Trump meets travel executives to address declining international tourism

President Donald Trump met with executives from major travel companies, including American Airlines, Marriott, MGM Resorts, and Carnival, to discuss strategies for reversing a decline in international visitors to the United States.

While the FIFA World Cup provided a temporary boost to travel spending in June 2026, Department of Commerce data shows that international arrivals from January to July 2026 fell by 4.7% compared to the previous year. Total international visitors in 2025 were approximately 68 million, a 5.5% decrease from 2024. The U.S. Travel Association has set a goal of reaching 100 million annual visitors to compete with global leaders like France.

Industry representatives identified several factors contributing to the decline, including long visa interview wait times, rising airfares, stricter immigration policies, and travel restrictions. Additionally, a bond requirement for visitors from 50 countries reportedly led to an 80% drop in arrivals from those nations. Tourism from Canada also saw a 20% decrease last year, attributed to reactions against tariffs and political rhetoric, impacting border states and destinations like Las Vegas.