‘The real challenge is the inconsistency’: Trump’s chaotic messaging tanks international tourism to America

Business travel to the United States from Europe dropped sharply in April 2025, showing a major decline linked to the perceived instability and unpredictability of the Trump administration. Bookings fell by 26 percent compared to April 2024.

This is according to data from HotelHub, a business travel platform, that was shared with Politico. This large decrease reflects a wider trend of declining positive opinions about America under the current administration. The overall drop in international business travel hotel bookings to the U.S. reached 19.3 percent in April, while total U.S. bookings, including domestic travel, fell by 15.6 percent.

Some European countries saw especially steep declines. Germany had a 30.4 percent drop, followed by France at 22.4 percent, and the United Kingdom at 14.4 percent. The effect was not limited to Europe. Mexico and Canada, important trade partners facing high tariffs and tense relations with the U.S., experienced significant decreases, with business bookings down 18.8 percent and 18.1 percent, respectively.

The isolationism of the US is pushing away travel

These drops are not just part of a general decline in travel. Overall European bookings for the first four months of 2025 only fell by 1.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024. The data indicates that businesses are actively looking for other destinations that offer more stability.

European companies redirected business trips to several countries between January 1 and April 30. Norway saw a 23.3 percent rise in European bookings, Turkey a 19.3 percent increase, Australia an 18.9 percent increase, Japan a 10.1 percent increase, and India a 7.2 percent increase. The dramatic move away from the U.S. starkly contrasts with the growth seen in these alternative markets.

The decline is directly connected to the Trump administration’s policies and statements. The introduction of widespread tariffs has created uncertainty and led companies to explore other markets. The administration’s criticism of traditional allies and reports of poor treatment of travelers have further damaged the U.S. image as a business and travel destination. Industry analysts note that the inconsistent messaging from the U.S. government worsens the perception of instability, making it easier for businesses to choose other locations.

This all comes after Trump’s travel ban which likely did not help things. We’ve also heard horror stories from tourists who visited the U.S. and had a bad time.

The effect on U.S. tourism goes beyond business travel. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates a $12.5 billion loss in international visitor spending in 2025, a 6.9 percent drop from $181 billion in 2024 to $168.7 billion in 2025. This decline matches observations from major hospitality companies.

Airbnb reported fewer international travelers coming to the U.S., though they noted that domestic travel remains steady. Similarly, Booking.com also pointed to slower growth in U.S. tourism compared to other regions, with only small single-digit growth compared to stronger growth in Europe and Asia.

The U.S. tourism industry depends heavily on domestic travel, which makes up nearly 90 percent of the market. This domestic sector is expected to stay stable at around $1.5 trillion, despite the sharp drop in international tourism.