INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Global Headwinds Hit U.S. Exhibitions FEWER BADGES, TOUGHER BORDERS BY EXHIBIT CITY NEWS STAFF
Tradeshows are no longer just about floor plans and lead counts. Global unrest, shifting visa policies, and growing concerns at the border are changing how international participants engage with U.S. events, and in some cases, whether they attend at all. For organizers, exhibitors, and host cities, the impact is becoming harder to ignore. According to the 2025 International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) Global Socio-Political Impact Survey, nearly 60 percent of non-U.S. event organizers say political conflict or policy changes in their regions have already affected their ability to plan or host events. For one in four, the impact has meant canceling, relocating, or postponing key gatherings. Now, new federal data shows that similar disruptions are emerging within the United States, as international travel to U.S.-based events continues to decline. U.S. sees continued decline in international arrivals Preliminary figures from the Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection show a 14 percent drop in international visits to the U.S. in March 2025 compared to the same time last year. The U.S. Travel Association warns that the decline could cost the country over $21 billion in 36 Jul/Aug/Sept 2025 Exhibit City News
travel-related export revenue this year if the trend holds. Canada saw a 26 percent drop in overnight land visits and a 14 percent decline in air travel. Western Europe saw air travel fall by 17 percent, marking its first year-over-year decrease since 2021. Asia remains 25 percent below pre-pandemic levels. These regions have long been considered among the highest-value inbound markets for U.S.-based tradeshows, especially in globally connected sectors like technology, healthcare, and aerospace. “International travelers are vital for the destination,” Fletch Brunelle, Vice President of Marketing at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told Exhibit City News (ECN) in 2023. “They traditionally make up 14 percent of overall visitation.” That same year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported recovery momentum from key markets like Canada and the UK— progress now threatened by rising visa delays, policy shifts, and global instability. Event organizers face a new normal For those planning international shows—or even U.S. events that rely on global attendees—operational risk is becoming a growing factor. According to IAPCO, over 49 percent of event organizers reported shifting preferred destinations due to safety or political concerns. That shift is already forcing changes in freight logistics, staffing, speaker sourcing, and even insurance coverage. For international organizers, permits and approvals have also become a new bottleneck. When asked, 27 percent of IAPCO’s respondents say they’ve encountered unexpected delays or denials due to regulatory hurdles or political shifts in their regions. A policy divide: protection versus participation President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January 2025, and some of his supporters say recent disruptions to international participation are a necessary consequence of restoring control over immigration and border policy. In May,
the U.S. House of Representatives passed a five-year, $150 billion immigration enforcement package that includes expanded visa vetting, increased staffing at the border, and broader deportation authority. Trump has repeatedly defended this enforcement-first approach, stating in past remarks that “we want workers… but they have to come in legally.” Stephen Miller, the former White House advisor and key architect of Trump-era immigration policies, continues to influence their 2025 direction. In a February appearance on The Steve Deace Show, Miller said: “The distinction between legal and illegal immigration is meaningless if both are used as tools to displace American workers or burden our public systems.” He has long argued for reducing even legal immigration if it risks straining resources or lowering wages. This policy view holds that immigration, whether legal or illegal, should be strictly controlled to prioritize national security and economic self-interest. While such measures may limit international participation at events, supporters argue that sovereignty and safety take precedence. Pro-business conservatives push back Not all conservatives agree. Several pro-business organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and New York City Tourism + Conventions, have raised concerns that current immigration and visa policies are slowing the recovery of international tourism and business engagement. New York City Tourism + Conventions recently revised its forecast, projecting 12.1 million international travelers to the city in 2025—down from 14.6 million in an earlier estimate. “The environment has become more challenging for international visitors,” said CEO Fred Dixon in a May 8 Bloomberg interview, citing visa wait times, shifting federal policy, and perception issues at the border. While the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has not issued a recent statement specific to the exhibition industry, it has consis-