U.S. immigration authorities are detaining European travelers, weighing on tourism

    Some Europeans are growing cautious about visiting the U.S. due to reports of U.S. immigration authorities detaining travelers for unclear reasons. Several tourists from Europe have been stopped at U.S. border crossings and held in detention facilities for extended periods, even though they had valid permits or visas. For example, a backpacker from Wales was detained for nearly three weeks at the Canadian border, and a Canadian woman with a work visa was held for 12 days at the Tijuana border. German tourist Lucas Sielaff was detained for 16 days after being accused of violating his 90-day tourist permit, despite being within its validity period. In addition, a recent analysis suggests that President Trump's trade war could reduce international tourism to the U.S., particularly by alienating key allies and trade partners. Data from Tourism Economics predicts a 15% decline in Canadian visits in 2025, with overall international travel to the U.S. expected to drop by over 5%. This travel decline could result in a $64 billion reduction in total travel spending in the U.S. in 2025. The report cites several factors for this downturn, including slower economic growth, a stronger dollar, negative perceptions of the U.S., and the impact of higher domestic prices and slower income growth affecting domestic travel. Finally, international travel to the U.S. will also decline due to weaker global economies, a stronger U.S. dollar, and negative sentiments toward the country. 

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