Last year was telling for U.S. travel, as the number of overseas visitors dropped by several million. Further decline was largely driven by the Canada-U.S. travel boycott, which appears far from over. Despite these setbacks, President Donald Trump is receiving praise from the White House for doing “more for American Tourism than anyone.”
Not everyone agrees with the White House’s sentiments, though. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), for example, said that the country “is now at a crossroads in its tourism development.” The council went on to note that the U.S. is at risk of losing its reputation as the world’s largest travel market to China. WTTC also warned the U.S. to issue a “warmer welcome” at the border or see its travel rival take over the tourism market by 2030.
Frequent travelers largely disagree with the White House’s praise as well and have taken to online platforms to share their opinions on the matter. Below, we’ll take a look at the current state of U.S. travel and tourism and the notably sour online response to those White House comments.
White House Praises President’s Tourism Efforts, Despite What The Numbers Show
While the WTTC reportedly believes the U.S. needs a bit of a perception makeover to boost tourism, Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly tells The Independent that there’s nothing to worry about.
“President Trump has done more for American tourism than anyone, including by making our cities safe and beautiful again for all to enjoy and bringing major events like the Los Angeles Olympics and FIFA World Cup to the United States,” Kelly said. “His America First agenda has restored our country’s place as the leader of the free world once again — making it the best place to live or visit.”
While Kelly’s remarks paint a certain positive picture, the reality is that U.S. tourism is set to face additional travel boycotts ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, the numbers since 2025 don’t inspire confidence in the U.S. tourism department. Here’s a quick look at those numbers:
- Foreign visitor spending in the U.S. fell by 4.6 percent.
- Foreign tourist visits to the U.S. fell by 5.5 percent.
- China received around 150 million inbound visitors in 2025, while the U.S. received around 68 million.
In response to those statistics, Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the WTTC, said:
“To avoid losing its leadership position, the U.S. must invest in promoting its attractiveness, both in international markets and during the summer of football; change perception and position the U.S. as a welcoming destination; and grow international visitor spend, encouraging stopovers and new experiences.”
Naturally, Guevara isn’t the only person who believes U.S. tourism is in trouble. Here’s a look at what some travelers are saying.
On the Subreddit thread, r/BoycottUnitedStates, the response to the White House’s comments is far from favorable. Many were quick to point out that the reported 5.5% drop in foreign tourist visits is likely even worse than it looks.
“I suspect they are counting border crossings for the 5.5% drop. That catches all the people who have to cross for work (I know people who live in Canada, and cross to the US daily to work in a hospital just across the river), as well as all the other crossings, like shipping, and every time a car moves from Detroit to Windsor during assembly,” one Redditor wrote. “When you look at border crossings, Canada dropped by 10-15%. But when you look at figures like [the] number of times a credit card with a Canadian address gets used inside the US, the number is a lot closer to [a] 25-33% reduction.”
Other commenters took a sarcastic approach, writing things like, “It’s a start. But 5.5 percent is too low. The rest of the world can do better.” And, “It is actually a lot more than 5.5% if you calculate percentages the Trump way. Maybe 20%? 50%? 100%?”
Several comments also noted that “done more for American tourism” should be “done more harm.”
“Correction. He has done more *to* American tourism than anyone,” one Redditor wrote. Another added, “He has done a lot regarding tourism — Canadians for sure are looking elsewhere now. He has a unique marketing method – anger all foreign countries…”
Many in the subreddit expressed that they will continue to spend their money in places like Asia and Europe instead. Between the ongoing 14-month Canada-U.S. travel boycott and the worrisome U.S. travel statistics from 2025, many are left wondering what the future of travel looks like for the once great destination.
What Comes Next For U.S. Tourism Under President Trump
With uncertainty looming over the U.S. travel industry, it’s unclear what direction U.S. travel will take in the future. Recently, it was reported that the U.S. is facing new threats as border rules in South Korea have eased for high-spending tourists. Meanwhile, the U.S. borders continue to be a point of contention and concern for many travelers. That said, some are remaining optimistic about the future.
On the WTTC website, for example, Jason Wynn, CEO of Chase Travel, said, “… With the U.S. set to host a series of global events through 2028, we have an extraordinary opportunity to welcome new visitors and bring travelers from around the world closer together, fostering meaningful connections across countries and communities.”
