Tourism Plunges Amid Trump's Reign: A Perspective on the San Francisco Guide
In Trump's Era: Does the United States Still Attract Germans as a Desirable Travel Destination?
Welcome to Frank-in-Cisco, your friendly German tour guide roaming the streets of San Francisco. He proudly introduces himself as an insider showing you his beloved city. However, Donald Trump's second term has cast a dark shadow on his business. European visitor numbers have plummeted by 30%, and his tours have shrunk from five a week to a mere two or three private bookings. "Business travelers are the only saving grace at the moment," he admits.
Across the East Coast, Sanel Huskanovic, the founder of "My Trip to New York", shares a similar anguish. His small tourism company had barely survived the pandemic when Trump's election rekindled fear in potential German tourists. Many are hesitant to justify their trip to Trump's America to friends, or they're wary of reports about arrests and denied entries.
Dwindling Tourists From Germany
Data from the "Washington Post," citing the International Trade Administration, confirms the downturn in overseas tourists in the USA. In March alone, there was a 12% decrease compared to the previous year, with a staggering 28% drop in visitors from Germany. The numbers had begun to tumble even before the pandemic, marking the first significant decline since COVID-19 [1]. If this slump persists, it could mean billions in losses for the U.S. tourism industry.
The outlook is bleak. Bookings for the third quarter, even for affordable economy tickets to the USA, appear sluggish, according to Lufthansa's CEO, Carsten Spohr. Many people are reconsidering their planned trips to the United States [2]. Evaneos, a travel booking platform, reports a 11% global decrease in bookings for trips to the USA and a 50% drop on the German market. The decline is attributed to Trump's re-election, as well as escalating inflation, skepticism about the political model, increasing instability due to implemented and announced tariffs, and concerns about safety and freedom of movement.
A Beacon of Hope
The USA's tourism industry clings to hope for a speedy recovery. New York guide Huskanovic strikes a calm tone, "This too shall pass." San Francisco's guide, Frank Marx, stays optimistic that German tourists will soon return. He shares tips and addresses concerns on his social media channels, expressing his opposition to the Trump administration's policies. In his words, "San Francisco remains a beacon of hope and resistance, especially for communities that need our protection. Our city and state continue to actively promote justice, diversity, and equality."
Although isolated cases of arrests and detentions upon entry into the United States have caused uncertainty [3], the tourism industry prays for a swift reversal. Diplomatic relations between the USA and Germany may have been strained, but the impact on tourism seems limited, given the broader economic context and the COVID-19 pandemic's influence on international travel [4].
[1] COVID-19 pandemic impacts on tourism
[2] Lufthansa reports sluggish Q3 bookings to the USA
[3] Arrests and denied entries of foreign nationals in the USA
[4] Impact of Trump's presidency on tourism
- The downturn in international tourism, particularly among Germans, is affecting tour guides like Frank Marx in San Francisco, causing a significant decrease in business due to Donald Trump's second term.
- Across the nation, the tourism sector, as exemplified by Sanel Huskanovic in New York, is grappling with a decrease in bookings and a stagnant economy ticket demand, with the pandemic, political instability, and Trump's re-election identified as key factors influencing the slump.
- As the tourism industry navigates these challenges, there is a growing interest in general news, crime, and justice, with many tourists expressing concerns about safety and movement restrictions in the United States.
