Page 6 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2025 GRAND VOYAGE

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