Several countries have updated their travel advisories for the United States under the Trump administration, warning of strictly enforced entry policies and the risk of detention at U.S. border points and advising transgender and nonbinary travelers about the categorizations of sex outlined by President Donald Trump through an executive order.
Reports of aggressive questioning, detentions and denialsof admissionat ports of entry have sparked angst among U.S.-bound travelers and could tarnish the United States’ image abroad, some experts say.
Canada is reminding citizens to register visits of longer than 30 days, while the United Kingdom has cautioned that U.S. authorities “set and enforce entry rules strictly” and that “you may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.”
Germany and Denmark have also advised travelers whose gender on their passport does not match that assigned at birth to contact the U.S. Embassy before travel.
Finland’s advisory goes further, warning that in such a situation, “US authorities may deny entry” to travelers. The Finnish government also specifically notes President Donald Trump’s executive order that the U.S. now recognizes only two sexes, male and female, which has been criticized by some experts for scientific inaccuracy.
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Such cautionary measures follow several incidents at U.S. border points, including one, reported by Canadian media, in which a Canadian woman was detained for nearly two weeks — a situation that made her feel as if she “had been kidnapped,” she wrote in the Guardian. Several German nationals, one of them a green-card holder, were also detained for weeks in the U.S., according to German media.
Germany’s Federal Foreign Office said in an email that it is “taking the recent incidents very seriously” and has updated its guidance accordingly.
David Beirman, a senior lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney who specializes in tourism, said: “As a general rule, government travel advisories are an influential element in the destination choice for international travel.”
Oscar Vorobjovas-Pinta, a senior lecturer in tourism and society at the University of Tasmania in Australia, wrote in an email thathe suspects “as more and more countries update their advisories, we will see the negative sentiment toward tourism in the U.S. grow.”
“Destination branding is shaped as much by policy as by marketing,” he said, noting that such advisories point to aspects of U.S. policy that “reinforce narratives of exclusion rather than openness.” Travelers from European nations, “particularly in this political climate, tend to be highly aware of sociopolitical developments when choosing travel destinations,” Vorobjovas-Pinta added.
The United States’ role on the global stage has shifted dramatically in recent weeks under Trump, who has upended foreign policy in Washington, turned the country away from many of its allies and talked openly of annexing Canada and Greenland.
A February report from the research firm Tourism Economics says that if the U.S. enters an expanded trade war scenario and implements sweeping tariffs on key trading partners, which Trump has threatened, inbound travel is projected to decline by 15.2 percent compared with baseline projections.
A number of people in Canada have already canceled U.S. trips over Trump’s assertions that the country should become the 51st state, The Washington Post reported.
Travel to the U.S.could decline further. “It is a reality that advisories can shape public perception and discourse about the target country, indirectly influencing political relations,” said Diego R. Toubes, a professor at the University of Vigo in Spain who has studied how travel advisories can function as covert political sanctions.
Toubes said Germany’s update of its travel advice last week was “likely to have a negative impact on tourism from Germany and potentially other European countries” in the short and medium terms. “Overall, there may be a decline in confidence,” he said, as travelers “feel less secure about their ability to enter the U.S. smoothly, even with proper documentation.”
But Neil Carr, a professor who studies tourism and leisure at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said he is not so sure that U.S. travel could be quickly upended.
“People decide on traveling (or not) to destinations based on multiple pieces of information and perspectives,” he wrote in an email. “It takes time and effort to change the images people have of destinations.”
Advisories related to border policy enforcementand travelers’ gender could have different effects for different tourists. “Is the image linked to the advisory … a positive or negative one?” Carr asked. “That very much depends on the perspective of those viewing the image.”
According to recent developments, Canada and a number of European nations have revised their travel recommendations for their people who intend to visit the United States. Donald Trump administration’s recent modifications to US immigration laws and enforcement procedures have impacted a number of traveler groups, including LGBTQ+ people, and resulted in heightened border inspections. These revisions address these developments.
Germany
Germany’s Foreign Office revised its travel guidance after reports of German citizens being detained by US immigration authorities. The advisory emphasizes that entry approval via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or a visa does not guarantee admission, as U.S. border officials have the final authority. Travelers are advised to carry proof of return plans and be prepared for possible entry denial.
United Kingdom’s advisory
Similar warnings were sent by the UK, which made clear that breaking US entrance regulations may result in arrest or detention. This comes after instances of British tourists encountering problems at American borders.
Canada’s advisory
Canada updated its advisory in response to new US registration requirements for foreign visitors staying 30 days or more. Non-compliance could result in penalties or prosecution. The Canadian Snowbird Association is lobbying for exemptions, given the large number of Canadians who spend extended periods in the US annually.
Netherlands and Belgium’s advisories
The Netherlands updated its travel advice, particularly cautioning LGBTQ+ travelers about varying US laws and customs. Similar guidelines that address regional variations in LGBTQ+ acceptance and legal safeguards are anticipated to be released by Belgium.
Denmark and Finland warn LGBTQ+ travellers
Denmark and Finland updated their advisories with specific concerns for LGBTQ+ travelers. The changes in US policies, including the rollback of protections for transgender individuals and the elimination of the “X” gender marker on passports, have raised concerns. Finnish authorities advised travelers to ensure their passports reflect their sex assigned at birth to avoid complications at immigration checkpoints. Legal rights for LGBTQ+ people differ by state, with certain areas having restrictive regulations, according to Denmark’s warning.
