Marcelina Gómez, a 51-year-old waitress at a Japanese restaurant in Anaheim, expresses concerns over the current summer season, noting it is not as strong as summers past during her six-year tenure in the industry.
“You can tell there are fewer people on the weekends. Last year, we could barely keep up, and this year they haven’t hired more waiters,” Gómez states, highlighting the slowdown in foot traffic just a few meters from Disneyland, a major tourist attraction.
Many businesses in the Los Angeles metropolitan area are experiencing similar difficulties, with reports indicating a general slump in tourism during the peak season.
The ongoing climate of fear stemming from immigration raids in the area is believed by some, including Gómez, to be a contributing factor to the noticeable decline in visitors.
This downturn can be evidenced by the immigration lines at various U.S. airports and tourist hotspots nationwide.
Policies enacted by President Donald Trump have played a significant role in diminishing the attractiveness of the United States as a travel destination, driving international tourists to seek alternatives this summer.
Amanda Hite, president of STR, an industry analysis firm, commented on the broader implications for the hotel sector.
“Uncertainty and inflation, along with tough competition and changing travel patterns, have caused lower demand,” Hite explains.
Recent statistics reveal that annual growth in the hotel industry has decreased by 0.6%, a consequence of uncertainty driven by President Trump’s tariff war. Consumers are now more cautious with their spending, and there has been a noted drop in international visitors due to the America First measures put forth by the White House.
The city of Las Vegas, renowned for its casinos and vibrant nightlife, is particularly vulnerable to the decline in international tourism. Officials reported receiving just over three million tourists in June 2025, a staggering drop of 400,000 visitors compared to the same period last year, amounting to an 11.3% year-over-year decline.
This trend is corroborated by data from the local airport, which experienced a 6.3% decline in travel during the same month compared to June 2024. Local resident Jake Broe captured his concerns in a video, observing the unusually quiet airport environment.
“I’ve not seen another person since I parked. This is really weird,” Broe commented, reflecting the emptiness of the eighth busiest airport in the nation.
Last year, the airport welcomed five million visitors, but it has since recorded five consecutive months of decreased passenger numbers. This decline has left both residents and tourists observing the once-bustling Strip, which now appears half-deserted.
In response to the downturn, several casinos and hotels have begun implementing strategies to attract visitors, such as reducing room prices and waiving certain fees.
Additionally, some establishments are not charging for parking and are offering late check-out services at no extra cost.
As of June, hotel occupancy across the city dropped nearly 2%, though New York remained the most visited destination. However, Houston, Texas, saw a drastic 20% decline during the same timeframe due to various factors, including a surge in hotel demand in June 2024 following Hurricane Beryl.
Furthermore, the major airports in Miami, Florida, have reported a downturn for the first time since 2017, maintaining a negative trend in passenger numbers after years of growth.
The first half of this year registered 400,000 fewer passengers than the same period in 2024, resulting in a 1.5% decrease.
Local restaurants are suffering from one of their worst summers in years, citing uncertain tariff policies and heightened immigration enforcement targeting Latinos as key contributing factors.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the onset of this decline can be traced back to March when it was indicated that the U.S. economy was trending adversely under the Trump administration’s policies, effectively signaling a ‘closed’ message to the global audience.
This led to significant drops in travelers coming to the U.S. from the U.K. (down 15%), Germany (down 28%), and other countries, including Spain, Ireland, Ecuador, and Colombia, experiencing declines ranging from 24% to 33%.
For 2025, the council forecasts tourism earnings in the U.S. will reach approximately $169 billion, representing a staggering 22.5% decline compared to 2024.
This shift stands out given it is the only country among 184 analyzed economies expected to experience a decrease in tourism revenue.
Julia Simpson, the council president, indicated, “This is a wake-up call for the U.S. government,” urging attention toward the evolving dynamics of international travel.
International tourists are increasingly distancing themselves from favorite U.S. destinations as evidenced by the Colombian airline Avianca reporting a 12% drop in passengers heading to Miami, despite Colombians being the most significant foreign group landing in the city last year.
In fact, the decrease in tourists from the Dominican Republic has been even more pronounced at 20%. Additionally, domestic tourism within Florida has noticeably declined in the first half of the year.
Canada’s response to ongoing geopolitical events deserves particular emphasis, as Air Canada reported a decline in traffic on several routes to the U.S. since President Trump made inflammatory statements about Canada.
Furthermore, the number of Canadians flying from the U.S. to Canada decreased by 22% in June, while there was a 33% drop in land crossings into Canada from the U.S. city borders.
As the summer season continues, analysts and business owners alike are left to contemplate how these trends will impact future tourism and the broader economy.
image source from：english
