Why Travelers From Singapore are Avoiding the US

For many Southeast Asian travelers, the U.S. has been steadily losing its appeal as a destination in recent months. But for one group of Southeast Asian travelers in particular, the decision to avoid the U.S. is especially pronounced.

A survey commissioned by CNBC Travel found that Singaporeans are avoiding the United States more than others from the region.

In particular, the survey showed that more than half (55 percent) of Singaporeans said that their interest in travel to the U.S. has decreased this year. Meanwhile, just 7 percent of Singaporeans said their interest in visiting the United States has increased this year.

These figures are a marked contrast from the the 44 percent of Southeast Asian survey respondents who indicated that their interest in traveling to the U.S. increased this year, per CNBC. Meanwhile, 18 percent of Southeast Asians say their interest in traveling to the US declined this year.

The survey's results are based on the participation of 6,000 people and was conducted from May 22 to June 10 by the market research company Milieu Insight.

The data shows that Singaporeans’ opinions related to the United States are markedly different than those of individuals in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The top areas of concern for Singaporeans with regard to U.S. travel are:

• Personal safety in the U.S. (+13 percentage points)
• Possible discrimination or poor treatment while in the US (+17 percentage points)
• Actions by the Trump administration (+18 percentage points)
• Gun violence (+20 percentage points)
• Border detentions (+13 percentage points)
  
  

Singapore is a country with especially low crime rates, which is a significant contrast to the U.S. where gun violence is pervasive. Far more people die of gun-related causes annually in the United States than in other high-income countries.

Singapore, by contrast, has regularly been named one of the safest countries in the world.

A previous report from CNBC released in July showed that nearly 80 percent of Southeast Asian travelers felt that United States is “losing its appeal as a travel destination."

According to that report, such sentiments are being driven by fears surrounding potential discrimination, actions by the Trump administration and widespread gun violence in the United States.

A ranking of the fears expressed by Southeast Asians with regard to visiting the U.S. showed the prevailing fears in this order:

• Concerns about discrimination/treatment of Asian travelers: 60%
• Actions by Trump Administration: 54%
• Gun violence: 53%
• Costs: 41%
• Tariff announcements: 38%
• Border detentions: 37%
• Election of Trump: 34%
• Visa requirements: 32%
• Travel advisories by my government: 15%

Per the July CNBC report, one in four Southeast Asian travelers said their interest in visiting the country declined specifically over the past six months, which is the time frame in which Trump took office.

The CNBC reports are not alone in revealing the shifting international sentiment toward the United States. A YouGov report published in March indicated that since January 2025, global “buzz” and “impressions” of the U.S. as a travel destination have declined significantly.

Southeast Asia is merely one region where travelers are increasingly rebuking the United States. Canadian travelers have been avoiding the country in droves under the Trump Administration amid his alienating policies and rhetoric impacting that country. 

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore