BUSINESS: US tourism 'losing billions because of image'

Mr. Roger Dow, Chief executive of the Travel Industry Association of America claims that America is 'losing billions' in tourism revenue because of the image most international tourist have of America.



I think it's absurd that Mr. Roger Dow truly believes that multi-national corporations such as 'McDonalds' are going to be hurt by Americas fading image. People are going to continue to fill their arteries with thick lard whether America is fighting a war or not. It's an issue of taste, not an issue of 'national image'.

Remember shortly after 9/11 there was the massive push to rename 'French Fries' Freedom Fries? People actually believed that this would deter the image of France. Well it didn't, we still order 'French Fries' and people could care less about a name change. Although this example is the reverse of what's actually happening, it's important to note that these claims are entirely bogus.

You shouldnt just focus on a single line in that article. The main thrust of the article is how America's image is being tarnished by the current administration which is costing the country billions in tourist dollars.

I know I do not want to travel to America for those very reasons so as far as im concerned the articles points are accurate.

[edit on 10/5/05 by subz]

I don't think it's bogus at all. Tourism is a very important part of our economy, in some places the major source of income for whole communities. Airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc, etc. A negative international image will affect all those things directly, plus all our exports will become less desirable. Maybe we still order "French" fries (big news, there's nothing french about them) but would you buy a Renault or a Peugot? Planning a trip to Euro-Disney?

When Ronald McDonald starts to look like this to the rest of the world, we're in big trouble...

Tourists that go to America are treated in a horrible way at airports and checkups. This is giving America a really bad name in the entire world and actually make tourists pick another country to go to.

Other then this I wouldn't know how Americas image is costing America money.

I remember talking to a Taxi driver a few weeks ago and he told me that most british people (and other internationals) express that they would love to 'visit' America but 'live' in Canada. Go figure.

Maybe and maybe not- while 'image' is important most people that wanted to visit still do even if they disagree with American policies.

Most people do not visit a country because of its politics. I visited Spain when Franco was in power and the beauty, etc. still existed albeit muted. Sure it was more fun later, but I still wouldn't have missed the first trip. The Spanish searches at the airport were every bit as invasive as anything in American airports today.

Turkey was worse.

If people don't come then it's their lose. America's drawing power has never been its politics.

I think that the claims about loss of tourism are perfectley reasonable. Up untill this year my family and I have visited the US almost every year, a very expensive trip, caused by our own spending habits of course. We will not be visiting again in the foreseeable future and many of our friends and all of our family will not be either.

Similar to FredTs boycott of Chinese products, we will not be using or buying any US products either. Our US friends will still be flying over here to visit, which is good. Although we are planning to go to Egypt later this year, it is almost certain we will be going to Canada next year.

Kriz

Why exactly will you not be supporting and visiting the U.S.?

Maybe becuase you are treated like a criminal as soon as you land, you have your fingerprints and photo taken before you even get into the country. Of course the real terrorists come in through wide open borders to the north and south.

Ill never visit the US and it has nothing to do with the the people, just the government.

Theres also simple things as people that pass trough the US on US airliners when going from for instance Australia and New Zealand to Europe.

My sister is one of these people that has to travel from NZ and Australia to belgium 3 to 4 times a year and after being malltreated, interogated, verbaly abused and analy violated has decided that although she can only bring half the lugage and has to spend a bit more time in the air by going trough asia to come back to belgium, its way worth the extra time and loss of space to bring home gifts and clothes for the family.

She's a Doctor in Agricultural Science working for a university in NZ on fruit and vegitable conservation and transportation projects and she really doesn't feel like being treated like a criminal in the US when she has to stop there for a couple of hours to get a connecting flight.

Not to mention with the interogations and other bull# they put her trough last time, she missed her connecting flight and had to pay for an extra ticket to get from SF to NZ again.

So thats 2 tickets won by the US airliner that flew her and a load of verbal and physical abuse for her. Just for having to spend 6 measely hours in the US to get a connecting flight.

And oh yeah, they had 3 biggass security guards escort her from the terminal to the interogation, while shes this 1m59 high 250 lbs total nerd.

[edit on 11-5-2005 by thematrix]

US tourism providers used to show pride in exceptional standards of customer service and satisfaction. But those days have slipped by, and this is noticed far more by international travellers to the US than by domestic travellers within the US.

The political/foreign relations tainting of the national image can have a compounding effect on tourism, but that oversimplifies a little. You would not decide NOT to visit a country because it has a bad government, unless you felt that you would be quite unsafe or that you could not have an enjoyable stay. Is that how people feel today?

