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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Economic uncertainty driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariff policies is contributing to a noticeable decline in travel demand to the United States. This trend is particularly evident among travelers from countries most affected by the tariffs.
On May 27 (local time), the British newspaper The Guardian cited data from the hotel search site Trivago, reporting that travelers from nations severely impacted by Trump’s tariffs are increasingly excluding the U.S. from their list of overseas travel destinations.
According to Trivago, U.S.-bound bookings from Japan, Canada, and Mexico have dropped by double-digit percentages since President Trump announced a 25% tariff in February. Canada and Mexico were among the first countries targeted by the tariffs. In Canada, anti-American sentiment escalated after Trump’s controversial remark about making Canada the “51st state,” sparking consumer boycotts.
Bookings from German travelers to U.S. hotels also fell, though by a single-digit percentage. As the largest economy in the European Union, Germany has been repeatedly threatened with increased tariffs by the Trump administration. However, tensions eased somewhat after plans for a 50% tariff were temporarily postponed.
Official statistics corroborate these trends. Data released by the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that international visitor arrivals in the U.S. in March fell by 11.6% year-over-year.
Conversely, the UK—having a trade agreement with the U.S. that minimizes tariff impact—has not experienced significant changes in bookings to the U.S.
Within the U.S., economic concerns are also dampening overseas travel. Trivago data indicates that American travelers are increasingly opting for more affordable domestic destinations or lower-tier hotels rather than international trips.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
