Asians are avoiding trips to the U.S. this year — for a variety of reasons

Is losing its appeal as a travel destination

Travelers are concerned discrimination, the Trump Administration and guns, a CNBC survey found

Interest in visiting the country was highest among those from Vietnam and the Philippines

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

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 potential discrimination, actions by the Trump administration and gun violence than they are costs

Border policies negatively affected younger travelers more than older ones, the survey showed, but younger travelers were still more ly to be interested in traveling to the U

Nearly half of those surveyed said they had visited the U

At least once in the past

Country differencesBut despite their concerns, some respondents — particularly those from Vietnam (57%) and the Philippines (49%) — said they're more interested in visiting the U

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 Re Center

Is decliningSquawk Box Asia"It could be because of family connections who there," said Kamble

But there's also "the aspirational factor and the soft power of U

Culture, through TV shows, that still is very attractive. "Filipina Pinky David spoke to CNBC Travel from the U. , 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

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 buzzCNBC's survey mirrors a YouGov report released in March which showed that since January 2025, global "buzz" and "impressions" of the U

As a travel destination have plummeted

ImpressionsBuzz: hearing anything positive or negative a destinationImpressions: having a positive or negative impression of a destinationImpressions of the U

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 vided to CNBC

However, the number of people who said they were considering the U

For their next international trip remained relatively stable, according to the YouGov report

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

Fell 13%, according to the YouGov report

Online sentimentOnline sentiment traveling to the U

Also varies by country, according to the analytics company Sut Social

Interestingly, the most negative sentiment U

Travel came from users in the U

Itself, the data showed

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