Asia Travel Pulse
Asians are avoiding trips to U.S. this year for a variety of reasons
Tough talk on tariffs, reports of border detentions and unfavorable exchange rates are putting some travelers, especially Canadians, off trips to the United States this year.
But those in Asia say they’re avoiding trips to the U.S. for different reasons.
Nearly 80% of Southeast Asian travelers said the United States is losing appeal as a travel destination, according to a CNBC Travel survey.
One in four said their interest in visiting the country declined in the past six months, with respondents saying they’re more concerned about potential discrimination, actions by the Trump administration and gun violence than they are about costs.
News about tariffs and U.S. border policies negatively affected younger travelers more than older ones, the survey showed, but younger travelers were still more likely to be interested in traveling to the U.S. overall.
The survey of 6,000 international travelers from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia was conducted by the market research company Milieu Insight from May 22 to June 10.
Nearly half of those surveyed said they had visited the U.S. at least once in the past.
Country differences
But despite their concerns, some respondents — particularly those from Vietnam (57%) and the Philippines (49%) — said they’re more interested in visiting the U.S. now than they were six months ago.
That may have to do with the size of their diasporas in the United States, said Zilmiyah Kamble, senior lecturer in hospitality and tourism management at James Cook University in Singapore. As of 2024, Filipinos were estimated to be the fourth-largest immigrant group in the United States, and Vietnamese citizens were at No. 8, according to the Pew Research Center.
“It could be because of family connections who live there,” said Kamble. But there’s also “the aspirational factor and the soft power of U.S. culture, through TV shows, that still is very attractive.”
Filipina Pinky David spoke to CNBC Travel from the U.S., which she said she visits frequently for work, family and holidays.
“I think the majority of Filipinos, in general, still consider coming to America,” she said.
However, the survey showed that one nation showed little interest in setting foot on American soil anytime soon. Some 55% of Singaporeans said they are less interested in visiting the U.S. than they were last November. Only 7% said they are now more interested in going, the data showed.
The survey also showed that Vietnamese respondents had the strongest reaction to tariffs announced by the Trump administration. In April 2025, Trump announced a 46% tariff on imports from Vietnam, before reaching a trade deal on July 2 that reduced the amount to 20% for Vietnamese goods and 40% for goods shipped to Vietnam from other countries for final shipment to the United States.
Negative buzz
CNBC’s survey mirrors a YouGov report released in March which showed that since January 2025, global “buzz” and “impressions” of the U.S. as a travel destination have plummeted.
Buzz vs. impressions
- Buzz: hearing anything positive or negative about a destination
- Impressions: having a positive or negative impression of a destination
Impressions of the U.S. continued to drop into March, with net scores falling into negative territory in Europe, the Middle East/North Africa, and Canada and Mexico, according to YouGov data provided to CNBC.
However, the number of people who said they were considering the U.S. for their next international trip remained relatively stable, according to the YouGov report.
After the election of Donald Trump in November 2024, interest in visiting the U.S. rose in several parts of the world, from the United Arab Emirates and India to Hong Kong and Poland, according to the report.
However, interest in visiting dropped in other places, including Singapore, Canada, and Northern and Western Europe. Overall, global travel interest in trips to the U.S. fell 13%, according to the YouGov report.
Online sentiment
Online sentiment about traveling to the U.S. also varies by country, according to the analytics company Sprout Social.
The company found that there were more than 87,000 mentions — and more than 1 million engagements, in the form of likes, comments, or shares — on X, YouTube, Tumblr and Reddit from April 30 to June 3 that discussed travel to the United States. Nearly 50,000 were from Canada, of which 45% were negative, the data showed.
However, 96% of the 18,000 mentions and interactions that originated from India were either positive or neutral, it showed.
Interestingly, the most negative sentiment about U.S. travel came from users in the U.S. itself, the data showed.
Millions of global travellers have voted Hong Kong as the best travel destination in Asia in the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Destinations awards by TripAdvisor. Ranked alongside New York, London and Paris, Hong Kong is also the only Asian city among the 10 best destinations. Commenting on the accolade, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) James Tien said, “We are truly delighted and honoured by this prestigious and influential award. To be selected by millions of travellers worldwide as one of their favourite destinations is a strong testament to Hong Kong’s global appeal and popularity. It not only reaffirms our city’s position as a leading travel destination in the region, but also pays tribute to the hard work and effort of every member of our tourism industry.” “As online travel planning becomes a global trend, this award will help us achieve positive word of mouth for Hong Kong and inspire even more travellers to visit our city. Working closely with our trade partners, we will continue to showcase Hong Kong’s appeal as Asia’s World City, including its vibrant, cosmopolitan setting, its unique fusion of East and West, as well as great diversity of attractions, which give visitors an exceptional, world-class experience,” Tien added.
Asia Travel Pulse
Max Dowman, Marli Salmon and Andre Harriman-Annous travel with Arsenal first-team for Asia Tour
Max Dowman, Marli Salmon and Andre Harriman-Annous are amongst the youngsters travelling with the first-team to Asia. (Squad via Arsenal).
