More Indian tourists have been visiting the US than ever before in recent time even as people from most other countries have been turning their backs on the country, The Times of India reported on April 18. Citing a number of recent studies and travel industry statistics, ToI's report (by Chidanand Rajghatta) said that from January to October 2024, nearly 1.9 million visitors from India travelled to the US -- a remarkable 48% rise compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019.
As per US National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) data, this increase has positioned India as the sixth largest source of inbound travellers to the US, the report said.
One must take note here that the said data is from shortly before Trump's win in the 2024 Presidential elections. By that point, however, the rising likelihood of a Trump victory and an increasingly riotous MAGA camp had already made America significantly unpopular in global opinion.
The NTTO data suggests that India has recently taken the lead as the top source of outbound tourists in Asia, overtaking countries like China, South Korea, and Japan. In 2022, tourism revenue generated by Indian tourists amounted to $13.3 billion, and with the increase in arrivals seen in 2024, this number is expected to rise, highlighting India's considerable spending capability, which the NTTO estimates to be around $5,200 on average per visitor.
Conversely, international travelers, particularly those from Europe and other regions, are increasingly avoiding the US, influenced by ongoing trade disputes and the unyielding negative rhetoric from MAGA supporters concerning immigrants and foreigners. Even citizens from neighboring Canada and Mexico have felt the impact of this rhetoric.
A report from Tourism Economics has adjusted its 2025 projections for inbound travel to the US, shifting from an anticipated 9% growth to a 9.4% decline in international arrivals when compared to 2024, representing a significant nearly 20% shift.
Data collected in March 2025 indicated an 11.6% decrease in overseas visitor numbers, particularly noting sharp declines from Canada (31.9% by land and 13.5% by air), Germany, and the UK. The NTTO corroborated this finding, reporting a more modest reduction of 3.3% in international visitors to the US during the first quarter of 2025, with a total of 7.1 million visitors.
Specifically, March 2025 experienced an 11.6% fall in overseas arrivals, with a notable 23% drop in air travel from Mexico. The organization cautioned that this downturn could lead to a staggering $64 billion loss in tourism revenue for 2025, while political analysts pondered the potential harm to the US's global standing and reputation stemming from MAGA's incendiary rhetoric, including Trump’s claims that the US is being "ripped off" by other nations and labeling them as "scavengers" profiting from the US market.
In response to these trends, US travel industry leaders are calling on the administration and Congress to simplify visa processing and immigration procedures to enhance travel to the United States, especially in light of growing competition from other regions.
However, MAGA hardliners express concern over rare cases of "birthright citizenship tourism," where trips to the US are intentionally planned for pregnant women to give birth in the country to secure American citizenship for their child.
Additionally, the travel sector is unsettled by seemingly antagonistic remarks from Trump administration officials, including a recent declaration from the White House stating that "All foreign nationals present in the United States longer than 30 days must register with the federal government. Failure to comply with this is a crime punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both... If not, you will be arrested, fined, deported, never to return to our country again."
It is important to note that there is currently no federal mandate requiring tourists to register with US authorities during their stay, regardless of its length, unless specific conditions apply, such as visa violations or changes in legal status.
As per US National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) data, this increase has positioned India as the sixth largest source of inbound travellers to the US, the report said.
One must take note here that the said data is from shortly before Trump's win in the 2024 Presidential elections. By that point, however, the rising likelihood of a Trump victory and an increasingly riotous MAGA camp had already made America significantly unpopular in global opinion.
The NTTO data suggests that India has recently taken the lead as the top source of outbound tourists in Asia, overtaking countries like China, South Korea, and Japan. In 2022, tourism revenue generated by Indian tourists amounted to $13.3 billion, and with the increase in arrivals seen in 2024, this number is expected to rise, highlighting India's considerable spending capability, which the NTTO estimates to be around $5,200 on average per visitor.
Conversely, international travelers, particularly those from Europe and other regions, are increasingly avoiding the US, influenced by ongoing trade disputes and the unyielding negative rhetoric from MAGA supporters concerning immigrants and foreigners. Even citizens from neighboring Canada and Mexico have felt the impact of this rhetoric.
A report from Tourism Economics has adjusted its 2025 projections for inbound travel to the US, shifting from an anticipated 9% growth to a 9.4% decline in international arrivals when compared to 2024, representing a significant nearly 20% shift.
Data collected in March 2025 indicated an 11.6% decrease in overseas visitor numbers, particularly noting sharp declines from Canada (31.9% by land and 13.5% by air), Germany, and the UK. The NTTO corroborated this finding, reporting a more modest reduction of 3.3% in international visitors to the US during the first quarter of 2025, with a total of 7.1 million visitors.
Specifically, March 2025 experienced an 11.6% fall in overseas arrivals, with a notable 23% drop in air travel from Mexico. The organization cautioned that this downturn could lead to a staggering $64 billion loss in tourism revenue for 2025, while political analysts pondered the potential harm to the US's global standing and reputation stemming from MAGA's incendiary rhetoric, including Trump’s claims that the US is being "ripped off" by other nations and labeling them as "scavengers" profiting from the US market.
In response to these trends, US travel industry leaders are calling on the administration and Congress to simplify visa processing and immigration procedures to enhance travel to the United States, especially in light of growing competition from other regions.
However, MAGA hardliners express concern over rare cases of "birthright citizenship tourism," where trips to the US are intentionally planned for pregnant women to give birth in the country to secure American citizenship for their child.
Additionally, the travel sector is unsettled by seemingly antagonistic remarks from Trump administration officials, including a recent declaration from the White House stating that "All foreign nationals present in the United States longer than 30 days must register with the federal government. Failure to comply with this is a crime punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both... If not, you will be arrested, fined, deported, never to return to our country again."
It is important to note that there is currently no federal mandate requiring tourists to register with US authorities during their stay, regardless of its length, unless specific conditions apply, such as visa violations or changes in legal status.
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