11 Million Visitors Short: Inside America's Tourism Slump

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Last year, the U.S. was the only major destination to see a decline in international travelers. With increased scrutiny at the border, ICE violence and unpredictable policies, the new year isn't looking better.

Posted by qcp at 05:32 PM | 14 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Karen Newton had a valid tourist visa when she was detained for more than 40 days.

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-- The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) Feb 21, 2026 at 1:54 PM

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More: Michelle Cowley, a London-based communications specialist, and her husband spent nearly two years planning a $16,000 vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida. Then their children, ages 7 and 11, heard about Renee Good and Alex Pretti being killed by ICE agents and didn't want to go.

Comments by President Trump in January, including threats to annex Greenland and criticisms of British military contributions in Afghanistan, sealed the family's decision.

"We have decided that it really is not the place we want to be at the moment," Ms. Cowley said.

#1 | Posted by qcp at 2026-02-20 09:10 AM | Reply

Even more: "When 11 million international visitors aren't showing up, the result is billions of dollars in economic losses to the travel industry," said Erik Hansen, a senior vice-president at the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group that promotes travel to and within the country.

#2 | Posted by qcp at 2026-02-20 09:13 AM | Reply

Bidens fault!

SIncerely,

Stinky von Pedo

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-02-20 09:25 AM | Reply

#4 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-20 09:32 AM | Reply

"11 million international visitors aren't showing up"

Because Trump's America is a nasty place.

And a dangerous place if you have darker skin or speak a language not English.

Or even if your English has an accent.

I'd no more come to the United States as a tourist now than I would Germany in 1938.

Experiencing the freak show just isn't worth it.

#5 | Posted by Zed at 2026-02-20 09:40 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Funny how that works.

#6 | Posted by fresno500 at 2026-02-20 10:49 AM | Reply

"This is what I voted for."

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-02-20 10:54 AM | Reply

@#5 ... a dangerous place if you have darker skin or speak a language not English. ...

The chance of being taken off the street, stuffed into an unmarked van, and shipped off to some other country due to racial profiling by ICE is just too high for those who would want to visit the USA.

#8 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-20 12:06 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-02-20 01:13 PM | Reply

^
This is exactly what I voted for!
--Boaz

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-02-20 01:36 PM | Reply

#9 Top German soccer team cancels trip to Minneapolis, citing Trump immigration crackdown.

This is a big, annual soccer tournament (Target USA Cup) that takes place in Blaine, MN (a northern suburb of Mpls), with an emphasis on attracting international teams. From their website:

20 Countries
25 States
1,100 + Teams
16,000 Players

#11 | Posted by Chantresse at 2026-02-21 08:57 AM | Reply

Methinks the World Cup games will not be without empty seats, hotel rooms will be available and tickets will trade freely. Foreign visitors will keep their heads down, their mouths closed and their cash in their pockets ...

#12 | Posted by catdog at 2026-02-21 06:09 PM | Reply

Too bad the 2024 Democratic Party ignored the crucial antiwar bloc which cost them 7,371,247 supporters on Tuesday 5 Nov 2024 which they had on Tuesday 3 Nov 2020.

The Democratic Party would be enjoying the Target USA Cup, FIFA 2026, America 250, the 2028 Summer Olympiad in California, and all the pomp, profits, and glory that comes with it.

Instead, we have the diabolical Trumpf junta cashing in all of this and Gov Tim Walz (D-MN) announcing his retirement from politics.

But hey, don't worry. Israel has world class universal healthcare-- ranked in the top ten-- for all its residents.

We in America have the Big Beautiful Bill.

#13 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-02-21 06:37 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

So this is what the Russians were feeling when they woke from their elections and saw that their country was run from the shadows by goons and goblins of the Putin gang. It does hurt to watch so much of our media get taken over and corrupted by big money, outlets like CBS once were the gold standard for independent reporting.

#14 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-02-22 06:49 AM | Reply