Travel from Finland to the United States has declined by 9 percent year-on-year, as more Finns cancel trips citing political and border-related concerns tied to Donald Trump’s presidency.
New figures from the US Government’s Travel and Tourism Office show a marked drop in arrivals from Finland this March compared to the same period last year. The downward trend aligns with broader falls across Europe, including Germany (down 28 percent), Denmark (down 34 percent), Sweden (down 17 percent), Norway (down 25 percent) and Iceland (down 35 percent).
In Finland, some travellers have voiced personal and political reasons for cancelling plans. One South Ostrobothnia woman, Amanda, told Yle she called off her visit because she feared issues at the US border due to a past visa overstay. She said the tightening of entry procedures under Trump made her uneasy about facing problems on arrival.
“I don’t want to get into any kind of problems at the border,” she said. Amanda had worked in the US as an au pair but returned to Finland seven years ago. She now avoids travel to the US altogether and asked to be identified only by her first name.
Similar decisions are being echoed elsewhere. Marketing director Jaana Aalto Sørensen from Albatros Travel noted a decline in bookings to the US for the coming autumn. Sales director Pia-Noora Rautio of Kilroy said customer interest is shifting toward alternative destinations, including Canada.
Some travellers are driven by political motives. Amanda said she would not support “a criminal-led country that tramples on women’s rights.” A Helsinki-based woman in her 40s said she was embarrassed to travel to the US under Trump’s leadership and has opted instead to stay in Europe.
“Not a single euro there, when the global situation is what it is,” she said.
Others described a social stigma around travelling to the US, with one traveller explaining that people are less likely to talk about American trips among friends and colleagues.
Increased scrutiny at US borders has also become a factor. According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finnish travellers have recently reported longer or more invasive questioning upon arrival. Jussi Tanner, Director General of Consular Affairs, said there are signs that conversations at the border are becoming more thorough.
The ministry has updated its travel guidance to advise that even a valid visa or ESTA does not guarantee entry. Entry decisions are made at the point of arrival.
Despite the drop in Finnish travel, the ministry stressed that outright denial of entry remains rare. Still, many travellers are deterred by the perception of uncertainty.
A broader economic context may also be playing a role. Rising travel costs and a weaker European economy could be discouraging long-haul travel in general. Easter holidays falling in April rather than March this year may have also skewed comparisons.
Goldman Sachs has estimated that the combined impact of falling tourism and boycotts of American products could cost the US economy as much as $90 billion.
While Eastern European countries have shown a small increase in travel to the US, Western European interest appears to be receding under the current administration.
HT
Finns rethink US travel as Trump era drives 9% drop
LEHTIKUVA
Tools
Typography
- Font Size
- Default
- Reading Mode
