European travelers pull back from U.S. visits despite growth elsewhere

Western European tourists are visiting the U.S. in measurable decline, and emerging market growth from China and South America isn't compensating—a sharp reversal from the post-pandemic rebound narrative that dominated 2022-2023. Western Europe represents both high-spend leisure travelers and corporate visitors; their retreat signals either price sensitivity to a stronger dollar, lingering hesitation about U.S. safety or politics, or normalization after pandemic pent-up demand. Each diagnosis carries different implications for U.S. hospitality, airlines, and attractions relying on international premium segments. The arithmetic is plain: if you can't replace European volume and value with emerging market travelers, you're managing growth, not capturing it.