US Travel Ban Spurs $21B Tourism Revenue Loss

President Donald Trump's expanded travel ban now targets up to 36 countries, predominantly in Africa and the Caribbean, requiring these nations to tighten travel documentation policies or face restrictions on travel to the U.S. Industry leaders like the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) warn that such sweeping bans create uncertainty and could severely damage the U.S. travel economy by deterring both inbound and outbound tourism. The U.S. is already experiencing a significant decline in international visitors, with a 14 percent drop noted in March 2025 compared to the previous year, leading to an estimated potential loss of $21 billion in travel-related exports if the trend continues. States such as California have seen sharp decreases in key tourist groups, including Canadians, as travelers opt for alternative destinations like Canada, Egypt, and Latin America. Experts attribute the downturn to diplomatic tensions, restrictive immigration policies, tariffs, and a growing perception of the U.S. as an unwelcoming destination, which risks undermining the country's status as a global tourism hub. Travel industry representatives urge the administration to seek collaborative solutions that protect national security without broadly restricting travel and harming economic interests.