Donald Trump has expressed intentions to reinstate a travel ban with heightened visa screening practices should he return to the presidency. This plan echoes his initial 2017 travel restrictions targeting several Muslim-majority countries. The controversial bans, which faced numerous legal disputes, explicitly affected nations like Yemen, Syria, and Iran, and were expanded in 2020. The bans contributed to a notable reduction in Muslim tourism to the U.S., which has seen only a partial recovery since President Biden lifted the restrictions in 2021.
Upon taking office in 2017, Trump swiftly implemented a travel ban against citizens from certain Muslim-majority nations, which was met with judicial challenges. A refined version of the ban was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court in June 2018. It originally barred entry from five countries: Yemen, Syria, Iran, Libya, and Somalia, with additional restrictions later placed on nationals from Venezuela and North Korea. The ban was further extended to include six more nations in 2020.
The restrictions prohibited the issuance of both immigrant and non-immigrant visas for these countries, with few exceptions. This included a complete ban on most North Koreans and limited conditions for Venezuelan officials. Business leaders from significant travel companies condemned the travel ban, igniting long-lasting legal battles. In contrast, President Biden ended the bans on his first day in office in 2021.
Before the bans commenced, the U.S. was ranked favorably for Muslim tourism. The 2017 Global Muslim Travel Index rated the U.S. with a score of 48.6, factoring in criteria focused on safety, visa facilitation, and amenities for Muslim travelers. However, by 2024, the score had decreased to 26 for general safety, with the U.S. placed 53rd globally.
Despite the bans, tourism from other countries has grown, with the U.S. receiving 66.5 million international visitors in 2023—an increase of 31% from the previous year. This incline is anticipated to continue, indicating a broader recovery trend within the tourism sector irrespective of potential future bans.