The United States has recently extended its social media vetting process to all visa categories, including H-1B visas and travel authorization applications, for citizens of the 42 countries that can enter the US without a visa. This decision has sparked concerns about the health of the tourism industry, which is already facing a decline in foreign arrivals.
According to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office, there has been a 2. 5% decrease in foreign arrivals to the US in 2025 (until October) compared to the same period in 2024. In addition, there has been a 1. 7% decrease in tourist visas issued during this time. The decline in arrivals is particularly evident in Canada, with a 21. 3% drop in visitors after President Donald Trump made critical remarks about the country’s high tariffs and threatened to annex it.
A report released by a Congressional standing committee has warned that this decline in Canadian tourists, who brought in $20. 5 billion to the US economy in 2024, could negatively impact American businesses. The decrease in border crossings has also been felt in northern states such as New York, Washington, and Idaho, resulting in lower sales between January and October 2025.
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has called this decline in Canadian tourists a “wake-up call” and has predicted a loss of $12. 5 billion in international spending for the US economy this year. The report also highlights a decrease in inbound travelers from other key markets such as the UK, Germany, and South Korea. With the travel and tourism sector making up 7% of all exports and nearly 3% of the US GDP, supporting 9. 5 million jobs, this decline could have a significant impact on the economy. The US Travel Association estimates that a 1% decrease in international visitor spending would result in a loss of $1. 8 billion in export revenue annually.
The decline in tourists has been attributed to several factors, including a strong dollar, making US vacations expensive for foreign visitors, and concerns about politics and border crossings. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has also been cited as a reason for the decline in travel to the US. In 2019, the administration implemented a policy requiring social media information from non-immigrant visa applicants as part of enhanced screening and vetting for national security purposes. The detention of tourists and non-citizens, including those who entered the country legally, has also contributed to the decline in arrivals.
Moreover, the US has recently introduced a non-refundable “visa integrity fee” of $250, making the visa application process more expensive. This fee has been criticized by 21 travel associations, who fear that it will discourage millions of potential visitors. They argue that cost is one of the top deterrents to traveling to the US.
Despite these challenges, upcoming events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America250, and the 2028 Summer Olympics present an opportunity