New data shows Australian visitor numbers to the US have dropped

The latest US International Trade Admission data shows that Australian visitor numbers have dropped by 7 per cent in March this year, compared to the same period last year.

It’s the sharpest drop in Australian visitor numbers to the US since March 2021, during the height of the COVID pandemic. Overseas arrivals to the US overall plunged 11.6 per cent.

While Tourism Economics had initially predicted 8.8 per cent growth in tourist numbers this year, it’s now saying there will be decline of 5.1 per cent. This loss includes US$6.4 billion (around AU$10b) of decreased spending in destinations, plus US$2.5 billion of lost transportation spending.

The data, which counts visits of one night or more, has also shown big slumps in visitor numbers from other countries.

In addition to a “Trump Slump” caused by multiple tariffs imposed then paused by the US Administration, countries including Germany, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Canada and the UK, have also issued travel warnings and advisories for the US, according to a report by the ABC. In February alone, Canada’s visitor numbers to the US dropped by more than 20 per cent. Bloomberg reports Air France and KLM are among European carriers to cut air fares to the US to fill seats on their planned capacities this year.

With Australian dollar tracking lower against all major currencies, making overseas travel more expensive, local cost-of-living pressures have also had an impact on travel.

While there have been reports of some travellers to the US have been stopped at the border, Australians are treated fairly well by US border control. Easing their path is ESTA — the online application that determines their eligibility to travel to the US under the visa waiver program. It should be completed as early as possible.

“We still see a large number of people who haven’t done their ESTAs that get denied boarding in our major ports because they don’t have an active visa to get into the US,” Australian Travel Industry Association chief executive Dean Long told the ABC.

He says travellers should also work to maintain political “neutrality” before heading to the US.

“If there are public demonstrations or you want to have a view on what’s happening in America, remember that you are on a visa,” he says.

“You need to … stay neutral, and you’ll have a really good time.”