Is there anti-us sentiment for us citizens travelling abroad
Executive summary
Rising negative perceptions of the United States are documented in multiple travel and opinion surveys and have translated into tangible caution among travelers and tourism professionals [1][2][3]. At the same time, on-the-ground accounts from guides and travel leaders frequently report curiosity, sympathy, or indifference rather than hostility toward individual American tourists, making the risk uneven and highly country-dependent [4][5].
1. Clear signals from surveys and travel-industry reporting
Several industry and polling reports say perceptions of Americans are worsening: a Global Rescue survey found 72% of travelers expect US tourists to be perceived more negatively in 2025 [1], YouGov and other data cited in travel outlets show notable drops in European favorability since the current U.S. administration took office [2], and travel-economics coverage links “antipathy towards the US” with declining inbound tourism and consumer caution [3][6].
2. Geography and geopolitics concentrate the risk
Hostility or official restrictions are concentrated in specific countries whose governments or publics are at odds with U.S. policy: reporting and destination lists point to places such as Russia, Iran, Venezuela and some states aligned with Russia where travel risk or visa restrictions for Americans have increased, and where unfavorable views of U.S. policy are consistently strong in opinion polling [7][8][9].
3. What travelers and local guides actually describe
Contrasting with survey headlines, many travel professionals and local guides say their everyday experience is not widespread hostility but curiosity, empathy or routine hospitality toward Americans; TravelPulse quotes guides who report sympathy and interest rather than resentment [4], and a series of local accounts collected by niche travel outlets find “no” evidence of systematic anti-American behavior toward tourists in many destinations [5]. That divergence—between macro polls and micro encounters—means individual experiences vary by context, timing and how visibly political a traveler appears.
4. Policy decisions, border incidents and media amplify perception effects
Coverage of border detentions, proposed travel-screening rules, and high‑profile diplomatic rows feed the perception problem and can have concrete tourism consequences: outlets warn that detentions and visa-policy proposals are creating “negative sentiment” in key markets and contributing to lower inbound and outbound travel demand [10][11][6]. Comment pieces and travel guides also note how domestic U.S. policy and rhetoric are being read abroad and sometimes mistaken for personal animus toward individual Americans [12][13].
5. Practical reality for travelers: uneven risk and common-sense mitigation
Reporting repeatedly emphasizes that risk is uneven—low for many tourists but higher in specific countries—and recommends situational awareness: stay informed about country-specific warnings, maintain a low profile when appropriate, and register travel plans with embassy systems where available [1][8][11]. Travel writers and consumer advocates also advise blending in, avoiding politicized public statements, and preparing for possible delays or questioning tied to broader policy disputes [14][4].
Conclusion — direct answer to the question
Yes: there is measurable anti‑American sentiment that affects travel perceptions and destination-level risk, concentrated in particular countries and amplified by recent policy actions and media coverage [1][7][2]. However, this does not translate into universal or uniform hostility toward individual U.S. citizens everywhere; many guides and travelers report neutral-to-welcoming encounters, and the actual danger for tourists remains highly context-dependent [4][5]. Travelers should therefore treat the threat as real but localized—plan with country-specific intelligence, expect variability, and use routine precautions recommended by travel experts [8][11].