USA

Asians are avoiding trips to U.S. this year for a variety of reasons

Tariffs, border detention reports and negative exchange rates, especially the Canadians, especially the US trips to the United States.

However, those in Asia say they avoid trips to the US for different reasons.

According to a CNBC travel survey, approximately 80% of Southeast Asian travelers have lost their charm as a travel target of the US.

One quarter, their interest in visiting the country has decreased in the last six months, and the participants are more concerned about costs about potential discrimination, the Trump administration’s actions and weapons violence.

The news about tariffs and the US border policies affected young travelers more than the older ones, but younger travelers were still more likely to be interested in traveling to the United States.

6,000 International Traveling Survey from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia was conducted by Market Research Company Mılıeu Insight between 22 May – 10 June.

Almost half of the respondents said they visited the US at least once in the past.

Country Differences

However, despite their concerns, some participants – especially Vietnam (57%) and the Philippines (49%) – said they were more interested in the United States than six months ago.

Ziliyah Kamble, a senior lecturer at the University of James Cook in Singapore, said that this may be related to the size of diasporas in the United States. As of 2024, the Philippines fourth largest immigrant group According to the Pew Research Center, in the United States and Vietnam citizens were number 8.

Düzen Family living there could be because of their connections, Kamble said Kamble. But there is also “the willing factor and soft power of US culture, which is still very attractive through TV shows.”

Filipina Pinky David said that he often visited for work, family and holidays.

“I think the majority of the Philippines are still thinking of coming to America in general,” he said.

However, the survey showed that a nation has recently attracted a little interest in setting foot on American territory. Approximately 55% of the Singaporers said they were less interested in visiting the United States than last November. The data said only 7% of them are more interested.

The questionnaire also showed that Vietnamese participants have the most powerful reaction to the tariffs announced by the Trump administration. In April 2025, Trump announced on July 2 to 20% for Vietnam goods and 40% for the goods sent to Vietnam for the last shipment to the USA.

Negative buzz

CNBC’s survey reflects a Yougov report published in March Since January 2025, the US has shown that global “buzzing” and “impressions” have fallen as a travel destination.

Buzz and Impressions

Buzz: Hearing something positive or negative about a target
Impressions: Having a positive or negative impression about a target

According to Yougov data given to CNBC, the US impressions continued to fall into March and net scores fell in Europe, Middle East/North Africa and Canada and Mexico.

However, according to the Yougov report, the number of people who said they were thinking about the United States for their next international travel remained relatively stable.

According to the report, after Donald Trump was elected in November 2024, his interest in visiting the USA rose from various parts of the world to the United Arab Emirates and India to Hong Kong and Poland.

However, the interest of visitors, including Singapore, Canada, North and Western Europe, fell. According to the Yougov report, in general, global travel interest fell by 13%on trips to the USA.