Executives from the casino and tourism sectors have called on U.S. President Donald Trump to take decisive action to reverse the downturn in international travel. They cautioned that declining visitor numbers are impacting Las Vegas and other key gaming hubs, even with the anticipated influx of tourists for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During a White House meeting on Wednesday, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle represented the casino gaming industry, emphasizing the importance of enhancing international travel to achieve the goal of attracting 100 million foreign visitors each year.
“Travel is challenging and requires your leadership. To reach our target of 100 million visitors, we need your direct involvement. Achieving this would create an additional 400,000 jobs, which is significant for a city like Las Vegas,” Hornbuckle stated.
In 2025, Las Vegas saw a notable decline in tourism, with total visitation dropping by 7.5%. International arrivals fell by 14.7%, translating to a loss of approximately 380,000 travelers, according to figures from the International Trade Association. Las Vegas ranked sixth among U.S. cities for international visitors.
In comparison, New York welcomed 8.9 million overseas visitors, followed by Miami with 5.1 million, Orlando with 4.3 million, Los Angeles with 3.7 million, and San Francisco with 2.4 million.
The meeting at the White House included leaders from MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Venetian, and Raffles & Fairmont, as well as representatives from American Airlines, Marriott, Carnival, and IHG Hotels & Resorts, according to a report by Reuters.
Trump, who has a history of owning casinos in Atlantic City and on Lake Michigan, remarked that Las Vegas and other U.S. casino destinations could play a pivotal role in boosting international tourism.
“I’ve known many of these talented individuals personally,” Trump said, referring to the tourism and gaming executives.
Hornbuckle also brought attention to the “No Tax on Tips” initiative, part of the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill, which allows tipped employees to deduct up to $25,000 of their tipped income from federal taxes. “On behalf of our employees, I want to express our gratitude. ‘No Tax on Tips’ has made a significant difference,” he noted.
The casino industry’s worries come amid a broader decline in international visitors to the U.S. The country saw 68.3 million foreign visitors in 2025, a decrease of 5.5% from the previous year, with another estimate placing the total at 68 million. Furthermore, arrivals from abroad dropped by an additional 4.7% through July 2026, according to the Commerce Department.
Canadian tourism has been a particular concern for the casino and tourism sectors, as visits from Canada fell by an estimated 20% last year due to Canadians' opposition to Trump’s tariffs and suggestions of annexation. This decline has notably affected destinations like Las Vegas and states bordering Canada. The federal government attributed much of the overall decrease in 2025 to the drop in Canadian visitors.
U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman informed Trump that the industry aims to increase foreign arrivals to 100 million annually by 2030. “Let’s position the U.S. as the world’s most visited destination, similar to France today,” Freeman remarked.
France recorded a historic 102 million foreign tourists in 2025, including 5 million Americans, marking a 17% increase from the previous year.
Travel officials have pointed out several factors contributing to the decline in U.S. arrivals, including long visa interview wait times, rising airline ticket prices, stricter immigration policies, tariffs, and travel restrictions affecting certain countries.
Industry representatives have also expressed concerns regarding the Trump administration’s visitor bond requirements for travelers from 50 countries, noting that arrivals from these markets have plummeted by 80%. “We cannot achieve the goal of 100 million travelers with a bond program that deters visitors,” Freeman told reporters.
Despite these challenges, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to provide a temporary boost for the sector, with U.S. travel spending increasing by 6.2% year-on-year in June, reaching $122.1 billion, the highest monthly figure in a year.