I remember David Knudson of the National Historic Route 66 Federation commenting not long ago that the number of foreign travelers on the Mother Road had taken a big decline since the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Turns out it wasn’t Knudson’s imagination, nor was Route 66 the only tourism casualty of 9/11. This startling report came out today from the AFP wire:
“Since September 11, 2001, the United States has experienced a 17 percent decline in overseas travel, costing America 94 billion dollars in lost visitor spending, nearly 200,000 jobs and 16 billion dollars in lost tax revenue,” the Discover America advocacy campaign said in a statement.
Chairman Stevan Porter lamented the “extraordinary decline” in the number of overseas visitors to the United States, while the advocacy group’s executive director, Geoff Freeman, blamed the slump on the shabby welcome many foreigners feel they get in the United States.
“It’s clear what’s keeping people away in the post-9/11 environment: it is the perception around the world that travelers aren’t welcome,” Freeman told AFP.
“Travelers around the world feel the US entry experience is among the world’s worst,” Freeman said, calling on the US government to work with the private sector to make visa acquisition more efficient, the entry process traveler-friendly, and to improve communication. […]
Last year, only 56 percent of Britons had a positive opinion of the United States compared with 83 percent in 2000, the Pew Global Attitudes report for 2006 shows.
Thirty-nine percent of French people saw the United States in a positive light last year, compared with 62 percent in 2000.
In Turkey 12 percent had good things to say about the United States last year — 40 percentage points down on 2000.
“The United States has to do what every other nation in the world does, and that is to promote itself to visitors,” Freeman said.
And this is happening despite a weak dollar.
I can’t really argue with what Freeman is saying. The visa problems have been ongoing, as have the dumb hassles at airports. There has to be a better way to expedite security in terminals than harassing people with fingernail clippers and hair-gel bottles.
And at the risk of getting political, the only way this will turn around in the near term is when a new person takes charge at the White House in 2009. America’s standing in the world has suffered on the current guy’s watch for myriad reasons, and it probably won’t get markedly better until he leaves. That’s the sad truth.
In the meantime, Route 66 should continue to do what it does best — be friendly and interesting to foreign visitors. That way, they’ll come back, and their friends will come here and hit the Mother Road, too.
UPDATE 11/3/07: Atlantic senior editor Andrew Sullivan comments about the problem, which sparks interesting comments here and here from foreign visitors.
UPDATE3: Bruce Schneier, who writes about security issues, also weighs in with many interesting thoughts, including this advice:
We need to do two things. The first is to stop urging people to report their fears. People have always come forward to tell the police when they see something genuinely suspicious, and should continue to do so. But encouraging people to raise an alarm every time they’re spooked only squanders our security resources and makes no one safer. […]
Equally important, politicians need to stop praising and promoting the officers who get it wrong. And everyone needs to stop castigating, and prosecuting, the victims just because they embarrassed the police by their innocence.
UPDATE4: Sullivan has more examples of rude and inexplicable behavior by airport security here and here.
Ron,
I don’t think those numbers are surprising to anyone. And I’m sure that the world view of America has taken it’s toll on travel. It’s certainly disappointing. I took the family to WDW the summer after 9/11, and whole hotels on property had been closed due to lack of guests. I personally was laid off from my job as a direct result of the economic impact of the 9/11 attacks, so I can very much sympathize with those who have suffered economic hardship as a result of those attacks.
But given the choice of a world where terrorists are free to travel where they want, and when they want, and one with some extra security precautions, I’ll take the precautions every time.
And if the British, French or Italian systems are different, terrorist troubles in those countries since 9/11 only prove that different isn’t always better. I’ll stay the course with what we have.
George bush has a terrible image here in Europe. Many people here would be happy to see a Democrat Government in the US.
I’m very sad to see political commentary becoming more common on this blog. I come here to get away from the noise of the fast lane. It’s certainly the blogger’s prerogative, but it spoils it for me.
Giant Bob, this is a real issue with real implications for the struggling businesses on the road. This is a news site, and this issue shouldn’t be ignored.
I don’t see that statement as political. Unfortunately it is just a statement of fact. Regardless of any political leanings, America’s image is simply taking a beating overseas. I am sure the European’s will welcome any new face, Democrat or Republican. What happens after that remains to be seen.
Bush, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz upset many people in Europe. There are large muslim communities in France, Italy and Britain who thought that these people’s attitudes were a threat to their way of life. If George Bush and his allies in Europe attack Iran this would have disastrous consequences for the world. Your Country has a great image in the world (Route 66, Music, Great cars, movies, scenery, food etc etc) its some of these Right Wing Politicians people do not trust.
As a Canadian, I really have no desire to visit, except manhatttan and haiwaiin islands that i go to. I have enough to see in my own country, and the united states is not viewed as a nice place with its current mandate. why go?