12 US Cities Driving Tourists Away With High Prices, Crime, and Neglect

Americas Tourism Crisis Has Many Causes

American tourism is in trouble. The US is projected to lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, making it the only country among 184 economies to see a decline this year.

But while federal policies and a Canadian boycott share the blame, many cities have also sabotaged their own appeal.

Years of rising prices, visible homelessness, crime concerns, and squeezing every dollar from visitors have left some of America’s most famous destinations struggling to fill hotel rooms.

From Las Vegas to New Orleans, these are the cities where the welcome mat has worn thin.

Las Vegas Prices Out Regular Visitors

Las Vegas hosted over 41 million travelers in 2024. In 2025, that number dropped to about 39.1 million, a 6% decline and the worst dip since the pandemic. The problem is simple: Vegas got too expensive.

The $5 blackjack tables that once defined the city have nearly vanished. Resort fees now add $50 or more per night to hotel bills.

One visitor reported paying nearly $12 for a Starbucks latte on the Strip. Casinos have shifted their focus to wealthy gamblers, and gaming revenue actually rose 5.5% in August even as visitor counts fell. The city ran its first-ever citywide sale in September to lure back disillusioned tourists.

San Francisco Battles Doom Loop Reputation

San Francisco spent years as a punching bag for viral videos showing open drug use, tent encampments, and car break-ins. The “doom loop” narrative stuck, even as conditions improved.

By late 2025, violent crime had dropped 25% from the previous year, and car break-ins fell 44%. Homicides hit their lowest point since 1960.

But perception lags reality. The city welcomed 23.3 million visitors in 2024, still several million below 2019 levels. International visitors are expected to drop another 3% in 2025 due to broader travel trends.

Downtown storefronts remain shuttered, and the Tenderloin district still struggles with street conditions that scare off tourists.

Los Angeles Reels from Fires and Falling Numbers

Los Angeles entered 2025 already struggling to recover from the pandemic. Then the January wildfires tore through Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena.

The tourism industry, already lagging behind every other major US city in recovery, took another hit. International arrivals dropped 8% compared to 2024, with Canadian visitors down nearly 38%.

Vendors on Hollywood Boulevard told reporters their business fell 70 to 80%.

The city faces a projected $1 billion budget shortfall, and the hotel industry has seen closures and layoffs. Major events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics loom, but the path to recovery remains uncertain.

Seattle Loses Its Canadian Lifeline

Seattle is experiencing the steepest drop in international visitors of any American city in 2025, with overnight arrivals down 27%. The collapse is almost entirely due to Canadians staying home.

Political tensions, tariff disputes, and repeated talk of annexation have triggered a rally-around-the-flag effect north of the border.

Flight bookings from Canada to the US dropped over 70% in early 2025, forcing airlines to cut 300,000 seats. Seattle’s proximity to the border once made it a natural destination for Canadian shoppers and tourists.

Now that advantage has become a vulnerability. The city hopes the 2026 World Cup will help reverse the trend.

Portland Struggles to Shake Pandemic Hangover

Portland’s hotel occupancy remains below 2019 levels five years after the pandemic began.

The city is projected to see an 18% drop in international visitors in 2025, second only to Seattle among major US cities.

Foot traffic in the downtown core has recovered somewhat, up 58% from 2021 lows, but it remains far from normal.

When outdoor retailer REI closed its Pearl District location in early 2024, nearby businesses noticed the change immediately. Business travel has not returned.

Nightlife has not returned.

The city’s tourism bureau says word of mouth is improving, but the numbers suggest a long road ahead.

New York Misses Its Tourism Target

New York City set a goal of 67 million visitors in 2025. It landed at 64.7 million, a marginal 0. 3% increase from 2024 and still below the 2019 record of 66.6 million.

International arrivals dropped nearly 5%, with Canada leading the retreat.

Canadian visitors fell 19%, followed by Germany at 10% and France at 7%. The city blamed tariffs and negative rhetoric about travel to the United States.

