New York City is expecting a significant decrease in international tourists this year, with a projected 17 percent drop due to concerns over travel to the US. The city’s tourism agency, New York City Tourism and Conventions, has revised its estimated number of foreign visitors from 14. 6 million to 12. 1 million, while the total number of tourists, including domestic visitors, is expected to decrease by 3. 5 million.

One factor contributing to this decline is the current administration’s strengthened border policies and “America First” rhetoric, which has led many potential tourists to express concerns about traveling to the US. For example, Karen Hyf from Toronto, Canada, stated that she and her husband cancelled their vacation to Florida due to trade tensions between the two countries.

Last year, Canada was the top source of foreign visitors to the US, with over 20. 4 million visits and $20. 5 billion in spending. However, after the US imposed tariffs on Canada, there was a 35 percent decrease in Canadians driving across the border and a 20 percent decrease in air travel to the US in April. Additionally, a survey found that 60 percent of Canadian adults are likely to avoid traveling to the US this year due to political tensions, and 40 percent have already cancelled planned trips and will travel domestically instead.

The decline in tourism to the US is compounded by the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to decreased flights and hotel stays. Furthermore, several countries have updated their travel advisories or issued guidance to citizens traveling to the US, with many tourists from the UK expressing concerns about visiting.

As a result, the industry monitoring group Tourism Economics has revised its travel forecasts for all visitors to the US, predicting a 5. 1 percent decrease in demand for hotels and an $18 billion drop in spending in 2025. Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, attributes some of the negative sentiment among international travelers to “geopolitical friction.

The US Travel Association also estimates that it will take until the last quarter of 2025 for inbound international visitor numbers to reach pre-pandemic levels and until 2026 for spending by international visitors to return to normal. This is significant, as international visitors are essential to the US economy, spending more and supporting jobs and businesses in every corner of the country.

In New York City alone, international visitors spent over $26 billion in 2024, with a total of $51 billion spent by all visitors. However, it is estimated that overall spending by tourists will decrease by $4 billion this year. The number of visitors from China, one of the top spending countries for international travel, has also decreased, with a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization finding that Chinese tourists spent $46 billion on international travel in 2023.

Most US airlines have also adjusted their financial forecasts for 2025, with Delta, American Airlines, and Southwest anticipating a slow year ahead.