Louie Copley, Josh Nichols, Ismeal Kabia and Alexei Rojas have also been selected to travel with the squad.
Of the academy players that were with the first-team in La Manga, Maldini Kacurri, Harrison Dudziak and Ife Ibrahim won’t be travelling to Asia.
It had been expected for some time that highly rated 15-year-old midfielder Dowman would travel with the first-team.
Another 15-year-old, centre-back Salmon, is also very highly regarded and it is interesting that he has been chosen ahead of Kacurri, a player with some first-team experience.
Forward Harriman-Annous made an impact at various levels last season, while midfielder Copley has just signed his first professional contract with the club.
Right-back Nichols and winger Kabia made their senior debuts against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup last season and goalkeeper Rojas was named on the bench for that game.
In terms of first-team players, Noni Madueke has been given time off after his involvement at the Club World Cup, while Gabriel Jesus remains injured.
Fabio Vieira was also at the Club World Cup and Karl Hein has a thumb injury (via The Mirror).
Ethan Nwaneri is back at Arsenal after his involvement at the U21 European Championship.
Arsenal will travel to Singapore and Hong Kong and will play games against AC Milan, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
READ MORE ABOUT THE ACADEMY PLAYERS SELECTED BELOW:
Squad via Arsenal
Asia Travel Pulse
Pattaya Crowned Top Micro-Travel Destination in Thailand, Now Earning its Spot Among Asia’s Best for the Short Getaways, Wellness, and Beachside Escapes in this Year
Saturday, July 19, 2025
PATTAYA, Thailand – Reinforcing Thailand’s appeal as an international tourist destination, Pattaya was named this month as one of the leading cities for micro-travel in Thailand as part of the 2019 trend results thanks to scores of visitors who chose to stay overnight in the city for one to two days. This recognition comes after Agoda’s recent Jan-March 2025 data exchange highlighting Pattaya’s charm as the perfect destination for a brief yet meaningful break.
Micro-Travel: A New Tourism Wave
Tiny travel became a huge trend for contemporary tourists, especially those who are busy professionals or digital nomads who can enjoy very little leisure time. This quick shots of revival are designed to let tourists recharge themselves without going overboard on the planning or on the extended leave from their day jobs. Based on this extensive survey conducted by Agoda, already, micro-travel is more than 35% of travel in Asia and sees growing momentum. The trend also brings to mind women who are working, and doing work while traveling, which they call “workation.”
Pattaya’s International Recognition
Pattaya’s appeal has gone beyond national boundaries to become a major micro-travel destination around the world. Pattaya is among the top five micro-travel destinations in Asia, outside of those cities, such as Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Taipei, and Manila, according to Agoda. This prestigious award not only puts the spotlight on Pattaya as a distinctive destination of travel but also endorses it as a dynamic destination that is responding to the needs of travelers in the region.
Top Micro-Travel Hotspots in Thailand
In Thailand, Pattaya is at the top of the list of alternate destinations for micro-travelers, along with Chonburi, Hua Hin Rayong and Khao Yai. These are cities where it is easy to take short breaks, with easily achievable variety, whether it is mountainous coastlines or quiet countryside. The rise of micro-travel And this increasing demand for micro-travel leads us to promising opportunities for Thailand’s tourism providers, so get ready to make packages targeting hassle-free and soul refreshing short trips.
Economic Benefits and Community Development
The growing micro-travel trend also helps to drive more tourism revenue to beyond major urban centers like Bangkok. Promoting overnight travel to neighbouring cities and secondary destinations provide a welcome reprieve to grassroots economies including small businesses, local vendors, and community initiatives. Pattaya’s award is a further proof of the city’s comprehensive tourism facilities, excellent service & extremely renowned Thailand for being one of the best locations to visit worldwide.
Promotion by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand
Thailand’s Ministry Tourism and Sports congratulated Pattaya on its recent success. “We are delighted to have been recognized by voters for our outstanding facilities, rich array of entertainment options and unparalleled location with respect to exceptional customer service,” officials said in a statement. The ministry said it would continue to work on encouraging micro-travels, so tourism is more evenly spread across the country and contributes to local economic growth in a sustainable way.
Preparing for Continued Growth
As micro-travel becomes increasingly popular, Thailand’s tourism industry is actively evolving its product to cater to the modern traveller wanting more. Hotels, restaurants and tour operators are all thinking out of the box with tailored short-stay packages, flexible booking options and experiences that let you squeeze the most enjoyment into the shortest possible time.
The Future of Tourism: Fast, Quality Experiences in Thailand
Pattaya’s achievement as Thailand’s most popular micro-tourism destination reflects a wider emerging international trend towards shorter and more impactful tourism. With increasingly hectic lifestyles and the divide between work and leisure continuing to diminish as threshold boundaries are laterally stretched, places like Pattaya are well placed to cash in on the increasing demand for quick, high-quality leisure breaks. To embrace this trend benefits not just in terms of Thailand’s tourism appeal, but also coming eventually with sustainability benefit, and empowering of the communities for the long term.
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