As President Donald Trump escalates his deployment of National Guard troops to cities like Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and now Baltimore – with threats extending to New York and Chicago – the question being asked increasingly by the international community is: Is America still safe for tourists? The optics of soldiers marching near landmark sites and the president’s repeated portrayal of cities as crime-ridden battlegrounds have unnerved visitors and industry insiders alike.
Tourism bodies in the US are cautiously navigating this politically charged environment. The US Travel Association, the leading industry lobby, recently expressed concern that the heavy militarisation of public spaces “risks harming the nation’s hard-earned reputation as a welcoming destination.” President and CEO Geoff Freeman warned, “Travel thrives on perception as much as reality, and tourists are understandably unsettled by images of troops patrolling iconic streets.” Meanwhile, Destination DC, responsible for promoting tourism in the nation’s capital, highlighted that “while crime rates are falling, persistent political narratives and military presence risk overshadowing positive trends in safety and hospitality.”
Against this backdrop, Canada has reported a spike in tourism numbers, with some analysts attributing the increase to travellers opting to avoid perceived risks in the United States. Yet, American officials, including some local authorities, offer a contrasting view – pointing to falling crime statistics and the positive impact of federal interventions in reducing violent offences.
The reality is still complex: crime rates in many US cities have decreased significantly in recent years, yet the president’s narrative of “cleaning up crime” with troops has added a militarised lens to the tourist experience. The long-term damage this feeling may inflict on American tourism, a sector vital to local economies, remainsuncertain as the country grapples with its internal divisions and how best to present safety and security to the world.
As cities like Los Angeles and Washington, DC, deal with the deployment of National Guard troops following President Donald Trump’s recent threats to send soldiers, questions arise not only about domestic safety but also the message this sends internationally – especially to tourists. With Mr Trump framing his troop deployments as a “crackdown on crime,” the optics for visitors to America are becoming increasingly fraught.
The president’s social media blitz targeting Democratic-led cities, accompanied by criticism from local governors like Maryland’s Wes Moore, exposes a deeply polarised national debate. Mr Moore dismissed Trump’s remarks as “tone deaf” and disconnected from community realities, underscoring a broader tension over the use of military forces for civilian law enforcement. Despite official figures from Washington Police showing violent crime falling significantly in recent years – hitting a 30-year low in 2024 – the political narrative being pushed suggests a city, indeed a country, in crisis.
For tourists assessing these conflicting signals, caution is prevailing. Recent travel data from early 2025 confirm a sharp downturn in visitors to the United States from key international markets, including steep declines from Australia, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Even Canada, historically a steady source of American tourists, reports rising visitor numbers as people divert their holidays northward in part over safety perceptions.
This perception among international travellers is compounded by increasingly aggressive border enforcement policies that have seen tourists detained or deported over minor administrative issues. Reports of invasive searches and shifting immigration rules have created a reputational headwind that even official travel ratings struggle to counterbalance. Australia continues to list the US as a Level 1 travel destination, showing minimal risk, but the practical effects of negative press and politicised safety messages are translating into a sustained cooling of tourism demand.
The president’s framing of urban crime as a “disaster” requiring military intervention -despite falling crime rates – risks further undermining the nation’s image as a welcoming destination. Moreover, troop deployments carrying weapons and stationed near iconic landmarks add a militarised tone that contrasts starkly with the hospitality and ease most tourists expect. For cities reliant on tourism revenue, these reports raise alarm bells about the longer-term impact on economic vitality and community morale.
However, not all is bleak. Many city officials and residents vehemently oppose the deployments, advocating for community-based solutions over military presence. Crime remains a nuanced and complex issue varying by neighbourhood and region, and for many parts of the US, safety for tourists remains high. Whether the current political rhetoric yields a lasting impression of danger is an open question, but the challenge to repair America’s international hospitality brand will be significant.
In the balance hangs an important truth: tourism is more than dollars and cents; it is a barometer of a nation’s global standing. The question – Is America safe for tourists? – is as much about perception shaped by politics as about actual crime statistics. As the US grapples with internal divisions and its policing approach, the world watches, weighing whether to visit the land that once epitomised openness and freedom, or look elsewhere.