Less New York, more Nashville: Europeans head to smaller US cities
By Doyinsola Oladipo and Joanna Plucinska
Western Europe travel to the US fell 3.5% overall, but Tennessee, Montana and Idaho saw increases as tourists seek authentic American experiences.
NEW YORK/LONDON - European travelers, nearly a year into President Donald Trump's administration, are popping up in less-heralded - and often more affordable - destinations in the U.S. like Tennessee, Montana and Idaho, while skipping hot spots like New York and Washington D.C.
Even as tourism from Western Europe to the United States has dipped, less obvious destinations have seen an uptick in arrivals as tourists seek out classic Americana experiences, and airlines add flights to smaller cities.
Many travelers canceled trips to the United States this spring as Trump ramped up a trade war and at times lambasted Europe in harsh terms. From January to October, U.S. travel from Western Europe fell about 3.5% year-over-year, according to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.