NEW YORK —

Hours before the World Cup kickoff, the anticipated windfall for America's travel and tourism industry has conspicuously failed to materialize, leaving hotels and airlines grappling with a profound deficit in expected international visitors.

The Collapse of the Traditional Travel Playbook

The swarms of fans that hospitality sectors had banked on have yet to arrive, forcing many establishments to drastically slash their rates. Flight bookings have slumped as ticket prices have skyrocketed, and expensive match tickets have further stymied demand. Industry analysts note that excitement has been remarkably muted compared with past global tournaments, suggesting the traditional World Cup travel playbook is fundamentally faltering.

Hospitality Sector Revises Downward

"It is overall a disappointment. There's no other word that I can say," stated Vijay Dandapani, CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City. The association has curtailed its forecast for hotel room revenue tied to the World Cup by 60 percent, down to roughly $60 million. Several New York hotels are now offering heavily discounted rooms, including the New York Hilton Midtown, which has halved its tournament rates to $415 per night compared to advertised December prices.

Visa Hurdles and Prohibitive Costs

Fans from more than half the qualified countries require visas to enter the United States, adding cost and uncertainty for travelers already wary of stricter border enforcement. Furthermore, FIFA's ticketing practices have alienated some supporters. Organizers introduced record-high base prices and dynamic pricing that inflated costs as the tournament neared. The cheapest ticket in host cities like New York and Miami now approaches $1,000, according to TicketData, effectively pricing out the average fan.