of tourists from some countries such as Ireland, Norway, and Germany fell by more than 20%.

Canadian tourists like to visit places like Las Vegas, but the number of outbound trips this year has also decreased.

Data shows a significant decline in the number of European travelers to the US. Financial Times chart (same below).

The report suggests that this trend poses a threat to the US tourism industry, which accounts for 2.5% of the US GDP. Some airlines and hotel groups have warned that demand for transatlantic travel is weakening, and Europeans are developing "negative emotions" toward traveling to the US.

"In just two months, (Trump) has ruined America's reputation, and the reduction in EU tourists visiting the US is proof," said Paul English, co-founder of US travel website Kayak. "This is another heavy blow to the US economy and also means damage to America's reputation. It may take generations to repair."

Adam Sachs, editor-in-chief of the international tourism journal *Tourism Economics*, stated that data from American airports, Canadian land ports, and other institutions all indicate that "something is clearly happening... This is a reaction to Trump." Previously, *Tourism Economics* estimated that the number of international tourists to the US would increase by 9% this year, but after Trump announced the imposition of additional tariffs, the forecast was revised downward to a decrease of 9.4%.

The Financial Times mentioned that transatlantic routes are among the most profitable in the world, and after the pandemic, airlines saw a surge in demand for these flights, particularly for premium seats. However, this trend has changed since Trump took office.

Last week, Virgin Atlantic issued a warning that demand for transatlantic flights from American consumers would "moderately" slow down. Ben Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, stated on Wednesday that due to a "slightly soft" market, the airline had to reduce the price of economy class transatlantic tickets. Glenn Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines, said that the company's booking volume from Canada had "significantly" decreased.

The number of foreign passengers on flights to the US from many regions has decreased.

Naren Sham, CEO of travel booking site Omio, said that in the first quarter, the cancellation rate for bookings to the US was 16% higher than the previous year, while the cancellation rate for tourists from the UK, Germany, and France was even higher, reaching 40%.

Sébastien Bazin, CEO of French hotel giant Accor, said that reports about the detention of people at the US border have had a "negative impact" on tourists traveling to the US. Last week, Accor stated that the number of European tourists booking trips to the US this summer had fallen by 25%.

According to a report by Agence France-Presse on March 20, a French scientist was recently refused entry into the US when attending a conference there. The French government stated that the reason was that US immigration officials at the airport found chat records criticizing the Trump administration on his phone during inspection. The US official denied this accusation, stating that the scholar possessed confidential information related to sensitive scientific research and violated confidentiality agreements.

The experience of this French scientist is not an isolated case. The Financial Times pointed out that after Trump took office, tightening immigration and entry policies led to hostility from US border guards towards大批European and Canadian tourists upon entry.

Currently, several European countries have updated their travel warnings in response to this change. The UK government noted that US border authorities "strictly formulate and enforce entry rules," and warned travelers that they "may be arrested or detained if they violate regulations." Some European countries, including Germany and Denmark, have also issued special warnings to transgender travelers.

The report highlights that the decline in international tourist numbers to the US underscores the potential impact of the Trump administration's aggressive border policies on the economy.

Data shows that last year, international tourists spent over $253 billion on travel and related goods and services in the US, accounting for more than 19% of the country’s $1.3 trillion travel expenditure in 2024. The US Travel Association warned of a "worrisome trend" and attributed it to factors including the "decline in the popularity of the US."

Marta Soligo, an expert in tourism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said recently: "Tourists are under pressure and do not want anything to make their journey more difficult. People are seriously considering whether they should visit the US, which is a major concern for the US tourism industry."

Gloria Sink, a British artist and writer, canceled her planned trip to San Francisco in May after seeing reports about tourists being detained. Sink, a transgender woman, expressed concern that her identity might attract "unwanted attention" at the border. "The border seems unsafe. To be honest, I don't know if I can return after going to the US."

Donald Trump's various policies, including tariffs, have prompted Paul Harrington, a retired British person living in Paris, to cancel his trip to Washington DC next year. He said: "I am currently inviting my American friends to Paris. I won't set foot in the US until Trump leaves office."

This article is an exclusive contribution by Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7492678007190979082/

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