According
to
a
report
by Travelandtourworld,
the
downturn
follows
stricter
enforcement
of
visa
and
immigration
policies
under
the
administration
of
Donald
Trump,
aimed
at
curbing
visa
overstays
and
tightening
entry
requirements.
Data
shows
the
impact
has
been
widespread
across
the
continent,
with
Sudan
and
Libya
experiencing
the
steepest
declines
at
83%
and
80%
respectively.
Zimbabwe
recorded
a
70%
drop,
while
Chad
and
Burkina
Faso
saw
declines
of
68%
and
62.8%.
Mali
followed
with
a
60%
decrease,
while
Nigeria
recorded
a
46.4%
fall.
Senegal
posted
the
smallest
decline
among
the
group
at
36.9%.
The
sharp
drop
highlights
how
tighter
visa
scrutiny,
travel
restrictions,
and
broader
geopolitical
considerations
are reshaping
travel
patterns between
Africa
and
the
United
States.
While
the
policies
are
intended
to
enforce
compliance
with
immigration
rules,
they
are
also
having
ripple
effects
on
tourism
flows,
business
travel,
and
diaspora
movement
across
several
African
countries.
policymakers
view
the
decline
as
a
positive
outcome,
citing
reduced
terrorism
risks
and
immigration
enforcement
costs.
African
nations
most
affected
by
falling
US
visits
Under
the
new
restrictions
imposed
on
travellers
from
Africa,
countries
like
Sudan,
Libya,
and
Sierra
Leone
have
experienced
the
most
profound
declines.
In
most
of
these
countries,
first-time
applicants
have
been
noted
to
be
hugely
impacted
by
these
restrictions.
The
US
immigration
administrators
are
stricter
with
visa
approval
for
citizens
of
countries
with
high
policy
non-compliance
rates.
Hence,
only
applicants
who
prove
beyond
all
reasonable
doubt
that
they
would
be
compliant
are
given
the
opportunity
to
scale
through
the immigration
approval
hurdles.
This
decline
is
bad
news
for
African
tourists.
On
the
other
hand,
policy
makers
in
the
United
States
do
not
share
the
same
view;
rather,
they
believe
that
prioritising
travellers
from
more
developed
countries
poses
lesser
terrorism
risks
and
reduces
immigration
policy
enforcement
costs.
They
are
of
the
opinion
that
this
decrease
will
ensure
that
the
tourism
industry
in
the
United
States
is
more
regulated
and
kept
under
control.