The United States is the third most visited country in the world with key cities such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago attracting hordes of tourists every year. However, the international visitors appear to be turning their backs on the sprawling country and instead spending their hard-earned money travelling to a beautiful little island owned by the UK.
As millions of travellers think twice about going to the US, other countries are set to swoop in and reap the benefits. Rumoured travel restrictions on people entering the country are one of many policies tipping America toward an increasingly isolationist state on the world stage, encapsulated in the US leader’s defining “America First” approach. The 2024 re-election of Donald Trump as the president of the United States and the consequential changes in foreign diplomacy and relations appears to be affecting holidaymakers’ desire to visit the US.
But meanwhile Bermuda, a stunning self-governing British overseas territory, has reported a surge in enquiries as Canadians relocate business and leisure trips away from the US. Some forecasters predict a 20% increase in revenue from Canadian visits.
The closest land outside Bermuda’s territory is the American state of North Carolina which is about 643 miles to the west-northwest whilst New York is around 774 miles away.
Spanning just 21 miles in length the beautiful island is one of the world’s most prosperous economies, largely accredited to its offshore finance industry, despite having a total population of just 63,900 residents.
Bermuda is famous for its distinctive pink sand beaches which is caused by tiny red foraminifera shells mixing with white coral sand. Those who wish to see the pinkest sand should visit Horseshoe Bay Beach which is known for its signature pink sand and stunning turquoise waters.
The island is also home to the incredible Crystal and Fantasy Caves.
Formed over millions of years, these not-to-be-missed natural wonder caves, amaze visitors with its incredible beauty.
Nestled 290m underground the caves are owned by the local Wilkinson Trust.
To immerse themself in the island’s history and heritage should visit the National Museum of Bermuda.
The maritime museum explores 500 years of Bermuda history.
According to preliminary data from the National Travel and Tourism Office, international tourist arrivals to America dropped 2.4% in February compared to the same month the previous year.
These figures exclude travellers from Canada and Mexico, the two countries with the largest inbound tourist arrivals. However, the Canadians are distancing themselves from the US more than ever with the number of Canadian visitors to the US already down by 15% this year.
Air Canada has even announced it is reducing flights to some US holiday destinations, including Las Vegas, from March, as demand reduces.
Europe is also bracing itself for a boost in bookings with rental properties experiencing a 32% jump in summer reservations when compared to last year, according to some reports.