As travel industry awaits slowdown, travellers pack bags - for now

New York

THE travel industry is voicing a common refrain: US President Donald Trump's travel ban, terror attacks in Europe and a laptop ban represent a recipe for a potential sharp decline in visitors to and from the United States.

"When you hear words like 'travel ban,' it puts a big chill" on travel and tourism, James J Murren, chairman and chief executive of MGM Resorts, said at an industry conference last week in New York.

Some data is backing up those concerns. Nearly 20 per cent fewer people are visiting this summer from the Middle East, the focus of Mr Trump's travel ban, even though the policy has been blocked by US courts.

As of early June, overall advance airline bookings to the US were down 3.4 per cent for this year's summer travel season compared with the same time last year, acc…