Published
March 23, 2026
As the kickoff for the FIFA World Cup approaches, the U.S. is preparing to host millions of hopefully big-spending travelers from around the world. The World Cup is just one of several upcoming “mega-events” in the U.S., including America’s 250th anniversary, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. At the same time, the U.S. is angling to attract a wave of foreign investment, which will require plenty of business travel as well.
However, burdensome new U.S. requirements for business and leisure travelers could halt the celebrations before they begin. This isn’t about immigrants—just short-term leisure and business travel. But by pulling in the welcome mat, we could put these unprecedented opportunities—and millions of U.S. jobs—at risk.
Why It Matters
The U.S. travel industry already contributes nearly $3 trillion to our economy and supports 15 million American jobs, according to a report by the U.S. Travel Association. The Commerce Department forecasts 85 million international travelers will visit the U.S. this year, contributing about 20% of all travel spending in the U.S.
Foreign visitors are especially welcome because they spend $4,000 on average—roughly eight times as much as the typical domestic traveler. Airlines, hotels, restaurants, and recreational destinations all share in the windfall.
New Burdens on International Visitors
In this context, recent moves by the administration to heap new burdens on international travelers present real risks for the travel and hospitality businesses that represent a full tenth of the American economy. Consider:
- For the 42 economies in the Visa Waiver Program—mostly European allies—proposed new requirements include disclosing five years of social media history, ten years of email addresses, and detailed family information. Business people coming to conferences and internal corporate meetings are also frequent users of this program. If these intrusive and burdensome requirements are introduced, many of the roughly 20 million annual visitors under this program will likely take their euros, yen, and won elsewhere.
- With 12 just added, a total of 50 countries are now subject to a new Visa Bond Program requiring their citizens to post a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before visiting the U.S. The administration has been seeking investments from and commercial deals with many of these countries, but this new hurdle is already having a chilling effect. While said to be refundable upon departure, this mandate makes travel unaffordable for many.
The Ripple Effect on Business
The impact of these moves won’t just be felt in Orlando and Las Vegas—it will be noticed in corporate boardrooms, too. The S&P 500 companies generate more than 40% of their revenue overseas, and their ability to bring staff from abroad to U.S. headquarters for meetings or to visit training facilities is essential to their operations.
The Chill is Here
Inbound international visits to the U.S. were down 4.8% in January from a year earlier; visits to the U.S. by Canadians were down 28% over this period. More broadly, the new regulatory hurdles the U.S. is creating for potential foreign visitors may accelerate the trend of companies moving business and scientific conferences to other countries, dodging the hassle of securing a U.S. visa. The same holds for moving training facilities to other countries.
These moves are not responding to any identified problems: The Visa Waiver Program hasn’t led to a surge in crime or security risks, and the Visa Bond Program doesn’t make the visa vetting process more rigorous.
Tellingly, our economic competitors don’t do these things. Canada is happy to host the business conferences; training facilities can be moved to Panama; and China is delighted to welcome an endless parade of African business delegations, rolling out a red carpet while the U.S. demands a $15,000 bond.
Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity
As the eyes of billions turn toward our stadiums this summer, the United States has a once-in-a-generation chance to up our game as a tourist destination—and a destination for international business. But we need to keep the door open and the welcome mat out. The world is ready to come to America; we just need to be ready to let them in.
About the author
John G. Murphy
John Murphy directs the U.S. Chamber’s advocacy relating to international trade and investment policy and regularly represents the Chamber before Congress, the administration, foreign governments, and the World Trade Organization.
