There was a time—somewhere between Sinatra and selfies—when an American passport practically came with a red carpet and a smile at immigration. Not anymore. These days, if you’re travelling abroad with a Yankee twang and a navy-blue passport, don’t be surprised if the welcome mat’s been quietly rolled up.
According to Global Rescue’s freshly minted Spring 2025 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey, a complete 72% of globetrotters now reckon that Americans will be perceived more negatively overseas this year—thanks, in no small part, to what’s being politely called “recent international policy decisions.” Less politely? Uncle Sam’s swagger is rubbing the world the wrong way.
Dan Richards is standing in the operations room.
Now, that stat—72%—hasn’t budged since January. And in statistical terms, when people don’t shift their views for months, it’s usually because they’re stuck between frustration and resignation. Or perhaps just quietly cancelling that summer in Sicily.
“Let’s be clear,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member (yes, that’s a mouthful, but the man has gravitas),
“This isn’t just about diplomacy. When more than 70% of travellers express concern about being seen in a bad light abroad, it becomes a matter of safety and experience.”
Too right. We’re not just talking about awkward glances at a Parisian café—we’re talking full-blown avoidance. When asked where they’re least likely to visit in 2025, American travellers weren’t shy:
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China: 46% – Not exactly sending love letters.
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Mexico: 32% – Remarkable, given that half of the US spends spring break there.
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Canada: 25% – That’s right, even Canada, the beige cardigan of global diplomacy.
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France: 18% – A nation that has never needed much reason to frown.
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India: 17% – A powerhouse, but not without political baggage.
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Taiwan (15%), the UK (12%), and South Korea (11%) also made the list.
That’s not a fringe fear. That’s a full-on rethink of where Americans feel welcome. And when countries like Canada and the UK start giving you side-eye, you know things have shifted from warm beer and backslaps to chilly glances and cultural caution.
“Travellers aren’t just choosing based on scenery or exchange rates anymore,” Richards adds. “Cultural friction is now a real factor.”
In plain English? Even the Eiffel Tower can’t outshine the cold shoulder.
The World Is Watching – and Weary
Besides the apparent fact that Americans are worried they’ll get a frosty reception overseas, this tells us that the international travel game has changed. Foreign policy decisions aren’t just affecting trade deals and press briefings anymore. They’re bleeding into holiday plans, travel agents’ bottom lines, and tourism boards’ worst nightmares.
And who suffers? Not the politicians. It’s the newlywed couple dreaming of Santorini. It’s the retiree finally cashing in those frequent flyer points. It’s the travel agent trying to sell a river cruise to a client now spooked by geopolitics.
So, where to from here?
Tourism boards, airlines, and travel operators need to step up—not with platitudes, but with honesty, empathy and maybe a bit of PR jiu-jitsu. Americans want to travel, but not if they feel like pariahs on the plane.
It’s a call for more than travel advisories—it’s a call for diplomacy in denim, for cultural repair through conversation. Travel, after all, has long been the world’s great icebreaker. But right now, the ice is thickening, and the boots are American-made.
One thing’s clear: 2025 isn’t just another year in tourism. It’s a wake-up call on wheels. And while foreign policy may be forged in the halls of power, its consequences are felt in hotel lobbies, customs queues, and the hearts of travellers who want a good meal, a good view—and maybe a little peace.
