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San Diego Tourism Industry Prepares For Slowdown Amid Trump Policies

Amid rising economic uncertainty driven by tariffs, trade tensions, and weakening consumer confidence, San Diego’s tourism industry is bracing for a slowdown, with hotel bookings, international travel, and government-related group events already showing signs of decline. Tourism officials and hotel leaders have responded by reducing budgets, adjusting forecasts, and ramping up marketing to nearby drive-in markets to offset falling long-haul and international visitor numbers. “Our leading indicators are all negative, so we are already adjusting our summer plans accordingly by reducing hiring and hours available for our team members,” said Robert Gleason, president of San Diego-based Evans hotels and a member of the San Diego Tourism Marketing District board. “With San Diego still not back to pre-pandemic occupancy, the impacts of national policies on our local businesses makes a full recovery an even more distant dream.”