Travel demand from Belgium to the United States weakened markedly in 2025, confirming a structural downturn rather than a short-lived fluctuation. Official arrival data from the U.S. International Trade Administration indicate that in 11 of the 12 months, fewer Belgians entered the United States than during the same periods in 2024. 

The consistency of this decline suggests a fundamental shift in sentiment among Belgian travellers, with the U.S. losing relative appeal as a long-haul destination.

Over the full calendar year, Belgian arrivals in the United States declined by slightly more than 8% year on year. In absolute terms, this equated to nearly 23,000 fewer travellers, bringing the total number of Belgian visitors to approximately 260,700. On a monthly basis, this translated into an average of around 21,700 Belgian travellers, compared with almost 23,700 in 2024. 

While these figures remain well above the lows recorded during the pandemic years, they point to a clear reversal of the post-COVID-19 recovery momentum that had characterised earlier periods.

The monthly pattern reinforces the conclusion that the decline was structural. January already registered a modest year-on-year decrease, and from February onwards the curve remained almost continuously negative. There were no sustained rebounds or corrective peaks, indicating that demand did not simply shift between months. 

Even the summer holiday season, traditionally a cornerstone of Belgian travel to the United States due to long-distance road trips, national parks and family travel, failed to provide meaningful relief. July and August both remained clearly below their 2024 levels, underscoring that the downturn extended to core leisure travel months rather than being confined to off-season periods.

The autumn months further cemented this trend. September and October once again recorded double-digit percentage declines, a notable development given that these months often attract culturally oriented travellers, retirees and long-stay visitors from Belgium. 

The weakness extended into the end of the year. December, which typically benefits from festive city breaks, shopping trips and visits to relatives, saw arrivals from Belgium fall by approximately 10%. This was particularly striking as the pre-Christmas period has historically been one of the more resilient segments of transatlantic leisure travel.

April stood out as the sole month to record an increase in Belgian arrivals. However, this uptick was largely technical in nature. In 2025, the Easter holidays in Belgium fell entirely within April, creating a temporary concentration of travel rather than signalling renewed enthusiasm for the US destination. Outside this calendar effect, the underlying trend remained firmly negative.

Europe

Belgium’s performance closely aligned with developments in other Western European source markets. 

Neighbouring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and France experienced similar declines, reinforcing the view that the Belgian downturn was not an isolated phenomenon. Nevertheless, for Belgium, the impact was particularly visible because the U.S. has traditionally occupied a strong position as a long-haul leisure destination, especially for repeat visitors, family travel and thematic trips centred on culture, nature and urban experiences.

Causes

Several factors appear to be weighing on Belgian demand. The political climate in the United States following the return of Donald Trump to the White House is widely cited as a key influence. 

For a segment of Belgian travellers, the decline reflects a deliberate decision to avoid the USA on principle, driven by disagreement with domestic and foreign policies. At the same time, there is growing unease about the travel experience itself. 

Concerns over stricter border controls, unpredictable entry procedures and a perceived hardening of attitudes at immigration checkpoints have raised psychological barriers, particularly for older travellers and families.

Economic considerations also play a role. Although air capacity between Europe and the U.S. has largely recovered, transatlantic airfares remained volatile in 2025, while the strong dollar continued to erode purchasing power for euro-based travellers. 

Higher accommodation costs, tipping culture and rising domestic transport prices further increased the overall cost of a US trip, making alternative long-haul destinations comparatively more attractive for Belgian holidaymakers.

The decline has tangible implications for the Belgian travel industry. Tour operators reported softer demand for classic U.S. itineraries, while travel agencies noted a shift towards destinations perceived as more predictable, welcoming or cost-efficient. Airlines serving transatlantic routes monitored booking patterns closely, with Belgium’s volumes no longer showing the steady growth expected in a normalised post-pandemic environment.

2026

As 2026 unfolds, the central question is whether the United States can reverse this loss of ground among Belgian travellers. The data from 2025 suggest that the downturn was not merely cyclical, but rooted in broader political, economic and perceptual factors. 

There is cautious optimism that interest could stabilise or gradually recover later in the year, particularly in connection with major global events such as the FIFA World Cup and targeted promotional efforts. However, whether this will be sufficient to fully rebuild Belgian confidence in US travel remains uncertain. For now, the figures point to a destination that, while still important, has clearly lost momentum in the Belgian outbound travel market.

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