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Tourism leaders warn federal policy shifts and Brand USA cuts threaten international visitors, events and local economies
Summary
Tourism leaders told lawmakers that federal policy changes, proposed cuts to Brand USA and geopolitical uncertainty have already reduced cross-border travel from Canada and Europe and put major 2026 events and hospitality jobs at risk across Massachusetts.
Officials from Meet Boston, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), regional tourism councils and local hoteliers told a joint legislative hearing that federal policy shifts and cuts to national promotion programs are already depressing international visitation and creating uncertainty for 2026 events.
"International visitation to The United States is expected to fall 8.2% year over year in 2025," Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston, told the committee, adding that Brand USA's budget dropped from $100 million to $20 million and that Boston — which had forecast a 16% international increase in 2025 — could…
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