Take me home, country roads: Travelling to the United States in 2026

As I write this article, I am in the midst of an unfortunate bout of I what I like to call ‘West-Side Story’ syndrome: ‘I wanna be in America…’. For those who read my last article on Solo vs Group Travel, you will know that I have been engrossed in Trailfinders holidays such as ‘The Best of New England’, ‘Rhythms and Sounds of the Soulful South’, and ‘Yellowstone and the Wild West’. I’ve never been to America. I desperately want to go. It’s as simple as that.

But before you become suspicious of my political persuasions, I realise that there has never been a worse time to take on those beautiful country roads of West Virginia. As far as I see it (but do not quote me on these figures), going through customs at JFK airport puts me at a 20% risk of being shot by an ICE officer for wearing suspicious sunglasses, and a 75% chance of being turned away at border control after a scroll through five-years’ worth of my social media history reveals some tenuous link to the Chinese Communist Party.

Conveniently, the USA is set to host two major sporting events during Trump’s second term: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California

Therefore, it is no surprise that as of October 2025, thirteen countries (including the UK) have issued travel warnings for tourists planning to travel to the United States. But will this drastically affect the American tourism industry in 2026?

Conveniently, the USA is set to host two major sporting events during Trump’s second term: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. This ultimately means that US tourism is unlikely to take a significant hit. In fact, it is likely to trend upwards in the foreseeable future. There is no doubt that the 16,800 ticket cancellations for the World Cup early this month are a sign of a downward trend, but this is more of an academic discussion considering that an estimated 6-7 million tickets have already been sold. Similarly, countries who have explored the possibility of boycotting both events have been met with fierce backlash from FIFA and the International Olympic Committee – leaving us wondering whether it is nothing more than political grandstanding.

The United States of America is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and if the incompetent man in the White House is allowed to spoil (or even prevent) our enjoyment of it, he wins. That is as good as conceding defeat

The International Trade Administration’s forecast for international arrivals in 2026 don’t lie: a 10.2% increase (from January 2025) to 85 million inbound travellers is projected. Does this pander to Trump’s vision for America? Absolutely yes. Does it placate his choices? Absolutely not. In fact, both major sporting events provide visiting athletes, fans and citizens with a golden opportunity to challenge the hateful discourse which perpetuates across the Atlantic.

As a budding investigative journalist, I don’t believe that boycotting travel to the States on a sporting level, or on a basic tourism level, is the answer. A nation’s politics is not what makes the country itself attractive/unappealing. The United States of America is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and if the incompetent man in the White House is allowed to spoil (or even prevent) our enjoyment of it, he wins. That is as good as conceding defeat.

To understand the world we live in, we should endeavour to experience it for ourselves. Boycotting leads to ignorance, and ignorance only exacerbates the cycle of hateful discourse. If you’ll allow me to briefly embrace an overused cliché, travelling the world equips you with such a wide range of different perspectives; the places you see will teach you so much more than any textbook entitled ‘French Grammar and Usage’, can.

Ultimately, my message is that I want to see America for America. The country, not its politics

If you still need to scratch that political itch, travelling to America will at least allow you understand the lives of the diverse American electorate. As a result you will undoubtedly be better informed of how to address the concerns, daily experiences, and troubles of those 77 million people who turned to Donald Trump to solve them. To boycott America is to never receive those insights, and to never fix the problem.

Ultimately, my message is that I want to see America for America. The country, not its politics. And that is still possible, nay necessary. If the States isn’t the place you belong, no problem at all. But I have a duty to see Mountain Mamma, and no racist wig-wearing orange is going to stop me!

*Lyrics in italics and in title quoted from ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ by John Denver (1971).