Latest news with #NationalTravelAndTourismOffice
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Overseas travel to US continues to tumble as Trump imposes travel bans, tariffs
Travel to the US tumbled in July with the latest in a slew of monthly declines as the Trump administration imposes strict curbs on travel and pursues tough negotiations on trade. The 3.1 per cent drop was fuelled by a steep pullback from Germany, China and Switzerland, which were down 14.7 per cent, 13.8 per cent and 12.7 per cent respectively, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, a government agency that works with the Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection. The latest data does not include travel from Canada and Mexico, the two largest feeder markets to the US, but lately both have seen steep drops. Canadians in particular have been cancelling trips to the US, offended by President Trump's suggestion that they be annexed to the US as the 51st state. In June, flights from Canada were down 22 per cent and car crossings were down 33 per cent, according to a report by travel trade publication Skift. April represents the only exception to the downward trend, possibly because Easter fell in April instead of March. Overseas visitors increased 0.4 per cent in April, but have been down since then. Among the top 20 countries, six increased their travel to the US in July, including Japan by 9.1 per cent, Dominican Republic, by 7.3 per cent, Spain by 6.7 per cent Italy, by 6.3 per cent, Israel by 6.1 per cent and Ireland up by 2.9 per cent, according to NTTO. Spending on promoting the US as a destination was decimated after the 'Big Beautiful Bill' was passed in April. Brand USA, a public-private partnership that promotes travel in the US, saw its federal funds cut by 80 per cent this year. International travellers are especially coveted because they spend more and stay longer. Every 40 international visit supports one US job, according to NTTO. Last week, the largest hotel company in the world, Marriott International, cut its full year forecast for revenue and profits on slowing travel demand for its properties in the US.
Skift
11-08-2025
- Business
- Skift
8 Out of Top 10 Countries for U.S. Tourism Showed Declines in July
Tourism to the U.S. from overseas has declined for 5 of the past 6 months. Higher visa fees and other restrictions could make it worse. Overseas visits to the U.S. dropped 3.1% in July, extending a slide that began earlier this year, according to preliminary government data released Monday. The National Travel and Tourism Office reported that arrivals from Western Europe fell 4% year-over-year, driven by a steep 14.7% drop from Germany. Other major declines came from China (down 13.8%), Switzerland (down 12.7%), the Netherlands (down 7.2%), and India (down 5.5%). Visits have fallen in five of the past six months, with April the one exception, when there was a 1% gain. The data excludes arrivals from Canada and Mexico, the two largest inbound markets for the U.S. In June, air travel by Canadians to the U.S. dropped 22% and car crossings dropped 33%, the sixth straight month of declines, according to Statistics Canada. Overall, eight of the top 10 overseas markets for U.S. tourism saw year-over-year declines in July. The only gains came from Japan and Italy. UK: – 0.4% India: -5.5% France: -0.2% Japan: + 9.1% Germany: – 14.7% Brazil: -1.7% South Korea: – 0.8% China: – 13.8% Italy: + 6.3% Colombia: – 0.3% The declines have coincided with increased global tensions related to rhetoric from the Trump administration and tough negotiations over tariffs. In addition, there were several isolated but highly publicized reports of tourists being detained at U.S. checkpoints and the U.S. has resurrected travel bans and other travel restrictions. The recently passed tax and spending law – 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' – includes an 80% reduction in federal funding for Brand USA, which markets the U.S. abroad as a tourist destination.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US loses business travellers with demand dampened by political turmoil
Business travel to the US fell 9% in April as companies and workers grappled with economic uncertainty and anger over the Trump administration's tariffs and border policies. The National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary figures on Thursday showing the number of airline and ship passengers who entered the country last month using business visas. The Middle East was the only region that saw higher business travel to the US, with arrivals up 9.4% compared to April 2024. But that didn't make up for big losses from other regions; the number of business travellers from Western Europe fell 17.7%, for example. The new government data didn't include people coming from Canada for business or who travelled by land from Mexico. Mexican arrivals by air for those holding business visas were down 11.8%, the government said. And overall travel from Canada also fell in April. