Events across the globe, plus economic forces and climate concerns, are converging to create a slow-down in the impetus of the global tourism industry.
Economic factors including skyrocketing travel costs, weaker economic growth and the recent increase in tariffs are some of the main challenges predicted to impact international tourism in 2025, according to a May 2025 World Tourism Barometer survey by UN Tourism.
Uncertainty emanating from growing geopolitical and trade tensions is weighing on travel confidence. Lower consumer confidence and geopolitical risks rank high as deterrents to tourism. The survey revealed that tourists are likely to travel closer to home, make shorter trips and spend less.
Despite this negativity, the latest UN Tourism Confidence Index reflected a cautious optimism for the summer season in the Northern hemisphere with 45 of panel experts predicting better prospects for the period 33 foresaw similar performance to the 2024 period 22 expect tourism performance to be worse and 25 expect impact from trade tensions in the near future.
Some, but not all, of the coming slowdown could be blamed on Trumps new regime.