Danish traveler Kennet Brask loves his fishing trip to Florida two years ago and plans to return this year. But he canceled it after watching U.S. President Donald Trump’s explosive meeting with White House Volodomyr Zelenskiy.
“When I saw this meeting, I told myself, ‘As long as Mr. Trump is president, I will never go to the United States.’ Reutersadding that Trump is “so rude” and does not behave like an adult.
Instead, he will head to Mexico.
According to five in Trump’s actions, Blask is one of many Danes, Germans and more extensive Europeans who are reconsidering their travel plans.
In just two months, the president has promoted a long-term U.S. alliance with Europe, proposed annexation of Greenland, launched a global trade war, and issued a focus on stricter border policies, stricter visa review procedures and crackdown on undocumented U.S. immigration.
Europeans travel to the United States at a premium of $155 billion in 2023, while transatlantic travel has boosted revenues for airlines such as British Airways in recent quarters.
According to preliminary data from the National Tourism and Tourism Agency, the number of visitors from Western Europe to the United States fell by 1% year-on-year, following an increase of 14% in the same period. This was a 26% drop in Slovenia travelers, followed by Switzerland and Belgium.
Trump’s remarks about Greenland in the Danish autonomous field are a particularly sensitive issue for Danes. A Dane (Kim Kugel Sorenson) told Reuters He canceled his trip to his family friend’s wedding in California and removed the stars and stripes from his tattoos to avoid appearing pro-American.
According to NTTO data, Denmark’s US comes to 6%, an increase of 7% a year ago.
European travel agencies and travel data companies tell Reuters They also saw a drop in searches for trips to the United States, allowing them to focus their ads on other destinations.
“We have made a positive decision not to spend a dime on a tour of the United States due to insufficient response from our customers, especially with the current situation and attitudes towards Denmark and Greenland,” said Steen Albrechtsen, senior product manager at Albatros Travel in Copenhagen.
According to the American Travel Association, overseas tourists spend seven to eight times more than domestic travelers in the United States.
The stronger dollar rose before Trump’s inauguration but has since regressed, and the slow European economy could also prevent U.S. travel, despite travel agencies saying the impact of political turmoil is the most.
Mirko Lalli, CEO of Travel Data Appeals, said the number of internet searches in France, Italy and Spain fell sharply this month in France, Italy and Spain. He added that demand in the UK remains strong.
Close to Canada
German travel agency Unlimited said Germans, in particular, turned their attention to Canada.
Some Europeans see the holidays as a sign of solidarity as a threat to Trump to turn Canada into the 51st state.
“Canada is experiencing unprecedented prosperity,” said Timo Kohlenberg, CEO of Infinity.
In turn, Canadians may flock to Europe when they avoid heading to the United States.
Bookings for vacation rental properties in Europe increased by 32% year-on-year from June to August, according to short-term rental analysis firm Key Data.
Other travel companies, such as TUI, Europe’s largest travel operator, still hope the U.S. market will continue, especially in city trips and camper tours.
A TUI spokesperson told Reuters.
According to NTTO, Germany’s visit to the United States rose 9% year-on-year in February, up 18% a year ago in the same period.
The UK and Germany have updated their recommendations for citizens traveling to the United States to emphasize the country’s entry rules. The German Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring whether US immigration policy had changed after three nationals were being monitored.
Maria del Carmen Ramos, immigration attorney and partner at Shumaker, said Loop & Kendrick, LLP, arriving attorney at the U.S. border is under greater scrutiny, but Border Patrol personnel have more judgment and authority than people realize.
“It seems to be the wild west of the border, and there is no rhyme or reason for how to do things,” she said.
