California tourism in turmoil due to Trump's remarks

California is forecasting its first drop in tourism in five years — a result of President Trump's controversial statements and policies.

The number of tourists coming to California is expected to drop for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic - Photo: AMANDA ANDRADE-RHOADES/THE STANDARD

The number of tourists visiting the US state of California is forecast to decline for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to NBC News, the number of international visitors to the US will decrease sharply in 2025 due to the impact of tariff policies, controversial statements and diplomatic tensions under President Donald Trump.

California tries to attract tourists back

Visit California, a nonprofit that works closely with the California state tourism office, forecasts total visitor numbers this year to fall 0.7% compared to 2024. International visitors will fall 9.2%.

“California’s tourism industry — which has grown steadily and reliably for decades — is now projected to shrink by 2025,” said Caroline Beteta, executive director of the nonprofit.

The Visit California report cited inflation due to higher tariffs, along with negative sentiment toward the United States following President Trump’s trade policies and rhetoric. Domestic travel is expected to remain steady.

The biggest declines are expected to come from visitors from Canada and Mexico — countries that have historically visited and spent more in California than any other.

Last year, 1.8 million Canadian tourists visited the state and spent about $3.72 billion, according to state data. This year, the numbers are expected to drop nearly 20%.

According to The San Francisco Standard , California is making a concerted effort to lure Canadian visitors back, offering discounts on Expedia and launching a new “California Loves Canada” promotional video to improve relations. The state is expected to welcome more visitors from India and Japan this year.

Negative sentiment towards the US is on the rise

According to NBC News, President Donald Trump's trade policies and hostile tone towards many countries around the world are creating a wave of reactions from international tourists.

The change could have significant economic ramifications. One Wall Street firm predicts that US revenue could fall by as much as $90 billion this year, compounded by the impact of reduced tourism and boycotts of US goods.

Tourism from Canada recorded the biggest drop, after Mr Trump suggested that the northern neighbour could become the "51st state" of the US, alongside a series of restrictive trade policies.

Travel from Western Europe has also declined, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, a division of the U.S. Commerce Department. Tourists from countries that are traditionally considered the most stable in terms of visitor numbers, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, have opted to stay away from the United States.

Arrivals from these countries fell by 29% in March, one of the highest declines ever recorded outside of the pandemic.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-lich-california-lao-dao-vi-phat-ngon-cua-ong-trump-20250507142346066.htm