New York City — New York’s vibrant streets are a bit quieter these days, and it’s not just because of the usual ebb and flow of tourists. The city is noticing a significant drop in foreign visitors, and local businesses and guides are starting to feel the impact.

“There’s a worldwide fear about what’s happening in the U.S.,” says Bill Martin, an Australian traveler currently touring New York on an open-air bus. On his six-week journey from Tokyo to Vancouver, with a stop in NYC, Martin has heard the same concerns from fellow tourists around the globe.

“People worry about getting into the U.S.,” he explains. “There’s a real doubt about whether they’ll be allowed in, and that makes them consider other destinations.”

Political Climate Fuels Travel Anxiety

It’s not just casual tourists who feel the heat. Eman Moretti, an Italian student studying in the U.S., shares that President Trump’s tough immigration policies have made his family hesitant to visit him in New York.

“It was a bit harder for them to come,” Moretti says, walking through Times Square with his family. “You never know if they’ll get through customs. It feels like a hostile environment.”

Javier Muenala from Ecuador agrees. “Your visa could be canceled,” he says bluntly. “That risk scares many people away.”

The Numbers Tell the Story

This anxiety is reflected in the data. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travelers are expected to spend $12.5 billion less in the U.S. this year.

For cities that rely heavily on tourism dollars, this drop is painful. New York City, the top U.S. destination for international visitors, is expected to host 2 million fewer international tourists in 2025 than it did in 2024 — a 17% decline, according to New York City Tourism + Conventions CEO Julie Coker.

“International visitors make up only 20% of our total tourists but account for 50% of visitor spending,” Coker says. “We were hoping to hit pre-Covid levels this year, so this slowdown is really disappointing.”

Canadians Are Staying Home — And It’s Hurting NYC

Historically, more Canadians visit the U.S. than any other nationality. But recent political tensions are causing many Canadians to reconsider.

Matt Levy, owner of Spread Love Tours, which offers customized New York tours, has seen business slow, especially among Canadian student groups.

“Canadians are choosing places like Halifax, Nova Scotia, or Vancouver instead,” Levy says. “They’re spending money in their own country.”

He adds that Canadian travel agents have warned clients away from the U.S., citing tariffs and political rhetoric — including Trump’s controversial comments about making Canada the 51st state.

“If this political climate doesn’t improve, 2026 could be even tougher,” Levy warns. “Forty percent of my business depends on Canadian visitors, and they’re staying home.”

Tour Guides and Small Businesses Feel the Impact

Renée Rewiski, a New York City tour guide for over 10 years, says the slowdown is the worst she’s seen since the Covid pandemic.

“This time last year, I’d have 20 people on a tour; now I have five,” she says while leading a small group through lower Manhattan. “Fewer people, fewer countries represented.”

Rewiski worries that if the trend continues, jobs in the tourism industry could be at risk.

“It’s not the policymakers or politicians who lose out—it’s people like me and my colleagues,” she says. “The folks who rely on tourism every day are the ones feeling the pain.”

Hope on the Horizon

Despite these challenges, optimism remains. NYC Tourism + Conventions is running an international campaign called “With Love + Liberty, New York City” to remind travelers that the city is open and welcoming.

Coker points to upcoming events — like the 2026 World Cup nearby in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the U.S.’s 250th anniversary celebration next summer — as opportunities to bring international visitors back.

“We’ve hit a bump in the road,” she says, “but New York City is here, ready and waiting for you whenever you decide to visit.”

Bottom Line: NYC Still Has Its Magic — And It Wants You Back

So, if you’re thinking about a trip, remember: New York City’s doors are wide open. The concerns around travel may feel daunting, but the city’s iconic energy, culture, and warmth remain as strong as ever. Whether you’re an art lover, foodie, or first-time visitor, NYC is ready to welcome you back with open arms.

Source: CNN – Fewer foreign tourists are visiting NYC. The city is feeling the pinch

The post Why Fewer Foreign Tourists Are Visiting New York City appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Benidorm, once a quiet Spanish fishing town, now attracts millions of tourists each year, earning the nickname “the New York of the Mediterranean.” This remarkable transformation began in the 1960s when 23-year-old Ramon Martinez Martinez left Madrid in search of better opportunities. What was once known for its tuna fishing and orange groves soon became a hotbed of tourism, offering Martinez and his family the chance to build a better life.

As the tourism boom began, Benidorm’s future was forever changed, although even Martinez could never have predicted the scale of what was to come. By 2023, nearly 2.7 million tourists flooded the town—36 times the size of its permanent population.

