Could feel diminishing interest in USA
Much fewer Europeans visited the United States in March this year than in March last year. Europe’s interest in the United States seems to be dwindling and the Icelandic Tourist Board says it must affect tourism in this country.
Western European travelers who stayed at least one night in the United States were 17% fewer in March this year than at the same time last year, according to preliminary from the US World Trade Organization (International Trade Administration). In fact, the number of Icelanders is reduced, by 35%, but the small nation that Iceland is unlikely to be the US tourism industry.
In part, this reduction is due to the fact that Easter landed on March last year.
But still, there is a glance that US President Donald Trump plays a key factor in these changes. The cancellations have also been increasing in the United States this year.
« Crash » in sales to the United States
In total, the number of tourists to the United States decreased by 12% year -on -year, but such slopes were last seen in 2021 due to pandemic.
« Based on these figures, there is only a collapse in sales to the United States compared to March last year, » says Arnar Már Ólafsson, Tourism Manager in a conversation with mbl.is. Asked about what chose this he replies: « It’s hard to say exactly what this is. We just see these numbers. »
« This is a bit striking. And it is interesting to the fact that it matters how people behave, » says Arnar Már Ólafsson, Tourism Manager.
Photo/Cabinet
Financial Times reported these figures today, saying this reduction in the US tourism industry, which amounts to about 2.5% of GDP.
FT says that some airlines have expressed concern about declining demand for travel across the Atlantic and they also consider a bad debate on trips to the United States is involved in this development.
People dissatisfied with US President’s conduct
« This is a bit striking. And it is interesting to the fact that it matters to how state behaves, » says Arnar but
« People seem to be dissatisfied with the US presidential conduct, » he adds, pointing out that the government in several European countries has issued travel warnings for trans and gender.
US President Donald Trump.
AFP/Brendan Smialowski
A number of tourists have been seized on the US border over the last month, with the government increasing border control.
Guardian reported in the days that people from various European countries, and even Americans, have been arrested on the border despite not doing anything.
Political tension diminishes interest
« If there is something that tourists avoid then it is political tension, » says Arnar Már.
Furthermore, the Financial Times has after Paul English, one of the founders of the Kayak travel website, that the reduction is indicative of Trump’s « destroying the reputation of the United States » and in just two months.
Naren Shaam, CEO of the Omio travel website, also says that the media is that cancellations to the United States in the first quarter have increased by 16% year -on -year. Of these, the British, Germans and French were higher than 40% cancellation rate.
The Accor hotel chain also says that bookings for the summer of European guests have decreased by 25%. In addition, tourists from Canada to the United States have also decreased.
Fewer passengers at Leifstation this year
Following Trump’s announcement of tariffs last week, the US Tourism Center for Tourism changed its tourist forecast. Previously, a 9% increase was projected, but now a 9% reduction is forecast.
In addition, there are concerns in this country that US tourists to Iceland will be reduced, including because the US dollar has fallen in value, but according to The Confederation of Tourism US travelers were 27% of all foreign tourists in Iceland in 2024 and accounted for 38% of the value in the sector.
Passengers at Keflavik Airport in February and March were slightly fewer in January and March this year compared to last year, according to data from Isavia. This also applies to switching passengers, which amount to about a third of all passengers on the field. However, passengers were more in January this year than last year.
« These are not big fluctuations, » says the Director of Tourism, who has since, after the CEO of Icelandair, well done despite this uncertainty.
« But as Icelandair’s route system is structured, you can do nothing but think: If interest in the United States decreases, it must have some effect. »
