17 percent drop in overseas travelers to the United States since 9/11

[liberal N proud]

Travel to U.S. off 17 percent since 9/11 attacks
Decline costs country $15 billion in taxes, 200,000 jobs, study finds

WASHINGTON - A 17 percent drop in overseas travelers to the United States since the Sept. 11 attacks has cost the country more than $15 billion in lost taxes and nearly 200,000 jobs, a study showed Tuesday.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States has tightened security measures and toughened its visa and entry requirements. As a result, the country was ranked as the world’s most unfriendly to visitors in a survey conducted last year of travelers from 16 nations.

“Our economic security is suffering from a drastic decline in overseas travelers and we are missing an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen America’s image around the globe,” said Stevan Porter, president of Intercontinental Hotels Group and chairman of the association’s Discover America Partnership. “We are in the midst of a travel crisis.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16771983/


It just another 200,000 jobs. If you were not already in America, would you want to travel here and be harassed at the airports this way?

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Who can blame them for not wanting to be here?

[Taverner]

2. A great deal of the tourists pre-9/11 were of Arabic decent

Chances are, they don't like the harassment...

[Selatius]

3. Wall Street doesn't give a shit.

Most of the money that's flowing into the stock market is as much if not more from foreign investors as it is from American investors. This is what has allowed the US to have trade deficits for over 30 years. For them, they can fuck over the tourists because they only care about business investors and speculators, not families and individuals looking to sight-see.

The industrialists and barons of America helped put the Republicans into power, and they helped put a Republican in the White House. They got what they wanted.

[gatorboy]

4. I'd say this has less to do with 9/11,

and more to do with the open ugliness many Americans have towards foreigners. Who would want to visit a country that openly harrasses nearly every other country on the planet?

[angstlessk]

5. I bet there is not much tourism in OTHER countries that 'disappears' people

on lists that NO ONE KNOWS about and NO ONE KNOWS why they are on the list...Teddy Kennedy was on that list, as was Arar...only Arar was sent to Syria to be tortured...THAT is the chance a traveler to America takes.

[WritersBlock]

6. Yeah, there's nothing more welcoming after an 8-hour flight....

... than being screamed at in the arrivals hall by some jumped-up, overbearing, self-important asshole in a uniform.

Intimidating enough even to US citizens; I'd hate to be a "furriner" coming into the country. Darn sure ain't no way I'd make the trip for pleasure.