US President Trump Met with Tourism Sector Representatives

U.S. President Donald Trump met with executives from major tourism companies such as American Airlines, Marriott, MGM Resorts, and Carnival in the capital to discuss strategies to increase the number of international visitors.

The Impact of the World Cup

U.S. tourism gained a large but temporary boost from the FIFA World Cup held in the summer months. In June, travel spending increased by 6.2 percent year-on-year, reaching $122.1 billion and seeing its strongest monthly level in the past year.

Decline in Visitor Numbers

According to Department of Commerce data, despite the World Cup surge in June, visitors from abroad dropped by 4.7 percent as of July 2026.

Long visa interview wait times, high airfare prices, strict immigration policies, tariffs, and various travel restrictions played a role in this decline in international arrivals.

Sector Goals and Concerns

U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman stated that they aim to increase the annual number of foreign visitors from the 68 million level in 2025 to 100 million.

Industry groups expressed concern, pointing out that the administration's bond requirement for visitors from 50 countries has led to an 80 percent drop in arrivals from those nations.

Administration's Steps

The White House noted that airport screening processes have been streamlined and that the creation of more biometric fast-track lanes is targeted.