New York City Faces a Tourism Drought

News Summary

New York City is experiencing a significant decline in tourism, as political tensions and tariffs deter international visitors, particularly from Canada and Europe. With estimates showing foreign tourist numbers plummeting between 30% and 60%, local businesses are feeling the pressure. Tour operators report lost revenues and cancellations, with economic impacts extending beyond the city. Travel advisories are causing Canadians to shift their travel plans towards Europe instead. As the peak summer season approaches, NYC Tourism + Conventions aims to adapt strategies to revive tourism.

New York City Faces a Tourism Drought

Poor New York City! Once a bright and bustling hub of international travelers, the city that never sleeps is feeling the sting of a major tourism slump. The usual throngs of visitors from Canada and Europe are staying away, thanks to a mix of political tensions, tariffs, and travel warnings. The streets that are normally filled with tourists taking selfies in front of iconic landmarks are noticeably quieter.

What’s Happening?

The heart of the issue lies in the controversial tariffs that have fueled discord between nations, as well as the high-profile detentions of tourists from Canada and Europe. Then there’s the recent chatter about potential political changes affecting Canada, sending shockwaves through the travel industry. As a result, many Canadians—who make up a significant portion of New York’s foreign visitors—are choosing to stay home instead.

Last year, approximately one million Canadians made their way to NYC, making them the second-largest group of foreign tourists to the city after British visitors. Fast forward to 2025, and the drop-off is hard to ignore. Some estimates show that the number of foreign tourists has slumped between 30% and 60%, with many tour businesses reeling.

Local Businesses Hit Hard

The impact is palpable for local tour operators. Companies like Spread Love Tours have reported staggering declines in revenue. Once thriving on Canadian high school trips, the owner is now seeing a dramatic drop—from grossing $35,000 in 2024 to just $5,000 so far this year. Similar stories are emerging from tour guides across the city, with many cancellations leading to empty buses and fewer bookings.

Another local operator, who runs Real New York Tours, has already lost out on 20 bus tours from Canadian visitors, which adds up to more than 1,000 disappointed travelers. The overall sentiment among tour guides is that a quiet spring and summer might be in store due to these declining visitor numbers. Many are hopeful that domestic travelers will help fill the gaps, but they’re not too optimistic that it will be enough to make up for the lost business from abroad.

The Bigger Picture

On a broader scale, the ripple effects of these declining tourism numbers are substantial. Also, estimates suggest that a 10% reduction of Canadian tourists alone could contribute to economic losses of around $2.1 billion. This situation isn’t isolated to just New York City; it’s being felt across the United States. International tourist visits dropped by 2.4% in February 2025 compared to the same month in the prior year, and forecasts predict even steeper declines ahead.

Travel companies are raising alarms, estimating that international arrivals to the U.S. could decrease by as much as 9.4% this year. That number is nearly double the previous forecast of 5%. The U.S. Travel Association has made it clear that even the smallest dips could cost jobs and shake the economy.

Shifting Travel Plans

It’s not just Americans contemplating travel either. With a rise in travel advisories issued by several European countries including Denmark, the UK, and Germany, tourists are increasingly reevaluating their plans to visit the U.S. In fact, Canadian bookings for European destinations have jumped by 32%, showing a marked shift in travel preferences.

Despite the swirling uncertainty, NYC Tourism + Conventions is determined to adapt its strategies and promote the city on a global stage, continuing to market all that makes New York special. It will take creativity and resilience to combat the current challenges, but the spirit of this vibrant city is tough. As the city prepares for the peak summer season, everyone is genuinely hoping for recovery in tourism numbers soon.

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Additional Resources

• Gothamist
• The New York Times
• Time
• Travel and Tour World
• El País
• Wikipedia: Tourism in the United States
• Google Search: US tourism decline
• Google Scholar: US tourism decline
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Tourism
• Google News: US tourism changes