Brits Turn Back to the Big Apple as Mamdani's New York Outshines Trump's America

New Holiday Extras research finds Zohran Mamdani's New York now nearly twice as popular as "Trump's America" among UK holidaymakers

Short on time? Let us summarise this article for you.

A new Holiday Extras poll of 1,000 UK travellers shows momentum back to New York: 25.3% say Mamdani's New York makes them more likely to visit vs 14.8% for the rest of Trump's America. Meanwhile 27% are avoiding the USA because of the Trump government. Younger travellers are most positive about visiting New York. Holiday Extras expects continued interest into 2026.

November 5th, 2025: A new survey from Holiday Extras reveals that Zohran Mamdani's election as Mayor of New York is reversing Britain's waning appetite for holidays to the United States, with UK travellers heading back to the Big Apple in numbers not seen for more than two years.

Since Donald Trump's re-election as President, growing numbers of British holidaymakers have said they would avoid the USA altogether. When Trump returned to office in November last year, 15% said they'd cancel their US travel plans, rising to 27% in a new Holiday Extras survey conducted this November.

That reluctance to cross the Atlantic has even been cited by Ryanair as one of the factors behind its own growth, in quarterly results published earlier this week.

Now, the latest Holiday Extras poll of 1,000 UK travellers shows signs of a turnaround. Asked which America they'd be most likely to visit, 25.3% chose Mamdani's New York, compared with just 14.8% who said they'd be likely to visit the rest of Trump's America.

The findings suggest that the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani - New York's first Muslim mayor - has helped the city regain the cool, inclusive and progressive image that many feel the wider United States has lost. That shift appears to be reigniting British enthusiasm for one of the world's most iconic city-break destinations.

Seamus McCauley – Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras, said:

"Politics has always shaped how people feel about holiday destinations," said Seamus McCauley, Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras.

"Every year we publish our Good Trips Index to help people choose destinations that reflect their values - because travellers consistently tell us that matters.

"Under Trump's presidency, more than a quarter of British travellers had written off America altogether. Perhaps that was a reaction to the administration's erratic detention of European tourists at the border - but this latest poll shows it's also about attitude.

"Most holidaymakers want to visit somewhere welcoming and open-minded. Today, they're telling us that New York now fits that bill in a way that much of the rest of the United States just doesn't."

Younger travellers were especially enthusiastic about Mamdani's win - 32% of under-25s said they're now more likely to visit New York.

The city remains the most sought-after US break among UK tourists, and Holiday Extras forecasts further growth next year in city breaks, conscientious travel, and non-EU trips as travellers look to avoid the new EES border system - all signs that New York will stay top of the list for 2026.

Notes to editors

Survey of 1,000 UK adults with overseas travel plans, conducted November 5th 2025.
25.3% said Mamdani's New York makes them more likely to visit.
14.8% said they were more likely to visit under Trump's America.
27% said they are avoiding the USA because of the Trump government.
Holiday Extras helps over 8 million UK travellers each year with airport parking, hotels, lounges, insurance and more at holidayextras.com.