The Trump Slump Hits U.S. Tourism

[DonViejo]

Despite a world-wide boom in travel, ever since our forty-fifth president was elected, tourism to the United States from foreign countries has steadily dropped.

ELIZABETH DREW
08.04.18 9:08 PM ET

Summertime, but where are the foreign tourists?

Ever since our forty-fifth president was elected, tourism to the United States from foreign countries has steadily dropped—in the face of a world-wide boom in travel—and the authoritative U.S. Travel Association has just provided me with figures projecting a further drop in 2018, from a share of worldwide tourism of 12.0% in 2017 to 11.7% this year. And this is after a drop in Trump’s first year in office from 12.9%. Though the numbers and differentials look small in percentages, they are large in terms of dollars not spent here by foreign tourists and they have serious negative implications for jobs not created.

What has caused this series of drops in foreign tourism since Donald Trump was sworn in as president? Trump’s rhetoric and new policies and rules and regulations regarding travel have combined to blot America’s long-standing image as a welcoming nation.

And of course his travel ban, a barely disguised version of the total ban on Muslims being allowed into this country he announced during his presidential campaign, inflamed worldwide opinion and in practical terms it barred visits by citizens of seven entire countries in the name of preventing terrorist attacks (though none have come from the countries the ban singled out).

The administration’s treatment of people attempting to flee here from violence-wracked Central American countries and Trump’s rhetoric about Mexico from the moment he entered the presidential race hasn’t encouraged Hispanics to come see our wondrous sights and enjoy our beautiful beaches. Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord hasn’t helped, nor have his rows with the leaders of friendly nations, which began almost from when he took office. Neither has Trump’s launching a trade war. New visa vetting policies have also caused delays and denials that didn’t used to occur. The invasive new tightening of airport security has put off numerous travelers to this country.

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-trump-slump-hits-us-tourism?ref=home

[GusBob]

1. It's not Trump

It's the people who voted for him, the ugly Americans who are seen on Fox, his rallies, you tube, etc

Who would want to come here and visit them?

[tblue37]

3. A lot of people from other countries genuinely fear gun violence.

They get the impression that bullets are flying everywhere all the time.

[ananda]

9. They aren't ??

[Control-Z]

6. Excuse me? Yes, it is Trump.

Of course, it isn't the WH squatter alone. The ugly Americans who voted for him and continue to support him play a huge role as well, I'm sure. But don't think for even a minute that it's not the maggot too.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. IS Trump. It's his Zero Tolerance policy, tariffs, travel bans, and nastiness at the entry points

Trump
Sessions
Miller
and a large crew of administrators and Republicon enablers.

Why go book a flight to the US when you have to jump through hoops to get a visa and might get turned back on a whim when you land?

Lots of gorgeous friendly countries nearby.

[GusBob]

12. Seen at the Ohio rally

"I'd rather be Russian than a Democrat"

Come on man, wake up.

Trump lies. 35% of the people believe his lies.

It's not him. It's them

[Achilleaze]

13. People see how hateful and small-minded republicans are

and are repulsed by their deplorability. Can't blame them for not wanting to have to associate with KGOP republicans intent on tearing down the USA.

[GusBob]

15. If you visit America. There is a zero percent chance you meet Trump

There is a 35 percent chance you meet a Trump supporter, the chance you support a Trump supporter financially thru some business increases to 50 or more.

It's not Donald Trump that keeps sart minded visitors away. It's his supporters.

The people that got him elected

It's so simple. Everyone is fixated on Trump. What he does what he says.

Who cares? It's his supporters that got him there

[smirkymonkey]

2. K&R

Can you blame people for not wanting to come here? A violent, gun-riddled, racist nation. There are plenty of other places to go that have none of our problems.

[HipChick]

4. I was just talking about this to a friend last night..

He's visited the US every year for the last few decades, since the Fake President, he has no desire whatsoever to visit or bring his family...

[Tikki]

5. In the bank, the other day, a gentleman was bringing in his receipts just after noon.

He was closing early on a Tuesday at his store in one of the West Coast’s largest Outlet
Malls.
He told the cashier they are just not getting the foreign visitors that packed this
Outlet Mall in the past.

It probably means he sent home employees early, also. Less hours, less pay..has got to hurt
all around.

Tikki

[lamsmy]

7. The view from outside

We are a Canadian/Australian family living in Kenya (long story.) Our two daughters did most of their schooling at the international school here. Both now study in the UK - one in uni the other at boarding school.

Last night our 16-year-old, home for summer break, had a BBQ with all about 10 of her old friends here. As they graduate next year I was asking them what their university plans were. Every single one said something like this, "I had planned on going to the US, but my parents don't want me to go there. They think there is too much hate. So I'm thinking of Canada or the UK."

These kids are all honours and high honours students in the intensive IB programme. They have travelled the world as the children of diplomats, UN staffers, or international business people. They are savy, ambitious, and care very much about the future of this world. But most of them are of mixed heritage and their parents worry about the reception they would get.

There are great universities in lots of safe countries rolling out the welcome mat for international students (and tourists). And personally, though we have close friends in the US, we won't be visiting any of them until Trump is out of office. For us it isn't fear, its our little protest. America's loss is someone else's gain.

[Achilleaze]

14. .

[DFW]

10. Case in point

My wife and I have always taken out summer vacations in the USA. For over thirty years, we have spent between two and four weeks on the outer tip of Cape Cod, where the percentage of Republicans is probably in the low teens, and the percentage of trumpanzees is probably a fraction of a percent. After that, I usually have work here, and my wife has accompanied me for at least part of that time. The last time, I had to be in Southern California, when we visited Peggy and Lionel Mandrake. Ever since then, though, with the change in the White House, she has refused to go beyond the borders of Massachusetts, and has flown/will fly back home to Germany directly from Boston. I have friends from all over Europe who feel the same way, some of whom have stricken the USA from their travel plans (both business and pleasure) altogether.

Their attitude is basically, "look, I know you're OK, and I know my friends and business partners there are OK, but none of you run the country, and the people who now do are not the sort of people whose country I want to visit. Period."

[Igel]

11. Peak was summer 2015.

The slump started in 2016.

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/tourist-arrivals