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US International Tourism Market Share Is Falling Under Trump (buzzfeed.com)

Posted by msmash on from the aftermath dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The United States' slice of the international tourism pie is declining, according to a new report from Foursquare that looks at data from millions of phones worldwide. The US share of international tourism dropped 16% in March 2017 compared with the previous year. And it declined an average of 11% year over year in months spanning October 2016 to March 2017, according to the report. The drop coincides with the final month of the US election, the Trump transition, and the early months of the Trump administration, which notably imposed a travel ban on people from several majority-Muslim countries in January 2017 that was eventually halted in court but is currently under appeal. Declines in tourism market share from people originating in the Middle East were more pronounced than the rest of the world, down 25% this January, along with a smaller decrease from South America, Foursquare found. The data accounts for the percentage of international tourism coming to the US and not the absolute number of tourists, but Foursquare CEO Jeff Glueck told BuzzFeed News that it's unlikely tourist visits to the US increased while share declined. "I don't think you'd see a 16% decline in international market share and absolute numbers being up. I don't think that's compatible," he said. "The volume of tourism doesn't change that fast."

22 of 429 comments (clear)

  1. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There have to be consequences when a country treats their visitors the way the US do.

    1. Re:Good by ganjadude · · Score: 5, Insightful

      if you actually look at the graph, it was falling prior to the election at almost the same rate, you know the time frame when we were 98% sure hillary was going to win. so lets not try and put this on trump. i know thats the popular thing to do but seriously. this is a non story

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    2. Re:Good by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I wouldn't say there has to be consequences. However the political redirect of the ruling party, does make the United States seem to be an uninviting place to visit.
      I wouldn't want to visit a country, where I could get arrested or just harassed just because of my cultural differences. We should welcome visitors, because someone coming to our country to visit says that we are special enough for that person to be interested in visiting us, and they will be bringing their money to spend. It should be an opportunity to put our best foot forward.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    3. Re:Good by I)_MaLaClYpSe_(I · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I have circumstantial evidence suggesting Trump is the reason: I would have loved to revisit the US this year but if I have to disclose my social media accounts and phone or social media login details, I will spare you from the several thousand bucks that I would have carried across the pond to you.

    4. Re:Good by quantaman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      if you actually look at the graph, it was falling prior to the election at almost the same rate, you know the time frame when we were 98% sure hillary was going to win. so lets not try and put this on trump. i know thats the popular thing to do but seriously. this is a non story

      Even when we thought Hillary would win we were still appalled by the fact that Trump was not only nominated, but that he was making it an actual race.

      For all his celebrity Trump is terrible marketing for the US.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    5. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Discussing Trump with a Trump supporter is like discussing a Nigerian prince with someone who just started using email and is convinced they're about become a multimillionaire.

      It would have been a valid point that the graph doesn't go back far enough to rule out effects from seasonal variations - if you had made that point. But your claim that US tourism was falling at the same rate prior to the election is total BS. Yes, there was a significant drop from September to October. But the month before that it was level. And the month before that it was increasing.

      I know you want to believe in your Nigerian prince. But the data does strongly suggest that Trump's policy toward foreign visitors is hurting the US tourism industry.

    6. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I have circumstantial evidence suggesting Trump is the reason: I would have loved to revisit the US this year but if I have to disclose my social media accounts and phone or social media login details, I will spare you from the several thousand bucks that I would have carried across the pond to you.

      As if this shit wasn't in full bloom with Obama at the helm. There just is less pretense now.

    7. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's flamebait, and you are most likely a paid troll making offtopic posts.

    8. Re:Good by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When in the past 16 years weren't you?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    9. Re:Good by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't worry, you can have it just the other way 'round too.

      $BADTHING happens
      See, Trump is teh evilz.

      $GOODTHING happens
      That's just a spillover from when Obama was still in office.

      It's about time you people learn that it doesn't fucking matter what idiot you put at the helm, they're ALL crooks!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    10. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I wouldn't want to visit a country, where I could get arrested or just harassed just because of my cultural differences. We should welcome visitors, because someone coming to our country to visit says that we are special enough for that person to be interested in visiting us, and they will be bringing their money to spend. It should be an opportunity to put our best foot forward.

      Well then you shouldn't visit most of Asia, all of the middle east, and a lot of Africa. There are many countries where you can and will be arrested if you disrespect their culture/religion/version-of-history. Not to mention harassment because of looking different. If you visit a country you best behave on their terms.