I think the image of the hospitality and hospitability of US people has suffered most, and the outlook is of a divided country driven by fear and anger and terror and xenophobia.

Not so nice a place to visit any more... but A-OK for the indoctrinated super-patriot to live in and believe it is blessed like no other land. Oh, except maybe Israel.

You would not decide NOT to visit a country because it has a bad government, unless you felt that you would be quite unsafe or that you could not have an enjoyable stay. Is that how people feel today?

The government is the only thing that makes me not want to step foot on U.S soil. I dont trust the Bush administration with Americans lives, let alone measly foreigners like myself.

I would not visit America as you treat your Allies like Terrorists, if we did the same to you in Britain you would be fed up.

You know what else I think contributed to the negative image of the US population?

All those darn "reality" shows.

First you had the Jerry Springer show and alot of people from abroad thought the US was full of hicks, tricks, whacky people and KKK members.

Then you had shows like COPS and other reality TV shows that show police actions in the US. I know several people over here that don't dare to drive in the US when they go there on holidays, just because their scared they get trown in jail, beaten or shot at for making simple traffic violations or going a bit over the speed limit.

I was flashed here in belgium for goin 215KM/h a couple of years ago, when I was still a computer consultant, it was at night, with noone else on the 4 lane highway, while on call for work and getting beeped, the only way I knew I got flashed was because of the ticket arriving in my mailbox the week afterward attached to a 2000€ fine and the ruling my drivers license would be retracted for 2 months.

You think I still speed? Hell no, for my work I can't afford to loose my license and I can use those 2000€ for a load of other things thank you.

When I watch a "reallity show" like cops, I'd think If I got flashed at any speed in the US, I'd be lucky to be alive afterward. Even if I stopped right away to go get my ticket, the cop would propably hold me at gunpoint and shoot me if I even sneezed. And there is a good chance that even if I stopped he'd slam his patrol car into my car to be sure I'd stay put so he could point his gun at me and shoot me if I even sneezed.

Now, those specific shows are just examples but theres bulkloads more then cops and Jerry. Those reality shows are really not doing much good to the US image either.

It makes the cops look like guncrazed maniacs that shoot pedestrians for jaywalking. It makes the people look like total dumbasses, plastic surgery freaks, tramps, crackheads, attention whores and the list goes on.

The US policy isn't the only thing damaging the image of the US people. All the crap shoved into everyones faces by US television is even worse.

I grew up in Harlem NYC and the culture I experienced there was nothing like the culture the US media is trying to portray in all those "reality" shows.

"as you treat your Allies like Terrorists, if we did the same to you in Britain you would be fed up."

lol....from the way our allies talk about us i'd say your statement is hypocritical, but youre right we are fed up too.

Originally posted by namehere
"as you treat your Allies like Terrorists, if we did the same to you in Britain you would be fed up."

lol....from the way our allies talk about us i'd say your statement is hypocritical, but youre right we are fed up too.

Sorry i appear that way but the treatment of some visitors to your Country is disgraceful . Ok you are frightened of terrorists , but dont take it out on the holidaymakers going to Disney. If you treat everone entering your Country as a potential threat , you wont be getting many visitors. I think you have overdone the security stuff .

Very unfortunate and obvious too. There is and will continue to be a price paid for being a free Country and promoting Democracy around the world. Again the losses are so very unfortunate for all the good done and intended.

Dallas

Originally posted by Bulldog 52
I think you have overdone the security stuff .

The Irony is that thousands and thousands of people still illegally enter the US but theyre clever enough to cross the border over land. Its the legitimate travellers that are treated like criminals.

Originally posted by Dallas

Very unfortunate and obvious too. There is and will continue to be a price paid for being a free Country and promoting Democracy around the world.

Yes by inserting puppet governments into countries!

Originally posted by Dallas
Again the losses are so very unfortunate for all the good done and intended.
Dallas

Im sure youll say the same after they introduce a compulsory national ID card or how abour randoms traffic stops, oh, you have them already.

The irony is you say you have a "free" country by reducing freedoms, does anyone else see not the paradox?

I think the last thing you want when going to another Country on holiday, is to be subjected to is being fingerprinted and treated as a hostile person. In Europe mainly the EEC most times you don't have to show your passport a guy with stubble on his chin and a cig in his mouth just waves you through. I think Americans have reacted to this supposed terrorist threat and panicked, here in Europe we still trust most people.If you want people to visit your country , you need to welcome them not criminalize them.