The U.S. Travel Association reports the federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has cost the country’s tourism sector upwards of $2.6 billion so far. The travel industry was already struggling this year with many travelers opting to avoid travel to the USA for fear of immigration and civil rights crackdowns. Plus, Donald Trump imposed a $250 visa integrity fee earlier this year for all non-immigrant visa holders visiting the country.
President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, Julia Simpson said in a statement: “While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the ‘closed’ sign.” In September, CNBC reported that the U.S. stood to lose $30 billion in international tourism, while surrounding destinations in Canada and Latin America see a notable boost in visitation.
To make matters worse, the shutdown has also caused longer wait times at airport security lines and cancelled flights as TSA agents and air traffic controllers call in sick to avoid working without pay. Ahead of the shutdown, air traffic controllers were already working as many as 60 hours per week as staffing shortages plagued the industry.
According to TravelPulse, the shutdown is currently costing the travel industry approximately $1 billion each week, a loss that Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, says is inflicting “irreversible damage.”
“Travelers are facing longer TSA lines and flight delays. Airports are reducing flights and we’ve seen entire control towers go dark. The longer this drags on, the worse the cascade of damage will be for local communities, for small businesses, and for the country. Congress needs to act now and reopen the government,” he added.
