Safety fears and the weak Australian dollar are pushing Australians to rethink travel to the United States.
New data from the U.S. International Trade Administration shows Australian arrivals in March 2025 dropped by 7 percent compared to the same month last year, a fall of 4,559 people.
On April 7, the Australian dollar tumbled to US59.15 cents, its lowest point since the height of the pandemic, rattled by global tariff concerns.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests that more Australians are choosing to visit Asian countries, where flight times are shorter and the Australian dollar is relatively stronger.
Short-term travellers to Japan in February 2025 almost doubled (194 percent) compared to the same month in 2019.
While they have not seen increases to that extent, countries like Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam are also seeing more Australian visitors.
This is likely due to higher numbers of people from those countries settling down in Australia, and then returning to see family.
New Zealand retains its crown as the top destination, followed by Indonesia, Japan, India, and China. The United States, previously the third most popular destination in 2019, has slid to eighth.
Australian Economy
Australia’s currency also weakened against several other majors, with analysts linking the slide to growing unease over China’s economic outlook.
Given China remains Australia’s top trading partner, any disruption could carry weighty consequences. In 2023, exports to China totalled $219 billion, accounting for 32.5 percent of Australia’s export market.
China has borne the brunt of recent U.S. tariff hikes, with some duties reaching 125 percent. In retaliation, Beijing imposed tariffs of up to 84 percent on U.S. goods.
The combination of economic pressure and diplomatic friction is reshaping global travel trends. For Australians, the U.S. is fast losing appeal—both financially and politically.
Safety concerns and the shift in political climate may also be playing a role.
Alice Fraser, an Australian comedian cancelled a planned tour after legal advisers warned she could be stopped due to her past satire of President Donald Trump.
Global Drop
The slump extends beyond Australia.Countries including Colombia (-33 percent), the Dominican Republic (-32 percent), Germany (-28 percent), Ireland (-27 percent), Spain (-25 percent), Ecuador (-25 percent), South Korea (-15 percent), the UK (-14 percent), and France (-8 percent) also recorded significant declines.
Overall, international arrivals to the U.S. fell 11.6 percent in March.
This downward shift marks a sharp contrast to early-year forecasts. Tourism Economics had predicted inbound travel to the United States would grow by 8.8 percent in 2025.
The group now expects a 5.1 percent decline, citing “tariff-induced” exchange rate movements and growing diplomatic tension as key reasons.
Several nations, including Germany, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Canada and the UK, have updated travel advisories for the United Station since January.
Some explicitly cite social unrest, gun violence, and border unpredictability.
Canadian travellers, in particular, appear to be turning away in droves, with February figures showing a 20 percent drop.
