Fear among German tourists regarding the United States

In recent weeks, alongside the tariff war between Washington and its allies in the international system, another event has occurred that was certainly unpredictable for most people!

This event pertains to the U.S. tourism industry, where citizens of European countries, including Germany, have become hesitant about traveling to the United States.

The detention of several Germans upon entering the U.S. has caused significant concern. Demand for travel to the U.S. has sharply declined, and tour operators are warning about the spread of fear. The German Foreign Ministry considers these detentions "isolated cases," but this narrative has not been widely accepted by German citizens.

The key point is that the reduction in the number and capacity of tourist trips from European countries to the U.S. is the same phenomenon we have witnessed since Donald Trump and his associates took charge of Washington's executive affairs.

According to Deutsche Welle, Timo Kolenberg, a travel tour organizer, looks at the holiday season with concern. Since the start of Donald Trump's second presidency, the business of this U.S. travel expert, whose office is in Hanover, has lost its former vibrancy.

From mid to late February onward, requests and new bookings for travel to the U.S. have dropped by about 15 to 20 percent, a decline that has been described as "noticeable." Consequently, the assurances provided by the German Foreign Ministry regarding the isolated and exceptional nature of the detentions of German citizens on U.S. soil have failed to revive the previous trend of extensive travel by Germans to the U.S.

This issue could have a reciprocal impact on the tourism industry in both the U.S. and Europe. Many European nationals with immigrant backgrounds are particularly fearful of traveling to the U.S., even for leisure, as they suspect they could face harassment by U.S. police and security authorities on baseless grounds.

Tour organizers for trips to the United States have reported similar concerns. The reasons for this decline include Trump and his unpredictable policies, as well as reports about several German citizens who were turned away upon entering the U.S.

Another noteworthy point is that some German citizens residing in the U.S. are preparing to return to their home country. For example, a 34-year-old German man with a U.S. residence permit has been held in a U.S. detention facility for over four weeks, awaiting deportation to Germany.