An influential travel forecasting company says anger over the Trump administration’s tariffs and rhetoric will likely cause international travel to the U.S. to fall even further than expected this year.

ATLANTA – An economic forecaster says Georgia should expect to see substantial recovery of its tourism industry next year after hotels and other businesses that rely on travelers lost billions to the coronavirus pandemic. Adam Sacks, president of the firm Tourism Economics, made the prediction during a virtual summit hosted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. His presentation Wednesday showed that travel spending in Georgia dropped $8.6 billion between March and August compared to the same period last year. Still, tourism spending has steadily begun to recover in the months since Georgia began lifting its coronavirus lockdown in late April. According to Sacks, Georgia lost 17% of its travel and leisure jobs since February — making it the state’s hardest-hit job sector during the pandemic.