The American Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for an estimated 18.5 million travelers to pass through airport security checkpoints nationwide between Tuesday, July 1, and Monday, July 7, in what is expected to be one of the busiest Fourth of July travel periods in recent years. The peak day is projected to be Sunday, July 6, with around 2.9 million passengers anticipated.
This surge follows a record-breaking day on June 22, when TSA screened nearly 3.1 million individuals, the highest number in the agency’s history. Airports across the country are expected to experience heavy foot traffic, and the TSA has implemented enhanced staffing and technology to meet demand, including measures tailored to families traveling with children.
International Travel Slows Due to Policy-Driven Uncertainty
While domestic travel is expected to surge, international arrivals are steadily declining. Recent immigration enforcement actions, new tariffs, and heightened border security under the Trump administration have triggered concern and hesitation among foreign visitors.
Federal data reveals that international travel to the U.S. dropped nearly 12 percent year-over-year in March 2025, with a particularly sharp decline in Canadian tourists. Analysts attribute the decrease to a combination of political tension, perceived hostility, and logistical hurdles—including visa delays and fears of unfair treatment at border checkpoints.
America’s tourism industry is at risk of significant economic losses if this trend continues. Tourism Economics forecasts a $9 billion drop in international visitor spending for 2025, while the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates a loss of $12.5 billion. Total international visitor spending is projected to fall to just under $169 billion – down from $181 billion in 2024 – representing a 22.5 percent decline from the previous peak.
The loss won’t be felt by Travel & Tourism alone, with WTTC saying it represents a direct blow to the U.S. economy overall, impacting communities, jobs, and businesses from coast to coast.
According to the study, the U.S, the largest Travel & Tourism sector in the world, is the only country among 184 economies analysed by WTTC and Oxford Economics, forecast to see international visitor spending decline in 2025.
New immigration-related executive orders, including enhanced scrutiny at land ports of entry and the imposition of steep tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, have led to boycotts and cancellations. Industry observers warn that these developments are reshaping perceptions of the U.S. as a welcoming destination.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “This is a wake-up call for the U.S. government. The world’s biggest Travel & Tourism economy is heading in the wrong direction, not because of a lack of demand, but because of a failure to act. While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the ‘closed’ sign.”
Simpson continues, “Without urgent action to restore international traveller confidence, it could take several years for the U.S. just to return to pre-pandemic levels of international visitor spend, not even the peak from 10 years ago.
“This is about growth in the U.S. economy – it is doable, but it needs leadership from DC.”
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, new international arrivals data for March 2025 reveal a sharp and widespread drop in inbound travel from many of the country’s key source markets:
– UK arrivals, one of the U.S.’s most important source markets, down nearly 15 percent year over yea
– Germany, another significant source market, plunged more than 28 percent
– South Korea – down almost 15 percent
– Spain, Colombia, Ireland, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, saw double-digit drops between 24 percent and 33 percent
Canadian summer bookings alone are down over 20 percent compared to last year, a signal of deeper issues beyond seasonal fluctuation.
While other countries are accelerating recovery efforts and inviting foreign visitors, the U.S. appears to be lagging. Relying on domestic travel may have provided short-term resilience during the pandemic, but without a bold international recovery plan, the U.S.—the world’s largest travel and tourism economy; risks long-term decline.
The stakes are high. Travel and tourism contributed $2.6 trillion to the U.S. economy last year and supported over 20 million jobs. The sector also delivered more than $585 billion in tax revenue, accounting for nearly 7 percent of total government income. These figures could grow substantially with a strong base of international visitors.Meanwhile, outbound travel is booming. Americans are traveling abroad in large numbers, while inbound recovery from critical international markets remains stalled. This imbalance not only impacts local economies and job markets but also undermines the U.S.’s standing as a global destination for tourism, business, and cultural exchange.
In 2019, international visitors generated $217.4 billion in revenue and supported nearly 18 million U.S. jobs. Today, that legacy is under threat and the ripple effects are being felt nationwide but particularly in major destinations like New York City and Las Vegas .
