New U.S. entry rules could deter tourists: what changes are planned for ESTA
5 May 06:14
The U.S. is considering new rules for foreign travelers entering the country under the Visa Waiver Program via the ESTA system. Applicants may be required to provide details of their social media accounts from the past five years, according to "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the Federal Register.
According to CNN, millions of foreign travelers may decide not to travel to the U.S. if Washington introduces a new requirement for ESTA applicants to submit information about their social media activity over the past five years.
This applies to tourists and business travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, who can visit the U.S. without a traditional visa but must obtain an ESTA electronic authorization before their trip.
What exactly they want to change
Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program—including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and others—allow their citizens to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Instead, travelers must complete an online ESTA application.
Now, the Trump administration is proposing a major overhaul of the ESTA system—making it mobile and significantly expanding the list of required information.
According to the proposal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to require:
- a five-year history of social media activity (mandatory requirement);
- all email addresses the applicant has used over the past 10 years;
- personal information of immediate family members, including phone numbers and residential addresses.
The agency notes that these changes are intended to implement Trump’s executive order aimed at preventing foreigners who may pose a threat to national security from entering the U.S.
For Ukrainians, this change does not directly affect entry rules, as Ukraine is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. However, the issue is important for the entire tourism market, as well as for Ukrainians who hold citizenship of countries participating in the ESTA program.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
Why the tourism industry is concerned
The World Travel and Tourism Council warns that the new requirement could negatively impact tourist traffic to the U.S.
According to industry experts, the U.S. could lose up to $15.7 billion in tourism revenue.
Up to 157,000 jobs could also be at risk.
These include jobs in the hotel industry, air travel, restaurants, entertainment, retail, and related sectors.
Why travelers might avoid the U.S.
Travel industry experts believe that the requirement to disclose social media history may seem overly intrusive to many tourists.
For some people, this is a matter of privacy. They may not want to provide information about their accounts, even if they have nothing illegal or dangerous to hide.
As a result, travelers may choose other destinations—Canada, European countries, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, or other tourist markets where the entry process seems simpler and less intrusive.
Why the U.S. Wants to Tighten Screening
The official justification from the U.S. side is security. U.S. authorities view social media as an additional source of information for screening foreigners before they enter the country.
Such data can be used to identify potential risks related to terrorism, extremism, threats to public safety, or other national security issues.
However, critics warn that overly broad screenings could have a chilling effect on ordinary tourists, students, scholars, journalists, and business travelers.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
