Has a European tourist boycott of the United States begun?
The United States has witnessed a sharp decline in the number of visitors coming from Western Europe, with flights from this region dropping by 17% in March, as part of a general decline in international tourism to America.
Compared to 2024, the number of visitors arriving in the United States by air, sea, and land decreased by 3.3% during 2025, with March recording the largest decline of 11.6% compared to the same month of the previous year.
The largest declines were recorded from Western Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, and Africa, while there were slight increases from the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The data indicates a significant drop in the number of arrivals from the UK, Germany, and Spain, with approximately 45,800 fewer visitors from the UK (-14.8%), 52,200 fewer from Germany (-28.5%), and nearly 20,000 fewer from Spain (-24.5%) visiting the United States in March 2025. This means that these three countries alone recorded a decline of over 118,000 visitors in just one month.
Tourism experts have questioned whether these figures are merely the result of seasonal fluctuations, pointing to the impact of President Donald Trump's policies, particularly regarding tightening immigration measures and economic policies. Professor Stefan Gössling from Linnaeus University in Sweden explained that the new American perspective towards immigrants, foreign students, and even permanent residents (Green Card holders) may make the United States an unwelcoming destination in the eyes of tourists. He noted that the current policies reflect an "antagonistic" image towards immigrants and the United States' traditional partners.
For his part, Professor Richard Butler from the University of Strathclyde in the UK considered that this decline in European tourism may be intentional and represents a kind of conscious reaction to Trump's statements and decisions, similar to the decline in Canadian visits after he imposed tariffs and made statements that Canadians found provocative.
Foreign ministries in major European countries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, have warned their citizens about new American restrictions. Germany has pointed out that obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) does not guarantee entry into the United States. The warning came after three German tourists were denied entry and detained.
Among these cases, two German girls were detained at Honolulu Airport after failing to provide proof of their residence in the United States, despite having an ESTA permit, and they were deported after spending a night in a detention center. In Britain, official travel guidelines to the United States were updated, clarifying that violating the conditions could lead to arrest or detention, and citizens were advised to contact the American embassy before traveling if they had any doubts.
Experts believe that the crisis may worsen in the coming months, especially with the ongoing political tension in America, which could cause lasting damage to the image of the United States as a tourist destination.
Professor Noel B. Salazar from KU Leuven University confirmed that March is not necessarily one of the busiest months of the year for tourists, but the current decline remains striking in light of the current geopolitical context, suggesting that many have simply decided to postpone their visits, or perhaps abandon them altogether.