To stream KHOU 11 on your phone, you need the KHOU 11 app.
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
HOUSTON — International travel to the U.S. is down this year. Foreign visitors are rethinking trips to the United States and new numbers show that also includes Houston.
It’s being dubbed the “Trump Slump.” 2025 was supposed to be a record year for travel. So far in Houston, key, reliable markets are down.
“I can tell you 2024 was a great year,” said Jorge Franz, Senior VP of Tourism at Houston First. “We had the most visitors ever to Houston. 54 million estimated.”
That included a 16 percent increase in international visitors. But so far, 2025 is shaping up to be very different.
“This year, we’re seeing a mixed bag,” said Franz.
The data shows a slowdown. International arrivals into Houston year to date through February are down 5% compared to 2024. At Hobby, a 15.7% drop in foreign visitors. IAH recorded a 4.2% decrease. Franz said they’re not concerned yet.
“Obviously we’re keeping a close eye on it,” said Franz.
Houston is also seeing drops in future hotel bookings from reliable markets like Canada and many European countries like the UK. Perhaps most notable, a drop in tourists from Mexico, 73,000 fewer from January to February this year.
“[Mexico] is our largest market,” said Franz. “Visitors spend dollars generating sales tax, generating hotel occupancy tax, and any drop in that is going to be a negative.”
U.S. tourism officials expect it to worsen. Research firm Tourism Economics had projected travel to the U.S. to grow by 9% this year. Their new forecast now – a decline of 5.1%.
“This is a big moment for the U.S and for Texas,” said KHOU political analyst Brandon Rottinghaus. “That could cost the state and the country into the billions of dollars.”
Rottinghaus said the Trump administration’s rhetoric on trade, immigration and national security is largely to blame.
“The politics have made it complicated,” said Rottinghaus. “It’s pushing people away and encouraging them to go places where they feel they are more welcome.”
Here in Houston, officials plan to enhance their efforts and promote this destination more than ever before.
“There’s just an enormous amount of competition,” said Franz. “We want people to know this is a place they will feel comfortable when visiting.”
It’s not all bad news for Houston. Travel from India is actually showing growth this year. And Houston First is ramping up its efforts to attract visitors from the UK. They opened an office there just last November.
