Westerners increasingly hesitant to travel to US out of fear of arrests and detentions as Trump enforces crackdown

Summary

The US tourism industry faces a major decline as harsh immigration policies deter visitors.

High-profile detentions of Western travelers have led to a forecasted 9% decrease in visits, reversing a previously expected 5% rise, and risking a $64 billion loss.

Germany and the UK updated travel advisories following detentions of citizens without clear visa violations.

Canadian tourism also dropped significantly amid tariff threats. Denmark and Finland warned transgender travelers about entry issues.

Experts cite anti-immigrant rhetoric and unpredictable enforcement as key deterrents.

  • khannie@lemmy.worldEnglish
    67·
    3 days ago

    Look, I’ve been to the states a good 7 or 8 times and I’m really very fond of the place and the people generally. That includes the, hands down, best summer of my life on a college visa.

    I will not be going back there until shit calms down. I just can’t gamble on the notion of spending weeks in a cold, overly bright shithole cell on the whim of anyone on the way through just for a holiday when I can spin over to any country in Europe and just get a smile and a “Welcome” from the border security on my way in.

    It just wouldn’t be a rational choice.

    edit: I just want to add in that the EU pumps an enormous amount of money on the Erasmus scheme. If you’re not in the know the idea is to get kids in college in one country to do a year of the course in another country in Europe. The only real goal of this is to make people realise that they’re just like everyone else in Europe so we never have an internal war again and it is (along with a few other bits) the best money the EU spends IMO.

    • Azal@pawb.social
      15·
      3 days ago

      I will not be going back there until shit calms down.

      Don’t expect it for a long time. You talk about the Erasmus to teach people they’re just like everyone else to prevent an internal war.

      Here in the states, I honest to god cannot see how our two sides can come to a peaceful resolution and that terrifies me.

      • fritobugger2017@lemmy.world
        4·
        2 days ago

        I know folks in Georgia, S. Carolina, and N. Carolina who’ve never been more than a couple hours drive from their birthplace in their entire lives.

        • Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          14·
          3 days ago

          Hell, they want to enslave a chunk of their own side. Shouldn’t be long until it’s illegal to be too poor.

          • Bytemeister@lemmy.worldEnglish
            5·
            2 days ago

            I feel like there is a /s I missed. It’s already illegal to be poor here. Don’t have a house/apartment to sleep in? Crime.

            Can’t pay taxes? Crime.

            Wanna stay warm by burning a Tesla? Crime.