Trump Threats Mess Up Travel Plans

The United States tourism sector will miss out on the "blessing" of an influx of foreign tourists visiting the country. This year, there are three major events that could bring in foreign exchange: the 250th anniversary of US independence, the 100th anniversary of the iconic Route 66, and the FIFA World Cup.

As scheduled, the United States will host the World Cup together with Mexico and Canada. In two years, the United States will also host the Olympics. However, people are beginning to reconsider traveling to the United States. The reason is the policy of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding immigrants.

The first issue that will hinder tourism in the US is the suspension of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, Wednesday (14/1/2026). Another issue is Trump's threat to implement mass deportations and to initiate a program to research the social media profiles of foreign tourists before they are allowed entry into the US.

Regarding the FIFA World Cup, Trump's policies could disrupt the smoothness and success of the grand event, both in the US and in Canada and Mexico. Trump's unpredictable stance has angered both neighbors and threatened to relocate the matches.

Indeed, hundreds of thousands of football fans are expected to come to the host countries, particularly the United States, which will host 82 out of 104 matches of the tournament. Trump has also repeatedly threatened to move the World Cup matches from several cities led by the Democratic Party on security grounds. The cities that are potentially at risk include Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

The host city contract can only be terminated in the event of a disaster, such as a natural disaster, war, or civil unrest. If canceled, there will be legal consequences.

This situation is certainly causing a headache for FIFA, not to mention the fans who have already booked flights and accommodation.

Adding to the uncertain situation, Trump has deployed the National Guard to many cities led by politicians from the Democratic Party. Consequently, raids by immigration agents in cities such as Los Angeles targeting undocumented migrants have become increasingly widespread.

Another situation that also influences is the issue of tariffs imposed on Mexico and Canada. Furthermore, who can guarantee that Trump will not annex Mexico under the pretext of combating international drug cartels, as he has done with Venezuela.

In addition to the aforementioned obstacles, there is also the issue of visas. The plan to suspend US visas for 75 countries will take effect on January 21. Several affected countries include those in Latin America, such as Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay. Additionally, there are Balkan countries, such as Bosnia and Albania, as well as South Asian countries, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh. Furthermore, the visa suspension also targets residents from Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

The reason for the suspension is the indication that residents from 75 countries are coming to the U.S. to settle, not just for tourism. The U.S. requires that visa applicants must be financially self-sufficient and not at risk of becoming dependent on government subsidies during their stay in the U.S.

For Southeast Asia, the policy targets citizens from Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.

Under normal conditions, the potential for foreign tourists coming to the United States would delight hotel and airline owners. The problem is, in the last 12 months, "nothing has been normal" in the United States. More and more countries are issuing travel warnings to the United States. Many are also calling for a total boycott of travel to the United States. In fact, the United States is now referred to as a "hostile country."

BBC, January 12, 2026, reported that the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projected that the United States would lose revenue amounting to 12.5 billion US dollars from foreign tourist spending. Among the 184 countries analyzed by WTTC and Oxford Economics, the United States is the only country expected to experience a decline in foreign tourist spending throughout 2025.

This situation is feared to worsen. Trump's decision to attack Venezuela, threaten to annex Greenland, and intimidate Cuba, Iran, Colombia, and Mexico affects tourists' decisions to travel to the U.S. and other destinations in the countries threatened by Trump.

"I initially wanted to visit my friends in Greenland, but after Trump continued to make threats, I reconsidered," said Danish citizen, Heather Storgaard.

Jackie Arruda, a hospitality marketer in Brazil, is also planning to visit a friend in Greenland. However, she is currently considering canceling her trip. "The threat can quickly turn into reality, as happened in Venezuela," she stated.

Jesús Noguera, the owner of Cuba Careo Tours in Havana, is concerned that Trump's rhetoric is making people afraid to visit Cuba. In fact, Cuba is in dire need of tourists to revive its economy.

For tourism operators, the benchmark they use is advice from the government. If the government advises against traveling, that must be adhered to because if anything happens, the insurance will not cover it. However, independent travelers can still go, but without travel insurance.

On the other hand, Inga Rós Antoníusdóttir, an experienced tourism executive in the Arctic and Nordic regions, believes that increased media attention is crucial for a tourist destination. Take Greenland, for example. With extensive media coverage, global awareness of Greenland can be enhanced. Greenland can seize this opportunity to showcase its unique culture, nature, and history.

In Iran, Mahdi Eshraghi, CEO of the Tehran-based travel agency Surfiran, stated that Trump's statement regarding intervention in the protests in Iran is not the main issue underlying the decline in Western tourists. According to him, the long-standing negative perception held by American citizens about Iran and changes in policy have led travel companies and individuals to avoid marketing and visiting Iran.

"The decline in travel to Iran has been occurring since the US withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018. It is not a reaction to the current political rhetoric," said Eshraghi.

In the travel industry, perception is everything. Two years ago, the World Economic Forum crowned the United States as the best tourist destination in the world. However, look at the situation now. Travelers now feel that the risks of visiting that country do not outweigh the rewards. This applies not only to the risks of traveling to the United States but also to traveling to countries targeted by Trump. (REUTERS/AFP/AP)