US business travel hits a low point under the dual pressure of economy and policy

Originally, US business travel, which was highly expected, showed signs of optimism in early 2025. Analysts generally expect that tourism activities will gradually return to normal before the COVID-19 pandemic, and business travel, as an important part of the US tourism economy, also seems to be moving towards recovery. However, in April 2025, the latest data released by the National Tourism Administration (NTTO) showed that the number of business travelers entering the United States fell by a significant percentage year-on-year. This change is particularly noteworthy because in the first quarter of this year, this type of travel also achieved a strong year-on-year growth of 7%.

First, the reasons for this reversal of trend are relatively complex. On the one hand, the uncertainty facing the global economy continues to exist; on the other hand, the US immigration policy, border enforcement measures and tariff system have also caused widespread dissatisfaction in the international community, which in turn affected the perception of potential business travelers towards the United States.

Secondly, according to preliminary statistics from the NTTO, the total number of travelers entering the country on business visas in the first seven months of 2025 exceeded 1.2 million, a slight increase from the same period in 2024, showing a certain degree of resilience. However, after entering the second quarter, this growth momentum came to an abrupt halt. Data shows that the number of business travelers to the United States in major regions has generally declined: the number of business travelers from Western Europe has decreased by 17.7%; the number of air business travelers from Mexico has decreased by 11.8%; and Canada has seen a greater decline - air passengers have decreased by 20%, and business travelers entering by land have decreased by as much as 35%. The only exception is the Middle East, where business travel to the United States has increased by 9.4% year-on-year.

At the same time, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2025 Global Economic Impact Report issued a severe warning about the prospects of international tourism in the United States. The report pointed out that the United States will lose up to $12.5 billion in international tourism spending this year, a decrease of about 22.5% from the peak in 2019. WTTC President Julia Simpson attributed the problem to current US federal policies, saying bluntly that "other countries are attracting tourists with a welcoming attitude, while the United States has drawn a line in policy." She said that tourists' detention experiences and high entry tariffs have seriously damaged the United States' reputation as a tourist destination.

However, in the face of current challenges, experts and industry insiders believe that the United States still has an opportunity to reshape its image as an international business destination. However, this will require major policy and communication changes by the federal government. The industry has proposed several improvements, including strengthening the clear communication of entry policies between embassies and travelers abroad, reviewing the current border inspection procedures, especially the search procedures for electronic devices, optimizing visa renewal and processing procedures, and working with foreign chambers of commerce to rebuild foreign companies' trust in the United States.

Specifically, several factors are hindering the continued recovery of business travel: Weak global economy: Companies are cutting travel budgets in an uncertain environment and only retaining key itineraries. Border policy concerns: Some detention incidents that have attracted public attention, such as those involving German tourists and Lebanese doctors, have made international travelers uneasy about the entry experience in the United States. Booking trends are declining: Aviation data agency Cirium reported that summer flight bookings from Europe to major cities in the United States fell by 12%, indicating that travelers are less interested in the United States.

Finally, the decline in business travel has also had a chain reaction on the entire US tourism industry. WTTC predicts that international tourism revenue in the United States will fall by 7% this year. The trend is also caused by exchange rate factors - the strengthening of the US dollar has raised the cost of travel for tourists. At the same time, the current political environment in the United States has also become a factor in the hesitation of some travelers.

In summary, under the current situation, relevant organizations in the US tourism industry are urging policy reforms to rebuild the confidence of international business travelers. Especially in terms of border management and the overall entry experience, improvement measures are seen as the key to curbing the decline of the industry. Only in this way can the United States re-establish its attractiveness and credibility in the global tourism map.