US plans to test vacationers’ social media ‘placing individuals off journey’ | US News

A 3rd of worldwide travellers say they’re much less prone to go to the US if proposals to scrutinise social media accounts are introduced in, in response to a survey.

It suggests proposals to display screen guests’ social media accounts and household histories – as introduced final month – may minimize tourism spending by $15bn (£10.8bn) and impression 157,000 jobs.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed gathering 5 years’ of social media info from travellers from chosen nations – together with the UK – who’re eligible to go to with out a visa by way of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

The Trump administration has elevated monitoring of worldwide travellers and immigrants.

The survey, commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), interviewed travellers throughout a number of of the roughly three dozen nations taking part within the ESTA programme.

The findings have been mixed with financial modelling assessing potential results on worldwide arrivals, customer spending, and the broader tourism-related GDP and employment within the US.

Two-thirds (66%) of greater than 4,500 respondents stated they have been conscious of the potential adjustments, suggesting the impression on individuals’s journey plans might be felt shortly if the brand new guidelines are carried out.

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December’s announcement acknowledged that CBP would start requesting further info, together with phone numbers utilized by the customer over the previous 5 years, electronic mail addresses used over the previous decade, and different particulars about relations.

Asked at a White House occasion whether or not he was involved the measure may have an effect on US tourism, President Donald Trump disagreed.

“We want safety, we want security, we want to make sure we’re not letting the wrong people come into our country,” he stated.

The announcement didn’t specify what the administration could be searching for in social media accounts or why extra intensive info was required.

Change ‘dangers 150,000 jobs’

Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the WTTC, stated: “Security at the US border is vital, but the planned policy changes will damage job creation, which the US administration values so much.

“Our analysis finds that over 150,000 jobs might be misplaced if this coverage goes forward – about the identical quantity normally created every quarter within the US.

“Even modest shifts in visitor behaviour, discouraged by the planned changes, will have real economic consequences for US travel and tourism, particularly in a highly competitive global market.”

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The elevated deal with social media screening has angered immigration and free speech advocates, who’re involved in regards to the administration’s intentions and whether or not the measures may goal critics of the federal government.

Ms Guevara added: “WTTC urges US policymakers to carefully assess this policy and its consequences for the economy and jobs.

“Travel and tourism is a essential driver of the American economic system, job creation and worldwide connectivity, with one in 10 jobs globally supported by the sector.”

According to the US commerce division, worldwide customer arrivals to the US in March 2025 totalled roughly 5.4 million, round 86.4% of the customer quantity recorded in March 2019, displaying that inbound tourism stays considerably under pre-pandemic ranges.

Sky News has contacted the US embassy in London for remark.