The U.S. Travel Association has raised concerns about plans to expand social media requirements for foreign visitors. It says the move could discourage millions of travellers and harm the U.S. travel economy.
Under the proposal, foreign visitors — including those from countries that currently enter the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program — would be required to provide social media handles and histories from the past five years as part of the pre-travel screening process. The changes are expected to take effect on February 8, 2026, after a 60-day public comment period.
The travel industry group warned that adding social media history as a mandatory part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application could have a “chilling effect” on travel to the U.S., with potential visitors opting to go elsewhere rather than share detailed personal online information.
“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 U.S. Travel Association said in a statement, emphasising the risk to tourism revenue and international visitor numbers.
Currently, visa applicants must already disclose social media information as part of vetting procedures introduced in recent years. The proposed expansion would extend similar requirements to visitors from around 40 visa-waiver countries, including many European states, Japan and Australia.
These extra screening procedures may deter leisure and business travel, which could lower demand and hurt U.S. tourism companies that depend on foreign tourists, according to industry officials and tourism stakeholders.
Supporters say the programme will improve security by identifying potential risks before travellers arrive. However, critics argue that overly strict rules could reduce America’s appeal as a travel destination.
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