Travel

Visa Delays, Divisive Politics Dampen US International Travel Recovery

Bureaucratic hurdles persist for international travelers—and in some states, politics is exacerbating problems.

Miami, Florida

Photographer: Alexander Spatari/Moment RF

Tourism has bounced back furiously in the world’s major tourism markets. Spain recovered 86% of its pre-pandemic tourist arrivals in 2022, and arrivals this year already show a 28% increase over 2019 levels. France follows closely with year-to-date international visitors numbering just 3% less than before the Covid-19 pandemic and their spending at record levels, according to Atout France, a government tourism agency.

The US, on the other hand, is falling behind.