Travel Chaos: Visit Orlando Expects Government Shutdown To Cost Tourism Industry $1 Billion a Week

As the government shutdown enters its second month, the FAA has ordered airlines to reduce the number of flights departing and arriving at American airports due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and TSA agents. This has dramatically impacted Disney World vacations as thousands of travellers have been stranded at Orlando International Airport due to delays and cancellations.

These disruptions have hit Central Florida hard, and Visit Orlando, the city’s official tourism association, has started to notice that this has impacted travel to Disney World and Universal Orlando. This comes at a time when Central Florida and the American tourism industry are reeling from the downturn in international travelers.

Visit Orlando’s CEO, Casandra Matej, said in a statement that the American tourism industry could lose $1 billion a week due to the government shutdown. This is in addition to the issues that the travel industry was already facing.

According to Tourism Economics, the group is expecting a five percent decline in international travel this year, leading to a $64 billion shortfall for the travel industry. At the start of the year, Tourism Economics projected a nine percent increase in international tourism.

So, what caused this 14 percent swing in travel to the United States? Tourism Economics attributes this to the “polarizing Trump Administration policies and rhetoric.”

Tourism Economics points to tariffs the Trump Administration levied on Canada, China, Mexico, and the European Union. Travel from Canada is down significantly this year. Air travel from Canada is down 25 percent, while road trips from Canada are down 30 percent. This is costing the U.S. travel sector billions of dollars.

Even if the shutdown were to end on Monday, it would take weeks for the airports to return to their full schedules. However, it does not appear that the shutdown will end anytime soon.

As the holidays approach and the shutdown persists, more tourists are likely to cancel their Florida vacations, especially as horror stories of airport travel continue. With some of Disney World’s busiest weeks ahead, the shutdown could ultimately cost Disney millions.

What have your experiences been like trying to travel during the government shutdown? Let us know in the comments.