Some international LGBTQ+ travelers pull back on U.S. trips: 'Why would I go there?'

Bookings for queer-friendly housing accommodations in the U

The majority of users said they use their travel budget as a form of activism — supporting inclusive destinations and economies

Despite some pullbacks in corporate sponsorships, pride organizations across the U

Said attendance is still strong

Erik McGregor | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesCanadian citizen Robert Sharp was planning to visit vincetown, Massachusetts — one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly places in America — for his friend's milestone birthday in July

But against a backdrop of trade tensions sparked by President Donald Trump's tariff policies and increasing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies in the U. , he said his plans changed. "Do we want to have that stress before going on vacation

Or do we want to support our own country. " Sharp said

The group he was planning to travel with decided to cancel the trip and will instead visit Montreal, he said

Sharp and his partner were also planning to visit Chicago or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a separate trip this year, but they shifted their plans to a Canadian road trip between Calgary and Vancouver. "We've been hit hard in Canada with tariffs and there's been a real sense of patriotism up here

So, we ultimately decided to explore our own country, and do a road trip to the Rockies and spend money within Canada to help our economy," Sharp said

Sharp's change in plans reflects a larger trend of international travelers rethinking where they are spending their travel budgets and pulling back on visits to the U

The number of foreign visitors to the U

By air dropped 10% in March from a year prior, according to the International Trade Administration, part of the Commerce Department

Including land border crossings, the number of inbound visitors to the U

Fell 14% in March from the same period last year, according to industry group U

Oxford Economics estimates spending among international visitors to the U

Tied to trade and immigration policy lead travelers to other destinations

Among the LGBTQ+ population, bookings for queer-friendly housing accommodations in the U

The company said it had a 22% increase in bookings in blue states and a 9% decline in red states during that time period

It also saw declines in cities within red states including Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Austin, Texas

Misterb&b CEO Matthieu Jost said overall bookings on the platform are not down globally but are increasing

LGBTQ+ individuals appear to be continuing to spend on vacations, but they're changing their destinations, Jost said

The company said the majority of misterb&b users it surveyed this year said they use their travel budget as a form of activism — supporting inclusive destinations and economies

Arun Nevader | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesThe rainbow dollarSharp, who owns LGBTQ-friendly travel company Out Adventures, is not alone in changing his travel plans

In February, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada issued a statement saying its members would not participate in person at conferences or events happening in the U

This year, including WorldPride, which took place at the beginning of June in Washington, D

The decision was made primarily to tect individuals' safety, said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada

In his second term, Trump has signed several executive orders targeting transgender people, including preventing them from serving openly in the military and trying to keep transgender athletes out of girls' and women's sports

Another executive order, which says the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, mpted several countries, including Denmark, Finland and Germany, to issue official cautions for LGBTQ+ travelers visiting the U. , particularly transgender travelers

Canada has also d its travel guidance with specific advisories for people with an "X" gender listed on their passports

Kennedy said another reason for the decision not to travel to the U

Was to push back on what she views as "economic warfare" from the U

Toward Canada. "People talk Canada and the U

Having a long history of being incredible neighbors

And yes, we do, but that's based on economic interests a lot of the time," Kennedy said. "When you put that human element with the economic element, then you think, well, OK, why would I go there. "Kennedy said members of Egale Canada who are involved in nongovernmental organizations would normally spend anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 per person during a trip to attend a conference or event

Corporate travelers usually spend at least $5,000, she estimated. "We do spend a fair chunk of change in hotels," she said. "We do excursions, we rent bikes, we do all of the things that everybody else does. "The LGBTQ+ travel market is significant

The purchasing power of LGBTQ+ consumers overall is estimated to be $1. 4 trillion, according to a 2022 study by the market re firm Pride Co-Op

In 2023, the global LGBTQ+ tourism market size was $296. 8 billion, and it's expected to more than double in 10 years, reaching $634. 9 billion in 2033, according to Market

When traveling, LGBTQ individuals book more activities and tours and spend more on these experiences than other populations, the Arival re found

John Tanzella, CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said his organization is already sensing a pullback in international LGBTQ+ travel to the U

He said he has heard hesitations from international members attending the organization's global convention in October in Palm Springs, California. "They don't feel welcome here, so why come and spend their money here. " Tanzella said. "On the surface, it affects airlines and hotels

But if you dig a little deeper it does affect other es, whether it's barber shops or restaurants, bars, spas

A lot of communities rely on tourists to come in and spend their money," he added

Kayla Bartkowski | Getty ImagesPride celebrations carry onDespite concerns of waning visits from international LGBTQ+ travelers, as well as some pullbacks in corporate sponsorships for Pride celebrations, Pride organizations across the U

Said attendance was strong at Pride Month events, many of which take place on the last weekend of June

But many organizations said it's still too soon to get official attendance numbers or difficult to estimate, given that many Pride celebrations are non-ticketed and open to the public

Matt Şenız-Cheng, associate director of partnerships for NYC Pride, said attendance for its Pride events last weekend is expected to total 2. 5 million — in line with its typical numbers

He said NYC Pride lost apximately 25% of its corporate sponsorships initially this year, due to the economy, tariffs and pullback surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion

But he estimated the number of people and contingents participating in the Pride march this year will be bigger than in previous years

Ryan Bos, executive director for the Capital Pride Alliance, which ran WorldPride this year, said organizers were "pleasantly surprised" that people still showed up amid concerns the Trump administration's policies

Bos said he had heard calls to cancel the event this year due to political tensions in Washington, he said. "If we were to retreat, what message would that have sent to all the other Prides who are also experiencing similar challenges. " Bos said

While WorldPride doesn't have official attendance numbers yet, Bos said he believes attendance was strong

However, Tanzella, of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said he heard numbers for WorldPride were down this year

Cities in red states have also continued on with their pride celebrations

Its Pride parade will be celebrated in October due to the summer heat

In Salt Lake City, SLC Pride estimated its celebration last weekend brought in 17,000 attendees, more than the 10,000 it saw last year, according to Bonnie O'Brien, festival director. "We are in a little bit of a blue bubble here in Salt Lake," O'Brien said. "We're not expecting people to come from big, big cities or foreign countries

But will we get people from Wyoming

Will we get people from rural Utah or rural Idaho. ""It's not travel

It's not red or blue," she said. "It's the closest place that they can find community

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