Sharp decline in tourist travel from Germany and Switzerland to the US

Travel from Germany and Switzerland to the US has fallen significantly for the second year in a row. 

The number of travellers from Germany to the US over the first half of 2026 was down 14.2%, the German Travel Association (DRV) said on Wednesday. The situation was similar in July. In Switzerland, the figure was down 16.5%.

If the trend continues, the number of trips to the US from Switzerland in 2026 will be at the same level as in 2007, Andrea Beffa, managing director of the Swiss Travel Association (SRV), told the AWP news agency.

That would represent a 25% decline since early 2025, when US President Donald Trump took office. In Germany, the year-on-year decline in 2025 stood at 11.3%.

The political situation is one of several reasons for the reluctance to travel, says Torsten Schäfer, Head of Communications at the DRV. 

In a representative survey conducted for the DRV in February, around half of the approximately 2,000 respondents cited the political and social situation in the US.

Added to this were prices and entry requirements, including the administrative burden of applying for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for visa-free entry.

Furthermore, major events such as the FIFA World Cup, which took place in the US among other locations, generally led to a decline in tourist travel, says Schäfer. Tourists feared higher prices than at other times of the year.

However, despite all these developments the US remains an attractive holiday option. "In 2025, the US was the most popular long-haul destination for Germans overall - despite the declines compared with 2024," said Schäfer, "and, based on current booking figures, it is highly likely to remain so this year."