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian residents' return trips by air from the US fell 20% in April, while return trips by car were down 35%. Business travel to the US held up better than leisure travel in the first quarter of the year. According to US government data, more than 1.2 million travellers entered the US using business visas in the January-March period, up 7% from the year before. The number of travellers using tourist visas fell 6%. But that flipped in April, as the late Easter holiday likely encouraged more leisure travel. Travel to the US by international travellers holding tourist visas was up 13.8% in April. It's unclear if that trend will hold. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, said an analysis of online travel agency data indicated that advance bookings from Europe to 14 US cities in June, July and August were down 12% from those same months last year. Multiple US airlines have pulled their financial forecasts for the year, citing uncertainty and weaker demand from lower-fare leisure travellers. Many industry experts think business travel to the US will continue to decline in the coming months. Related Bruce Springsteen slams Trump in three powerful speeches at EU tour kick-off in Manchester Trump mocks France over World War II victory celebrations in Qatar army speech Leslie Andrews, the global travel leader for real estate company JLL and a board member at the Global Business Travel Association Foundation, said she thinks corporate travel to the US will slow in the second and third quarters of the year as the full impact of economic and geopolitical volatility sets in. 'What I am hearing is, 'Things were good in the first quarter,' but in the second quarter it's a matter of, 'Must you take that trip?'' Andrews said. 'They're pulling in the reins a bit to make sure only purposeful travel is happening as things grow and evolve.' BT4Europe, a business travel association, said companies are increasingly wary about unpredictable procedures to enter the US and the risk of detention, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals or those who have voiced political opinions on social media. Kevin Haggarty usually travels to the United States from Canada several times a year to attend trade shows in Atlanta or Las Vegas or to visit suppliers in Los Angeles. But his concerns about crossing the border will keep him from making those trips this year. Haggarty, who owns a company that sells gifts and souvenirs, said Canadian retailers no longer want US-made merchandise. His US suppliers are struggling to stay afloat due to US tariffs on products made in China. Above all, he's concerned about reports of international travellers being detained at the US border. 'Honestly, my nervousness and reluctance to cross into the US stems from that more than any hostility to the American market,' said Haggarty, who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Global Business Travel Association CEO Suzanne Neufang said a poll of more than 900 of the association's members last month showed nearly one-third expected a decline in global travel volumes this year. Canadian members were the most pessimistic, with 71% saying they expect a decrease in travel this year, Neufang said. 'The uncertainty is unnerving for a business travel sector that likes to be safe and likes to be efficient,' she said. A drop-off in business trips would represent a setback for the US travel industry and cities that host international conventions and trade shows. The $1.6 trillion global business travel sector was finally returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. US business travel spending reached pre-COVID levels in 2023, Neufang said, while the rest of the world achieved that last year. Brett Sterenson, the president of Hotel Lobbyists, a Washington firm that helps groups book hotels for meetings and conferences, said he was losing international business as some countries warn travellers not to visit the US. Related Trump wants to hear how allies plan to boost defence spending, NATO envoy says 'Show us something special,' Trump says to Syria as he agrees to lift raft of sanctions US government cuts are also hurting business, Sterenson said. He works with several groups that offer international exchange programs through the State Department. The programs welcome travellers from Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere and share best practices on things like energy policy and environmental stewardship, he said. But with funding cuts, that part of his business is down 75%. 'These exchanges were monumentally useful in spreading goodwill, but also in educating developing nations on good governance,' Sterenson said. Haggarty, in Canada, said he cancelled a trip to a trade show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and said several retailers he works with also pulled out. He's now looking to England, France, Spain and other markets for goods to sell. 'It's unfortunate. It's much easier to bring products to Canada from the US, but we're in a corner,' he said. 'I want people to know just how much damage this administration is doing to their relationships globally.'
