Tourism has always been one of the driving forces for many nations seeking to boost their economic fortunes. Increased tourism demands to a particular country translates to more job creation across several sectors like the transport and hospitality industry as well as infrastructure investments across several related industries.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council “In 2024, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to global GDP totalled US$ 10.9 trillion. This includes direct, indirect, and induced impacts of the sector. As a share, Travel & Tourism represented 10% of the global economy.
Travel & Tourism is also an important source of employment. In 2024, the sector supported a total of 357 million jobs globally, which is approximately 1 in 10 jobs. Domestic visitors spent US$ 5.3 trillion, growing 5.4% over the 2023 level. At the same time, spending by international visitors increased 11.6% annually to reach US$ 1.9 trillion”. (wttc.org)
In driving their tourism fortunes, many countries shape and reshape their immigration laws to positively impact the industry and attract visitors who’s financial spendings contribute to boosting its economic projections.
This is why the recent immigration policies as well as new tariff imposition of the United States Government under President Donald Trump has created quite a stir as many consider the impacts of such policies on several sectors of the economy chief of which is the tourism industry.
Impacts on Black Tourism Businesses
With the growing concerns over the increased scrutiny for those visiting the United States, as well as travel bans and visa restrictions targeted at various countries, especially specific African countries by the Trump administration, there has been a growing concern about the United States being an unwelcoming destination for tourists with many opting for alternative destinations with less hostile treatment to visitors.
The growing decline in travel interests to the States is taking a huge knock on the travel industry especially for Black businesses and cultural places that make a fortune from international visits.
According to one of Germany’s international news outlets DW, “Before Trump took office earlier this year, the US tourism industry was already seeing fewer travelers from abroad. According to official statistics from the US National Travel and Tourism Office, the US counted just over 72 million international arrivals in the USA in 2024. In 2018 and 2019, the figure was around 80 million. France and Spain, meanwhile, have overtaken the US as the world’s most popular travel destinations”. (dw.com).
Impact on Black Tourist Visits
With the flurry of approach of the Trump administration’s introduction of stiff tariffs on goods and services from countries like China, Mexico, and several other countries there has been a corresponding backlash from the recipient countries which in turn has impacted the growing cost of travel related services like airline fares, hotels, etc.
As it is common for issues related to the rising cost of products and services, these increased costs are regularly passed on to the final consumer. For Black tourists, consideration of the impact of the rising costs on their disposable income has continued to remain a deterrent to travel plans thereby creating a basis for discretionary spending which ultimately affects tourists’ visits not just to the United States alone but to other nations of interest.
Furthermore, the devastating effects of these tariffs on the costs of goods and services not only put undue strain on businesses but also could trigger a cut in jobs leaving many Black employees with no disposable income to initiate travel plans or vacations for themselves or loved ones.
While some affected nations continue to engage in reciprocity sanctions on the United States, and others seek to meet at the negotiating table for further dialogue, the immigration policies and tariffs by the Trump administration offer a great opportunity for other countries to leverage the apathy of tourists towards visiting the states to provide alternative choice destinations by improving on their tourism prospects and investing in infrastructure that positively drives to growth of that sector.
Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. okechukwu.onicima@gmail.com
