Eduardo Sifuentes
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preCharge News TRAVEL — Caroline Smith, an accounting director from Verona, New Jersey, wasn’t surprised when she and her family bumped into neighbors while vacationing in Rome over Easter. Two other families from their town were also exploring Italy during the same break—a vivid illustration of a booming trend: Americans are traveling internationally in droves.
In contrast, inbound travel to the United States has hit a troubling slump. According to new figures from the International Trade Administration, foreign visitors arriving by air dropped nearly 10% in March compared to last year and nearly 13% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with only 4.54 million people landing on U.S. soil.
Meanwhile, U.S. citizens flying abroad rose 1.6% from last March, and 22% from 2019, reaching 6.56 million travelers.
International travel to and from the U.S. pre- and post-pandemic
Total U.S.-citizen departures and non-citizen arrivals in the months of January, February and March
Arrivals in 2025 are below pre-pandemic levels, but departures are up.
Non-citizen arrivals
U.S.-citizen departures
Why Foreign Visitors Are Avoiding the U.S.
A $50 Billion Imbalance Threatens the Travel Economy
The widening gap between what Americans spend abroad and what international visitors spend domestically could soon exceed $50 billion, creating major headwinds for the U.S. economy. Travel is a trillion-dollar American industry, and earlier this year, the U.S. Travel Association projected a 12% rise in international spending stateside.
But if the downward trend continues, the United States risks losing $21 billion in travel exports this year alone—a direct hit to GDP, JPMorgan warned.
The causes are complex. A lingering trade war, incidents involving detentions of foreign visitors, political rhetoric from former President Donald Trump, and the soaring U.S. dollar have made the United States less attractive to tourists. Even top travel executives are raising alarms.
“We’ve gotta make the U.S. a place they want to go,” said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, urging policymakers to streamline the visa-approval process.
Airlines Feel the Impact of the International Retreat
Europe, Canada, and Business Travel Take a Hit
The slump is already hitting major airlines hard. United Airlines reported a 6% year-over-year decline in bookings from Europe and a 9% drop from Canada. Delta Air Lines noted similar patterns, suggesting a broader hesitancy among foreign travelers.
Moreover, there’s growing concern that international business travel—a critical driver of long-term economic relationships—is also being affected.
“Business people don’t ink deals in the face of uncertainty,” said Samuel Engel, senior VP at consulting firm ICF.
The White House, however, remains optimistic. A spokesperson emphasized efforts to boost America’s global image, pointing to major events like the World Cup and Olympics slated to be hosted in the U.S.
Americans’ Wanderlust Could Soften the Blow
Baby Boomers and Families Lead a New Era of Global Travel
Despite domestic worries, American travelers are compensating for the foreign shortfall. Families, retirees, and affluent individuals are splurging on international adventures more than ever.
Smith, who has two young children, explained, “I traveled around Europe a lot before having kids, and now that they’re older, we’re making up for lost time.” Their recent trips include Spain in 2023 and Portugal in 2024.
Grace Cular Yee, a Virginia-based travel adviser, said post-COVID milestones like college graduations are prompting families to prioritize overseas experiences. TV shows like The White Lotus and Emily in Paris are also fueling wanderlust.
United Airlines revealed that premium cabin sales have surged 17% this year, with international demand up 5%. Delta’s president Glen Hauenstein reported that cash sales for international travel are outperforming last year’s numbers through summer and into fall.
“Sales are strong for international through September and October,” Hauenstein said, attributing the boom partly to wealthy baby boomers eager to seize travel opportunities while they can.
Still, some caution lingers. Economic turbulence could cause softer corporate travel bookings, and signs of consumer spending fatigue are beginning to show. Yet for now, the labor market remains solid, and the appetite for global exploration among Americans is undiminished.
“The way people manage uncertainty is they hold back on decisions,” Engel noted—but right now, the decision to travel seems easier than ever for many.
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Associated Press, CNBC News, Fox News, and preCharge News contributed to this report.
