Page 6 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2025 GRAND VOYAGE
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RON & MARY’S EDITOR’S NOTE













































            The trump effect on us tourism



               The travel industry doesn’t operate in a       visitors, sent 20.4 million travelers to the U.S.
            vacuum. Global perception matters, and Amer-      in 2024, generating $20.5 billion and support-
            ica’s standing is sinking fast. While some argue   ing 140,000 American jobs. But as trade dis-
            it’s too soon to gauge the full impact of Trump-  putes escalate and officials encourage
            era policies, one thing is clear: international   domestic tourism, the U.S. stands to lose bil-
            travelers are looking elsewhere.                  lions. The European Union is also seeing wan-
               No amount of marketing can fix a country       ing interest, as visa policies tighten and
            that is actively alienating the world. If the ad-  diplomatic relations fray. Meanwhile, Mexican
            ministration continues to berate allies, impose   travelers, facing stricter border policies and
            reckless tariffs, and cozy up to authoritarian    rising hostility, are opting for other destina-
            leaders, the U.S. risks more than a tourism       tions.
            slump—it could become a pariah in the global          Competing nations are capitalizing on this
            travel market.                                    decline. Mexico, France, China, and even Rus-
               The numbers speak for themselves.              sia are positioning themselves as safer, friend-
            Canada, the largest source of international       lier alternatives. The U.S. isn’t just losing












            6    WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SPRING  2025
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