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
US lost business travelers in April as economic anxiety and border detentions cooled demand
Business travel to the U.S. fell 9% in April as companies and workers grappled with economic uncertainty and anger over the Trump administration's tariffs and border policies. The National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary figures Thursday showing the number of airline and ship passengers who entered the country last month using business visas. The Middle East was the only region that saw higher business travel to the U.S., with arrivals up 9.4% compared to April 2024. But that didn't make up for big losses from other regions; the number of business travelers from Western Europe fell 17.7%, for example. The new government data didn't include people coming from Canada for business or who traveled by land from Mexico. Mexican arrivals by air for those holding business visas were down 11.8%, the government said. And overall travel from Canada also fell in April. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian residents' return trips by air from the U.S. fell 20% in April, while return trips by car were down 35%. Business travel to the U.S. held up better than leisure travel in the first quarter of the year. According to U.S. government data, more than 1.2 million travelers entered the U.S. using business visas in the January-March period, up 7% from the year before. The number of travelers using tourist visas fell 6%. But that flipped in April, as the late Easter holiday likely encouraged more leisure travel. Travel to the U.S. by international travelers holding tourist visas was up 13.8% in April. It's unclear if that trend will hold. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, said an analysis of online travel agency data indicated that advance bookings from Europe to 14 U.S. cities in June, July and August were down 12% from those same months last year. Multiple U.S. airlines have pulled their financial forecasts for the year, citing uncertainty and weaker demand from lower-fare leisure travelers. Many industry experts think business travel to the U.S. will continue to decline in the coming months. Leslie Andrews, the global travel leader for real estate company JLL and a board member at the Global Business Travel Association Foundation, said she thinks corporate travel to the U.S. will slow in the second and third quarters of the year as the full impact of economic and geopolitical volatility sets in. 'What I am hearing is, 'Things were good in the first quarter,' but in the second quarter it's a matter of, 'Must you take that trip?'' Andrews said. 'They're pulling in the reins a bit to make sure only purposeful travel is happening as things grow and evolve.' BT4Europe, a business travel association, said companies are increasingly wary about unpredictable procedures to enter the U.S. and the risk of detention, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals or those who have voiced political opinions on social media. Kevin Haggarty usually travels to the United States from Canada several times a year to attend trade shows in Atlanta or Las Vegas or to visit suppliers in Los Angeles. But his concerns about crossing the border will keep him from making those trips this year. Haggarty, who owns a company that sells gifts and souvenirs, said Canadian retailers no longer want U.S.-made merchandise. His U.S. suppliers are struggling to stay afloat due to U.S. tariffs on products made in China. Above all, he's concerned about reports of international travelers being detained at the U.S. border. 'Honestly, my nervousness and reluctance to cross into the U.S. stems from that more than any hostility to the American market,' said Haggarty, who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Global Business Travel Association CEO Suzanne Neufang said a poll of more than 900 of the association's members last month showed nearly one-third expected a decline in global travel volumes this year. Canadian members were the most pessimistic, with 71% saying they expect a decrease in travel this year, Neufang said. 'The uncertainty is unnerving for a business travel sector that likes to be safe and likes to be efficient,' she said. A drop-off in business trips would represent a setback for the U.S. travel industry and cities that host international conventions and trade shows. The $1.6 trillion global business travel sector was finally returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. business travel spending reached pre-COVID levels in 2023, Neufang said, while the rest of the world achieved that last year. Brett Sterenson, the president of Hotel Lobbyists, a Washington firm that helps groups book hotels for meetings and conferences, said he was losing international business as some countries warn travelers not to visit the U.S. U.S. government cuts are also hurting business, Sterenson said. He works with several groups that offer international exchange programs through the State Department. The programs welcome travelers from Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere and share best practices on things like energy policy and environmental stewardship, he said. But with funding cuts, that part of his business is down 75%. 'These exchanges were monumentally useful in spreading goodwill, but also in educating developing nations on good governance,' Sterenson said. Haggarty, in Canada, said he canceled a trip to a trade show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and said several retailers he works with also pulled out. He's now looking to England, France, Spain and other markets for goods to sell. 'It's unfortunate. It's much easier to bring products to Canada from the U.S., but we're in a corner,' he said. 'I want people to know just how much damage this administration is doing to their relationships globally.'
