TeleSur | – –
Some in the travel industry attribute the decline to something they call the “Trump slump.”
Travel to the United States has declined. While some in the [$244 bn.] tourist industry are asking why, others are pointing their fingers squarely at U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office reported that in the first seven months of 2017, the number of international visitors to the United States dropped by four percent. Also, the decline was representative across all regions. African and Middle Eastern countries have seen some of the most significant decreases, according to the BBC.
Some have attributed to the decline to something they call the “Trump slump,” especially considering that global tourism is on the rise.
“When people travel, they’re looking for a pleasant emotional experience,” said Vincent Wolfington, former chair of the World Travel and Tourism Council. He added that the “perception is it’s probably too much trouble at this point in time to visit the U.S.”
With 77.5 million people visiting the United States in 2015, the country had reached its peak in terms of international travel. However, in 2016, the percentage of travelers fell by two percent. The decline accelerated to four percent during the first seven months of 2017, according to data provided by the National Travel and Tourism.
Wolfington said the decline in travel to the United States is a reflection of what happened following the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, when former U.S. President George W. Bush emphasized border security, as well as launched the unpopular invasion of Iraq.
“Non-U.S. citizens got the impression they were not welcome in the U.S. Today, we’re facing the same situation.”
The president of the U.S. Travel Association, who described the the decline as “troubling,” concluded that “our guiding principle is that we can have strong national security and still welcome legitimate international visitors.”
Via TeleSur
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Bonus video added by Informed Comment:
This is actually true. I have heard from many people that they have cancelled their trips to the US, because they don’t want to visit the ‘Trump-country’.
I am neither a terrorist nor belligerent. By why would I expose myself to Trump fans and the nasty US customs who are anything other than welcoming (I read last month that a new law gives them all sorts of cover to go through my phone. There is nothing bad on my phone, but it is the principle)?
Why deal with these people, be exposed to it, risk it or have a bad welcome?
I’ll go somewhere I can have an end-to-end welcoming and pleasant experience (and hopefully no Trump fanatics)!
some people simply don’t want to spend a nickel of their hard earned money in a country which elected Trump. heard that from people.
some don’t want to deal with the American immigration officers at the border. been told you’re going to be strip searched while you’re some senior middle class female, that is enough to can a vacation.
they want to search your phone, etc . not likely,. some even have started leaving their equipment at home.
if you are a person of colour, why risk it. you could get yourself killed.
Once the U.S.A. was considered a safe place to go on vacation. Now not so much. the police appear to be out of control. Once upon a time you considered going to the U.S.A. from Canada as no more than driving down the road. now it seems more like a second world country and when you go on vacation, who wants to go to a place like that. Hawaii is still considered a reasonable place to go, but if Trump keeps scaring people with his sabre rattling, who knows. A lot of Canadians don’t consider N. K. as much as a threat to peace as Trump.
These days Mexico is a better bet than the U.S.A. for many. with all the shootings in the U.S.A. some feel a Mexican resort is much safer.