Surge in Chinese and Indian Tourists Offset U.S. Slowdown in Europe Travel

Chinese and Indian tourists are poised to offset a forecasted slowdown in American tourists to Europe in the coming years. A survey by the European Travel Commission suggests international arrivals will increase by 6.2%, highlighting a shift in demographics as Americans face economic and geopolitical concerns.

Chinese and Indian tourists are expected to balance a predicted downturn in American travel to Europe this year, reveals a survey by the European Travel Commission released Wednesday. It indicates international arrivals to the continent are projected to increase by 6.2%.

This marks a potential slowdown in the post-pandemic surge of U.S. travelers to Europe, previously fueled by a robust U.S. dollar and North America's economic resilience. A prior report from the European Travel Commission suggested Americans are less likely to travel to Europe in 2026 compared to 2025, citing growing economic concerns and geopolitical instability.

While projections show a 28% rise in visitors from China and a 9% increase from India compared to 2025, American traveler numbers are expected to grow by only 4.2%. Data from Cirium indicates a 14.2% year-on-year decrease in Europe-to-U.S. bookings between October and January, with a 7.3% dip in U.S.-to-Europe bookings.

(With inputs from agencies.)