In March 2025, the number of UK residents visiting the US dropped by 14.3% compared to the same month in 2024. Some analysts believe that this decline may be due to Donald Trump's claims of other countries "cheating" Americans and reports of deportations, which may have deterred potential visitors. However, the dip in March could also be an early warning of a larger decline in summer travel, as tourists typically book holidays months in advance. The US National Travel and Tourism Office reported an even larger drop of 16% in visitors compared to March 2019. Visitors from Western Europe also saw a decrease in March 2025, with German visitors down 28.2% and Spanish visitors down 24.6% compared to 2024. Overall, global travel to the US was down 11.6%. UK residents make up the largest number of overseas visitors to the US, with 3.9 million a year. Travel industry magazine, TTG, published a poll showing that two-thirds of travel agents reported a downturn in bookings, while only 12% of operators said their business had not been affected. Demand for hotel rooms in the US may also be falling, with the strong dollar leading to an 8% drop in visitors in 2024. Research by VisitBritain in 2022 found that international travelers ranked "destination is a welcoming place to visit" as the second most important factor in choosing a holiday. Publicity around the deportation of tourists, including Germans and Australians, has led the UK and German governments to update their travel advice to warn citizens of the risk. This may also harm the appeal of the 2026 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. David Edwards, founder of the Scattered Clouds travel consultancy, said that if the March dip turns into a major fall in UK travelers, some airlines may start cutting routes, which could have an impact on the British economy. The UK travel industry recovered from the Covid pandemic mostly because American tourists flocked to Europe, buoyed by a strong dollar that made hotels more affordable in London and Paris.
