The warning came from the US Travel Association, which represents major stakeholders in the American travel sector. In a statement issued on Monday, the association criticised a proposed policy that would require travellers from countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Programme to disclose their social media handles used over the past five years.
The proposal, announced last week in a government notice and expected to take effect on February 8, would apply to visitors from 42 countries—mostly in Europe—who currently enjoy visa-free entry into the US for short stays of up to 90 days. These travellers are instead required to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which would now be expanded to include social media information.
According to the US Travel Association, the policy risks driving visitors and their spending away from the United States at a time when the sector is still struggling to recover.
“If we get this policy wrong, millions of travellers could take their business and the billions of dollars they spend elsewhere, only making America weaker,” the association said, warning that the measure could have a “chilling effect” on travel to the country.
The association acknowledged that applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas have been required to provide social media details since 2019, but argued that extending the requirement to short-term visitors could significantly alter perceptions of the US as a welcoming destination.
The proposed change is part of a broader push by the administration of President Donald Trump to tighten screening and vetting procedures for foreign nationals entering the country. According to a notice published by US Customs and Border Protection, the expanded data requirement stems from an executive order signed on January 20, directing authorities to ensure that visitors are “vetted and screened to the maximum degree.”
Beyond social media handles, the proposal would also require travellers to submit all email addresses used over the past 10 years, as well as detailed personal information about immediate family members, including names, birth dates, places of birth, and residential addresses. The notice is open for public comment for 60 days.
The move follows other recent measures by US authorities to increase scrutiny of foreign nationals. Earlier this month, the US State Department announced that, effective December 15, all H-1B work visa applicants and their dependents must adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to “public” to allow officials review access to their posts.
The timing of the proposal has raised additional concerns within the travel industry, particularly as the US prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. The global tournament is expected to attract millions of international visitors, and US travel businesses are counting on the event to help reverse a decline in tourism recorded since Trump returned to office.
Adding to the evolving immigration landscape, the Trump administration last week began accepting applications for a new “gold card” programme, which allows individuals who pay $1 million to obtain US permanent residency on an accelerated basis. A government website for the programme also hinted at a forthcoming “platinum card” option priced at $5 million, a move critics argue stretches the boundaries of existing US immigration law.
As debate over the proposed social media disclosure rule continues, industry leaders are urging policymakers to weigh security concerns against the potential economic and reputational costs to the US travel sector.