The American government could strengthen the ESTA requirements. It has been proposed that all the social media accounts from the five past years should be disclosed in the ESTA form. The American travel industry is worried about the possible impact on tourism.
Travellers are familiar with the project.
According to a survey conducted by the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) most travellers know about the American government's plans. Travellers from various ESTA countries, like Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom have been surveyed.
Many travellers have reported that the proposed change would not only feel like an invasion of their privacy but also would make the United States less attractive as a destination. In addition, a survey has showed that most travellers would feel less welcome in the United States.
The travel industry fears a loss of revenue
The WTTC has drawn up various possible scenarios for the future development of the American economy. According to one of the forecasts, the number of international visitors will decrease by 23% in 2026 (i.e. 4.7 million fewer international arrivals). This could induce the loss of more than 150,000 jobs in the tourism sector, which is particularly dependent on the perception and confidence of travellers.
The American tourism sector is under pressure
Unlike other countries, the tourism sector in the United States has not yet fully recovered from the coronavirus pandemic. Fewer tourists are still visiting the United States than before the outbreak. In 2019, a total of 79.4 million tourists visited the US, whereas only 72.4 million travellers visited the United States in 2024. The number of tourist visiting the country seemed to be growing, but the American travel industry has suffered another blow after the second Trump administration took office. Only 67.9 million visitors visited the US since then. A further decline in the amount of visitors is predicted for the coming months.
Travelers from ESTA countries have other options
Most travelers from ESTA-eligible countries can visit other travel destinations without a visa, or with only a travel authorization and their passport. For this group of travelers, it is therefore relatively straightforward to opt for a different travel destination. The international tourism sector is characterized by fierce competition, with entry formalities and travelers' perceptions playing a crucial role. Strengthening the ESTA conditions could therefore have major consequences for the US travel industry.
Do you also need an ESTA for the United States?
Most British, Irish and European travellers are eligible for an ESTA. An ESTA is a travel authorisation that allows travellers to enter the United States without a visa for a holiday, business trip or transfer.
The ESTA is valid for two years for an unlimited number of visits to the US, but each stay may last 90 days at the most. The application procedure consists of completing the application form and submitting an identity photo or a selfie and a passport scan.
At e-Visa.co.uk you can use an application form with clear explanations for each field. Once the application has been submitted, the ESTA is usually approved within 3 days. If you need your ESTA urgently, you can submit an urgent application, in that case your ESTA will be approved within 6 hours on average. Here you will find more information about the requirements and the validity of the ESTA.
Several major events in the US coming up
The World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026. The Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. Millions of fans from all over the world are expected to travel to North America to watch the matches, but stricter entry controls and negative stories from travellers in the media could jeopardise the World Cup success.