Relations between the US and Europe have cooled noticeably, and this is having an impact on tourism. Tourist numbers fell by 6 percent from 72.4 million in 2024 to 68 million in 2025. Tourism revenues also declined by three percent. The US experienced the greatest losses among Canadian and Mexican visitors, who represent the two largest visitor groups in terms of numbers. However, numbers from Europe also declined, as visitors from this region tend to stay longer in the US and spend more money due to the cost of travel.

But business tourism seems unaffected by this. Although many politicians and business travelers wanted to gauge the mood in the US capital in the first half of 2025 due to political uncertainties, they have now realized that in the federal US, it can be more effective to negotiate directly with local governments in the individual states. Regardless of whether they are governed by Republicans or Democrats, the states are interested in good business and jobs and are increasingly irritated by the constantly changing tariff announcements and economic threats against other countries, or the disruptive interventions by authorities such as ICE.

Sven Thorsten Potthoff, CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC West) for the Western United States, sees unbridled interest among German managers and entrepreneurs in flying to California and the western states to visit their business partners and customers there and explore the markets.

In the coming months, several factors could influence the desire to travel to the US in both directions. First, changes to entry procedures threaten to make travel more difficult, and border authorities’ checks of travelers’ social media posts, for example, could cause some tourists to think twice. However, the World Cup is about to kick off, which this time is being hosted jointly by Mexico, the US, and Canada and traditionally attracts many soccer fans to the host countries. Several anniversaries are also coming up. These include “America250,” commemorating the US Declaration of Independence in 1776, as well as the 100th anniversary of the “Route 66” highway. And some people don’t want to miss out on these, just as they never want to miss out on doing business in a friendly American state, no matter who is in charge in the White House.