The hardline immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration are causing an unexpected backlash for the U.S. tourism industry. Concerns about tightened entry screenings, detentions, and deportations are deterring tourists and green card holders from around the world from visiting the United States, leading to warnings that the tourism industry, a core pillar of the U.S. economy, is faltering.

Plummeting Foreign Arrivals: A Warning Sign in Statistics

According to recent reports from foreign media outlets such as USA Today and Bloomberg, the number of foreign arrivals in the U.S. from January to March 2024 decreased by 4.4% compared to the same period last year. In March alone, the decline reached 10%. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports, saw its foreign passenger numbers drop by approximately 5% to 189,973 from April 1 to May 7 this year compared to the same period last year.

The dominant analysis is that this decline in foreign arrivals is directly linked to the U.S. immigration authorities' intensified entry screenings. Entry screening officers are reportedly asking more aggressive questions than before and applying stricter standards for visa reviews. There has also been a sharp increase in cases where applicants' mobile phones and social media (SNS) accounts are checked during the screening process, leading to detentions or deportations based on this information. Bloomberg reported that "approximately 37,000 people were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and then deported from the beginning of 2024 until April 22," a figure that amounts to about 450 people per day.

 
Economic Repercussions Feared: Tourism Accounts for 2.5% of GDP

Experts warn that a decrease in international visitors could have a serious long-term impact on the U.S. economy. This is because the tourism industry is a key sector, accounting for 2.5% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The U.S. Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) had projected that the number of foreign visitors would increase significantly in 2024, after reaching 72.4 million in 2023, a 9.2% increase from the previous year (66.3 million). However, following the Trump administration's tightened immigration policies, there has been a wave of cancellations across all tourism segments, including business, leisure, and family travel.

Professor Hicham Zaddoud of Bovard College at the University of Southern California expressed concern, stating, "Tourists who were coming to the U.S. are now looking for other destinations. This will affect repeat visits and customer acquisition costs." He added, "Everything is shaking." Cancellations have a ripple effect, negatively impacting all sectors related to tourism, such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation.

 
Massive Economic Losses: 15 Million Jobs and Billions of Dollars in Reduced Spending

In 2023, foreign tourists visiting the U.S. spent an estimated $2.9 trillion (approximately 4,000 trillion Korean Won), creating about 15 million jobs, including indirect service positions such as hotel staff and taxi drivers. Considering these economic effects, a decrease in foreign tourists will inevitably lead to significant economic losses.

For example, Canadian travelers, who represent the largest proportion of annual visitors to the U.S., spent approximately $20.5 billion (about 29.6 trillion Korean Won) in 2023 alone. If the number of Canadian travelers decreases by just 10%, it would result in a loss of $2.1 billion (about 3 trillion Korean Won). This is not just a numerical loss; it's a serious issue that could lead to job contraction in related industries and a decline in local economies.

 
The Dilemma of the Trump Administration's Immigration Policy and the Tourism Industry

Throughout his presidency, President Donald Trump emphasized strong immigration control, pushing controversial policies such as border wall construction and bans on entry for citizens of certain Muslim-majority countries. While these actions were framed under the "America First" agenda, aiming for national security and curbing illegal immigration, they also negatively impacted the U.S.'s international image and soft power. In particular, as the barrier to visiting the U.S. has risen for travelers and uncertainty has grown, tourists are increasingly choosing other countries.

The tourism industry is a crucial growth engine and job creator for the U.S. economy. If the Trump administration's immigration policies continue, there are growing concerns that it could lead to not only short-term declines in tourism revenue but also a devaluation of the U.S. national brand and long-term economic stagnation. This goes beyond just a problem of fewer tourists; it raises fundamental questions about America's openness and international appeal.

 
The Future of the U.S. Tourism Industry?

If current trends continue, the U.S. tourism industry will likely face severe damage. This could affect not only directly related industries like hotels, airlines, and restaurants but also a wide range of sectors such as souvenir sales, transportation services, and cultural events. It is time for the U.S. government to seek balanced policies that achieve its goals of national security and immigration control while also protecting the tourism industry, a vital pillar of economic growth. Otherwise, the warning of "not going to the U.S." could become a reality, causing irreversible losses to the American economy.

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