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
US lost business travelers in April as economic anxiety and border detentions cooled demand
Business travel to the U.S. fell 9% in April as companies and workers grappled with economic uncertainty and anger over the Trump administration's tariffs and border policies. The National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary figures Thursday showing the number of airline and ship passengers who entered the country last month using business visas. The Middle East was the only region that saw higher business travel to the U.S., with arrivals up 9.4% compared to April 2024. But that didn't make up for big losses from other regions; the number of business travelers from Western Europe fell 17.7%, for example. The new government data didn't include people coming from Canada for business or who traveled by land from Mexico. Mexican arrivals by air for those holding business visas were down 11.8%, the government said. And overall travel from Canada also fell in April. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian residents' return trips by air from the U.S. fell 20% in April, while return trips by car were down 35%. Business travel to the U.S. held up better than leisure travel in the first quarter of the year. According to U.S. government data, more than 1.2 million travelers entered the U.S. using business visas in the January-March period, up 7% from the year before. The number of travelers using tourist visas fell 6%. But that flipped in April, as the late Easter holiday likely encouraged more leisure travel. Travel to the U.S. by international travelers holding tourist visas was up 13.8% in April. It's unclear if that trend will hold. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, said an analysis of online travel agency data indicated that advance bookings from Europe to 14 U.S. cities in June, July and August were down 12% from those same months last year. Multiple U.S. airlines have pulled their financial forecasts for the year, citing uncertainty and weaker demand from lower-fare leisure travelers. Many industry experts think business travel to the U.S. will continue to decline in the coming months. Leslie Andrews, the global travel leader for real estate company JLL and a board member at the Global Business Travel Association Foundation, said she thinks corporate travel to the U.S. will slow in the second and third quarters of the year as the full impact of economic and geopolitical volatility sets in. 'What I am hearing is, 'Things were good in the first quarter,' but in the second quarter it's a matter of, 'Must you take that trip?'' Andrews said. 'They're pulling in the reins a bit to make sure only purposeful travel is happening as things grow and evolve.' BT4Europe, a business travel association, said companies are increasingly wary about unpredictable procedures to enter the U.S. and the risk of detention, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals or those who have voiced political opinions on social media. Kevin Haggarty usually travels to the United States from Canada several times a year to attend trade shows in Atlanta or Las Vegas or to visit suppliers in Los Angeles. But his concerns about crossing the border will keep him from making those trips this year. Haggarty, who owns a company that sells gifts and souvenirs, said Canadian retailers no longer want U.S.-made merchandise. His U.S. suppliers are struggling to stay afloat due to U.S. tariffs on products made in China. Above all, he's concerned about reports of international travelers being detained at the U.S. border. 'Honestly, my nervousness and reluctance to cross into the U.S. stems from that more than any hostility to the American market,' said Haggarty, who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Global Business Travel Association CEO Suzanne Neufang said a poll of more than 900 of the association's members last month showed nearly one-third expected a decline in global travel volumes this year. Canadian members were the most pessimistic, with 71% saying they expect a decrease in travel this year, Neufang said. 'The uncertainty is unnerving for a business travel sector that likes to be safe and likes to be efficient,' she said. A drop-off in business trips would represent a setback for the U.S. travel industry and cities that host international conventions and trade shows. The $1.6 trillion global business travel sector was finally returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. business travel spending reached pre-COVID levels in 2023, Neufang said, while the rest of the world achieved that last year. Brett Sterenson, the president of Hotel Lobbyists, a Washington firm that helps groups book hotels for meetings and conferences, said he was losing international business as some countries warn travelers not to visit the U.S. U.S. government cuts are also hurting business, Sterenson said. He works with several groups that offer international exchange programs through the State Department. The programs welcome travelers from Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere and share best practices on things like energy policy and environmental stewardship, he said. But with funding cuts, that part of his business is down 75%. 'These exchanges were monumentally useful in spreading goodwill, but also in educating developing nations on good governance,' Sterenson said. Haggarty, in Canada, said he canceled a trip to a trade show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and said several retailers he works with also pulled out. He's now looking to England, France, Spain and other markets for goods to sell. 'It's unfortunate. It's much easier to bring products to Canada from the U.S., but we're in a corner,' he said. 'I want people to know just how much damage this administration is doing to their relationships globally.'
