Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2026

DATA CHECK

of foreigners from non-visa waiver countries are less willing to travel to the U.S. due to the $250 visa integrity fee. 57.5%

of foreigners are less interested in visiting the U.S. due to higher national park fees. 43.1%

75.3% of foreigners are less interested in 35.2%

U.S. Opportunity: Interest in Visiting the U.S. in the Next 2 Years - 2025 vs. 2026 (Change By Market)

Interested in 2025

Interested in 2026

100

94.9%

91.3%

85.5%

80

84.2%

83.6%

81.7%

82.4%

78.3%

75.9%

75.9%

71.3%

69.9%

68.3% visiting the U.S. due to social media screening requirements. 68.6% 55.4% 48.6%

66.1%

60

64.8%

64.4%

62.3%

58.4%

57.5%

58.2%

57.4%

57.1%

54.5%

40

42.9%

42.1%

39.1%

34.1%

20

24.6%

0

India

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

China

Japan

Italy

United Kingdom

Colombia

South Korea

Spain

Canada

France

Germany

Australia

Netherlands

respondents from Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, China and India all had improved perceptions of the U.S. “This matters because today’s global travelers are more selective,” Future Partners said in its report on the survey. “Rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and expanding destination choice

mean travelers are actively filtering destinations, not aspirationally bookmarking them.” Among other findings, the survey found that National Park fees for foreign visitors have reduced interest in visiting the U.S. for 43.1% of international travelers surveyed, while social media screening requirements have dampened interest for 35.2%. Among non-visa waiver countries, 57.5% agree that the new $250 visa integrity fee is actively reducing their willingness to travel to the U.S. “In a global context where competing destinations are streamlining entry, expanding visa-free access, and messaging openness, these policies reinforce a perception of friction, scrutiny, and added cost; attributes that work against the U.S. brand promise of welcome and freedom,” Future Partners said. “The U.S. still has extraordinary experiential equity but converting that equity into visits now demands fresher insights, tighter strategies, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable realities shaping global perception.”

Future Partners Source: The State of the International Traveler 2026

U.S. Opportunity: Likelihood of Visiting the U.S. in the Next 2 Years - 2018-2026 (Total Aggregate)

Likely to Visit

Unlikely to Visit

Will Not Visit

60%

53.2%

51.0% 49.2%

47.2%

50%

46.2%

45.9%

44.2%

44.1%

40%

36.1%

30%

23.2%

22.2%

22.1%

22.5%

25.3%

19.2%

20.0% 18.1%

16.9%

20%

14.0%

10%

7.5%

7.2%

5.7%

5.9%

5.8%

6.9%

5.4%

5.0%

0%

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Future Partners Source: The State of the International Traveler 2026

7

AX NEWS APRIL/MAY 2026