Americans are sticking closer to home this summer
By Eileen Ogintz and Andy Yemma
You shouldn’t just read the headlines and skip on. The content is worrying for families who like to travel together, especially if they want to travel internationally.
First, overseas: travels advisories are warning us not to travel to popular tourist spots in the Middle East — Israel, Jordan, Dubai, because of ballistic missiles and drones criss-crossing the region on a daily basis since June 12. You can try to find further advice on the US State Department website, but it’s sketchy at best.
Then, if you are thinking about traveling to safer spots in Europe, like Barcelona, Madrid, etc… think about bringing a rain jacket! Not because of rain – because of folks protesting “overtourism.” Yes, it’s a thing this summer. And locals frustrated by too many tourists overtaking their cities have resorted to aiming water pistols at unsuspecting visitors.
(It’s also interesting that Airbnb is blaming hotels for overtourism while undergoing crackdowns by local authorities who cite numerous instances of Airbnb offenses, including price gouging and misleading advertisements. But that’s another story for another time).
And it’s beyond awful that the few remaining staffers at Voice of America were let go, putting an end to a service that has positively influenced millions of potential tourists to the US since World War II.
Meanwhile, AAA predicts a record number of Americans — 72.2 million — will travel at least 50 miles from home this summer – all of it domestic travel. That’s good news.
But more ominous for the USA is a report from Conde Nast Traveler about why international travelers are foregoing the USA right now. Because they are not feeling welcome. Other countries are issuing their own “do not travel” advisories — to the US, citing instances of foreign travelers being detained, even roughed-up on arrival in US airports. Americans who are Green Card holders from the Middle East or Central America are concerned they may not be able to return from abroad.
We recently went to Jordan and Egypt. Tourism was hurting, particularly in Jordan because of all the strife in the region. These are countries that are aligned with the US.
Egypt had high hopes on world leaders coming to its long-awaited public opening of it’s new magnificent museum in July. Now what?
The US Travel Industry added $1.3 TRILLION dollars to the US economy last year, accounting for 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product, according to the US Travel Association, the industry’s leading advocacy group. And all it takes to squelch this source of economic activity are scenes of federal agents roughing up foreign travelers in our airports.
We are still planning to go on a long-planned trip to Europe this summer, and to Southeast Asia in the fall. You shouldn’t let the political machinations dissuade you. And, by traveling, you can punch back. Opt to visit Europe’s most popular cities when they aren’t so crowded. They do appreciate our tourism dollars, just not when they make these cities so crowded that locals feel they are being pushed out.
It’s trite to say let your elected representatives know that such behavior is unacceptable, but you should. And don’t be intimidated by reactionaries and ideological zealots who display their “patriotism” disguised as bigotry.
Tourism into and out of our country benefits us all, not only economically but intellectually. We live in a big, diverse world. And it’s only going to get bigger and more diverse.
So this Fourth of July hang an American flag, stars and stripes — bigger than your neighbors’ flag. Display it proudly because you welcome foreigners. Invite our traveling friends from abroad over for a beer and a sandwich.