Today, Benidorm is a towering city of skyscrapers and busy streets, a symbol of Spain’s rapidly growing tourism industry. Yet it also remains a flashpoint for both admiration and criticism, with some hailing its economic success and others pointing to its over-commercialization. The story of Benidorm’s rise is now the subject of a fascinating new book by British photographer Rob Ball, who has captured the town’s unique landscape and thriving tourist culture.

Benidorm’s most noticeable feature is its appeal to British tourists. In fact, nearly a third of all visitors come from the UK. This has led to a unique blend of British culture and Spanish traditions, with British pubs, English breakfasts, and even horse races from England shown on giant outdoor screens. In March, thousands of Brits descend on Benidorm to watch the Cheltenham Festival, a beloved horse racing event.

Despite its popularity, Benidorm is often divisive. For some, it’s the ideal getaway—hot weather, familiar comforts, and a bustling nightlife. For others, it’s a symbol of everything that’s wrong with mass tourism—rowdy tourists and an inauthentic experience. Ball, however, chose to focus on the town’s positive aspects, highlighting its natural beauty and the happy tourists who gather on its sandy beaches.

Some Brits even refer to Benidorm as “Blackpool with sun,” comparing it to the British seaside town known for its working-class tourists. The nickname is used both affectionately and disparagingly, depending on perspective. As Ball notes, the town’s appeal is simple: it’s a place where hard-working people can unwind and have fun without judgment.

When Ramon Martinez arrived in Benidorm, the town was still relatively quiet. But Martinez, like many others, was seeking new opportunities, and he found them as a painter working on the newly built hotels along the coast. These hotels were being constructed by ambitious developers who couldn’t afford to pay him with cash, so instead, they offered shares in their businesses or apartments in their buildings. Martinez’s gamble paid off.

Behind Benidorm’s growth was the vision of Pedro Zaragoza, the town’s mayor from 1950. Zaragoza recognized the town’s untapped potential and set about turning Benidorm into a tourist hotspot. In 1959, he took the bold step of legalizing bikinis on the beaches—a move that shocked Spain’s Catholic establishment. Zaragoza even traveled to Madrid to secure the support of General Francisco Franco, who gave the green light for Benidorm to become a major tourist destination.

As package vacations became popular in the 1960s, foreign tourists flocked to Benidorm, bringing with them a new wave of growth. The town’s economy boomed, and with it, the number of high-rise buildings, including Spain’s tallest skyscrapers outside Madrid, such as the Gran Hotel Bali and Residencial Intempo.

As Benidorm’s popularity soared, so did its architectural growth. Situated between the mountains and the sea, there was little room to expand horizontally, so the town began to build upwards. The result is a skyline filled with towering structures, a stark contrast to the modest fishing village of its past.

Despite the rapid development, Benidorm has avoided the large-scale protests against mass tourism that have occurred in other parts of Spain. While the town has faced issues such as rising rents, the local attitude remains welcoming. Jaime Martinez Gallinar, CEO of the Hoteles Benidorm Group, explains that tourism is essential to the town’s economy. “During Covid, it was like a ghost town. We discovered how much we depend on the people who come here,” he says.

Gallinar is proud of Benidorm’s lively atmosphere, where people from all over the world, including Spaniards, Brits, and others, gather to enjoy the town’s unique charm. However, he is also aware of the challenges that come with such rapid growth. “The challenge now is how to grow with the natural environment. The land is almost used up. Benidorm is almost full all year round,” Gallinar reflects.

Benidorm’s transformation is a tale of ambition, vision, and opportunity—but it also brings with it the pressure of sustainability. As the demand for its beaches, bars, and high-rise accommodations continues to rise, the town faces the challenge of maintaining its natural beauty while accommodating millions of tourists.

If Benidorm is to remain a top destination, it will need to address the environmental concerns that come with such rapid expansion. However, for now, the town shows no signs of slowing down. It remains a place where the sun never sets on the tourist season and where people either love it or hate it—but can’t seem to stop visiting.

Key Takeaways:

• Benidorm’s transformation from a quiet fishing village to a bustling tourist city has drawn millions of visitors, particularly from the UK.
• The town’s rapid development, driven by visionary leaders like Pedro Zaragoza, has resulted in a skyline full of skyscrapers.
• While some view Benidorm as a symbol of uncontrolled mass tourism, others embrace its vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.
• Balancing growth with sustainability will be key to Benidorm’s future, as the town continues to grapple with the demands of a thriving tourism industry.

Source: – CNN – It was once a small Spanish fishing town. Now it attracts millions of tourists every year

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