Tour operators reported Canadian student groups canceling trips. Broadway houses had more empty seats.

Domestic tourism helped offset some losses, but business travel remains stuck below pre-pandemic levels and is not expected to recover until 2029.

Detroit Watches Border Traffic Disappear

Detroit’s location near the Canadian border was once a major asset. About 10% of the city’s tourism came from visitors crossing from Windsor, Ontario.

In 2025, that traffic dried up. Border crossings fell 13% in February and March compared to the previous year.

Flight bookings from Canada plummeted over 70%. Detroit is projected to see a 17% drop in international visitors, making it one of the hardest-hit cities in America.

The city also carries the weight of its “ruin porn” reputation, with tours of abandoned buildings drawing visitors who want to see decay rather than revival. Local residents have called the practice exploitative.

New Orleans Fights Headlines After Terror Attack

New Orleans entered 2025 on a high. The city had just hosted Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and welcomed over 19 million visitors in 2024, only the second time it reached that mark. Then came New Year’s Day.

A vehicle-ramming attack on Bourbon Street killed 14 people. A jailbreak made national news in May.

Road construction disrupted the French Quarter. Despite these setbacks, crime statistics tell a different story.

Murders dropped 55% from 2022 to 2025. Armed robberies fell 28%. Carjackings dropped 35%. The city emerged from its federal consent decree in November.

But headlines travel faster than statistics, and tourism officials say 2025 was a year of extreme challenges.

Orlando Feels the Disney Price Squeeze

Orlando remains one of America’s most visited cities, but the cracks are showing. Theme park prices have climbed relentlessly, with Disney facing a chorus of complaints about nickel-and-diming guests.

A vacation that once seemed affordable now requires serious budgeting. International visitors from Canada and Mexico dropped by double digits in 2025.

Florida as a whole saw 11 straight months of declining visitor numbers.

Orlando’s tourism infrastructure is vast, but its reliance on a few mega-attractions makes it vulnerable when those attractions lose their value proposition.

Disney ran big discounts through October to court travelers who now see the parks as too expensive.

Miami Loses Its Latin American Edge

Miami has long served as a gateway between the United States and Latin America. That connection is fraying.

The city saw a 1.3% decrease in international arrivals in early 2025, modest compared to other cities but still part of a broader pattern.

Rising travel costs, a strong dollar, and visa complications have made the US less attractive to South American visitors. The hospitality sector reported declines in high-spending international guests.

Hotel margins tightened. Miami’s appeal remains strong, but its traditional markets are looking elsewhere.

Countries in Europe and the Caribbean are actively courting the travelers Miami once took for granted.

Camden Remains Trapped by Decline

Camden, New Jersey, was once an industrial powerhouse with 120,000 residents. By 2023, the population had dropped to 70,000.

Violent crime reaches 1,800 per 100,000, and poverty exceeds 35%.

The waterfront has seen redevelopment, with the Adventure Aquarium drawing about 500,000 visitors annually. But broader tourism appeal remains limited.

Many neighborhoods are unsafe for casual visitors. The city lacks the hotels, restaurants, and infrastructure that tourism requires.

Camden’s decline began decades ago with factory closures and suburban flight. Recovery remains a generational project, and mainstream tourism is not part of the near-term plan.

Flint Never Escaped the Water Crisis

Flint, Michigan, had 196,000 residents in 1980. By 2023, that number had fallen to 95,000.

The 2014 water crisis eroded public trust and drew negative attention worldwide. More than a decade later, the city still struggles to attract visitors.

Violent crime runs at 1,400 per 100,000, and unemployment hovers around 9%.

Niche attractions like the Flint Institute of Arts exist, but visitor numbers remain negligible, roughly 50,000 annually. Media coverage continues to emphasize public health failures rather than cultural offerings.

For Flint, tourism is not a priority. The city is still working on the basics: clean water, safe streets, and jobs.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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