The U.S. risks losing millions of international visitors if the Trump administration moves forward with a proposal to require social media account information as part of certain travel authorization applications, tourism experts told Newsweek.
The change would apply to travelers seeking entry through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which covers citizens of 42 countries including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and many European nations.
Under the proposal, applicants would be asked to provide a five-year record of their social media history, alongside other personal information such as email addresses, phone numbers, places of residence over the past five years, and close family members’ names and birth dates.
“There is evidence that the proposed ESTA changes combined with broader U.S. entry policies would deter millions of international tourists if implemented,” Lori Pennington-Gray, director of the Richardson Family SmartState Center for Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development at the University of South Carolina, told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
The proposal arrives amid President Donald Trump’s broader push to tighten immigration and travel screening, framed as a national security measure.
In his January 2025 Executive Order, “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” Trump argued that the U.S. must be “vigilant during the visa-issuance process” to ensure that those approved for entry do not intend to harm Americans or U.S. interests, and that such individuals should be identified before admission.
What To Know
According to a proposal filed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Federal Register in December 2025, the agency said it is seeking to comply with Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order by making social media disclosure mandatory for ESTA applications.
CBP said it would add “social media as a mandatory data element for an ESTA application,” requiring applicants to provide social media information from the last five years.
Social media fields have appeared on ESTA forms since 2016, but have been marked as optional. Under the new proposal, that would change.
Public comments are open through February 9. As the deadline approaches, tourism specialists have raised concerns that the measure could discourage travelers who see it as a step too far—particularly those worried about data use, privacy, and the feeling of being closely monitored.
Industry groups are also forecasting measurable economic consequences. Recent projections from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) suggested that in a “high-impact scenario,” the U.S. could see about 4.7 million fewer international arrivals from ESTA countries in 2026—a 23.7 percent drop compared with a business-as-usual baseline.
Florida, California and Texas are “arguably most exposed to changes in international travel,” Muzzo Uysal, a professor of hospitality and tourism management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told Newsweek.
WTTC survey findings also suggest any impact could be felt quickly if the policy is introduced. The council reported that 66 percent of surveyed ESTA travelers were aware of the proposed change, and about 34 percent said they would be somewhat or much less likely to visit the U.S. in the next two to three years if the requirement is implemented.
Pennington-Gray said those findings align with broader research showing that even the anticipation of stricter screening can affect decisions.
“Policy signaling alone is enough to impact negative travel sentiment,” she told Newsweek, pointing to research on tourism risk perception where uncertainty, inconvenience, and perceived risk can suppress demand even before a rule takes effect.
Wider Economic Risks
Experts said the consequences would not end with fewer arrivals. A drop of several million visitors could ripple through the broader tourism economy, affecting hotels, airlines, and related sectors.
“A drop of several million international visitors would have a major economic impact on the U.S.,” Uysal said.
WTTC estimates cited in the report suggest reduced travel could translate into a $15.7 billion decline in visitor spending, with total losses to the tourism economy potentially reaching $21.5 billion.
“These losses would not stop at hotels and airlines; they would ripple through restaurants, retail, transportation and entertainment,” Uysal added.
The council also forecasted impacts on employment, estimating up to 157,000 American jobs could be affected. The report noted that this figure is roughly three times the average number of jobs created per month in 2025, when about 50,000 jobs were added monthly on average.
Uysal also warned the policy could worsen a broader imbalance.
“At the same time, the U.S. already runs a growing travel trade deficit, and losing high-spending international visitors would further widen the gap, weakening the country’s overall economic position,” he said.
What People Are Saying
Pennington-Gray said additional hurdles can steer travelers elsewhere.
“When entry becomes more difficult or expensive, some travelers simply choose not to come,” she told Newsweek. She added that extra requirements can reduce demand, weaken competitiveness, and damage a destination’s image by making it seem less welcoming or predictable. “Travel doesn’t stop; it just shifts to destinations where entry is perceived as easier.”
Uysal said the issue is not only the extra step, but the broader message it sends.
“Beyond lowering visitor numbers, this policy can change how the U.S. may be perceived from a welcoming place to one that feels closely ‘monitored,’” he told Newsweek. He said the change could slow approvals and border entry, raise anxiety about online activity, and discourage expression. He added that if the U.S. feels too intrusive, some tourists—including potential World Cup visitors—may opt for Canada or Mexico instead.
What Happens Next
Uysal said the timing could amplify the impact, since the U.S. is preparing for major tourism milestones, including the 2026 World Cup and the country’s 250th anniversary.
He also warned the proposal could signal a wider trend toward more intrusive digital and ideological screening that could extend beyond tourism, potentially affecting professional and academic travel as well.