      (not defending the present USA draconian immigration measures, just pointing out "we're" nowhere near the worst offender)

    11. Re:Good by mrvan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yeah. It's not just Trump, and it's been going on for longer. I've been visiting the US regularly for work and tourism for at least the past 15 years, have lived there for half a year and had an American girlfriend for a while. Although every state has the right to subject foreign visitors to whatever restrictions and procedure they please, if they don't make me feel welcome it won't help convincing me to come again and spend money. My gripes:

      - The ESTA procedure, where we have to fill out some stupid web form in advance. It's not so much bother, but I'm a frequent traveller to many countries and it is easy to forget. Just give me the option to fill it in at the airport and let me run the (negligible) risk of not being admitted once I get there, or at least send me reminder emails between booking my flight and getting approval.

      - With the ESTA procedure, the US is the only developed/"western" country I have to pay to get in. I expect that kind of nonsense from Turkey or Vietnam, not the US...

      - Since living in Israel (a staunch US ally) for a semester and visiting tourist sites in nearby Jordan (with whom the US has friendly relations) I am frequently picked out of the line for extra questioning, often adding 30-60 minutes to my time to get through immigration. I can understand it the first time, but after having determined that I'm bona fide, just put a frigging note in my case file and leave me alone next time. Also, for me it is mosly annoying and sometimes amusing, but if I were non-white or had an arabic name I'm sure it would go from bad to worse pretty quickly.

      There must be a much smarter way to reduce risk of incoming visitors without annoying legimitate travelers, but it seems that the people in charge just don't care / don't see the real economic effects of current policy.

    12. Re:Good by ganjadude · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Discussing (insert politician here) with a (insert politician here) supporter is like discussing a Nigerian prince with someone who just started using email and is convinced they're about become a multimillionaire.

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    13. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      When in written history has civilization not been in war?

      Oh, right. When someone else does your fighting. Europe anyone? Tell me more about the strong European leadership that put an end to the Bosnian war.

    14. Re:Good by jawtheshark · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Yeah, well... I'm in the same boat. I would love to return to the US, but I said "I'm sure they'll become reasonable again when George Bush leaves office". Wait... George Bush? Yes! George Bush! It never got better, only got worse! My wife reminds me from time to time: You said we would go when Bush is gone... I usually reply: Yes, I did, but I assumed it would bet better again.

      This really isn't a caused by Trump. It's just gone downhill all these years with no hope of it getting better ever again. I don't expect to visit the US ever again.

      --
      Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
    15. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's about time you people learn that it doesn't fucking matter what idiot you put at the helm, they're ALL crooks!

      And I wish YOU PEOPLE would see shades of grey. Yes, we know, they're "all crooks". But some are much, much worse than others.

      Those of us who live in reality understand that sometimes you have to make a choice between two bad things. I'm not just talking about politics here; I'm talking about anything from choice of car mechanic to choice of a child's cancer treatment. Sometimes, you have to make a choice that's crappy. Attempting to make a third secret choice and rationalizing yourself into smugness because you didn't chose among the bad options is an abdication of responsibility.

      It's definitely not a sign of I-know-better-than-all-of-you awareness that too many posters on Slashdot just love to wrap themselves in.

      So, yes, they're all crooks. But they're the crooks in charge. Fucking grow up and deal with it instead of saying "it doesn't matter!" You're wrong; it does matter, and you're making the world worse for the rest of us by claiming it doesn't.

    16. Re:Good by bobbied · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You got to dig deep to keep up the pretense... I understand...

      Can you at least admit that it just MIGHT be what Trump says all this is? That there was no collusion with the Russians and Firing Comey was intended from the beginning (just like he said during the campaign)? I'm not asking you to agree with all these, but at least accept that there is a possibility that the truth here is exactly the face value of what Trump claims?

      All the "evidence" we have right now of any of this amounts to sound bites and accusations of wrong doing coming mostly from political opponents of Trump or anonymous sources that reporters claim are "highly placed"..... We have lots of smoke and a whole lot of huffing and puffing from those trying to claim there is a raging forest fire...

      I believe that there is a group of people who are so aggravated with Trump for running and wining that they are obsessed with his destruction at any cost, including the truth. They have to keep up the pretense of Trump's presumed guilt or their whole world view will collapse..

      BTW... Remember the "I was Wiretapped" Trump claim? Did anybody hear the congressional testimony this week, the parts where they admitted that Trump's campaign WAS under surveillance??? (Of course you didn't, but it happened.)

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  2. Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    A report. From a phone app. An app that might have 1% install base on all cellphonedom. Why the fuck should anyone care?

  3. Nobody wants to be treated like a criminal by ZorinLynx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If another country started to demand people's social media passwords, full access to phones, etc. as a possible condition to enter, I certainly wouldn't want to go there. Who wants to be treated like a criminal when they're on vacation trying to relax and have a good time?

    People take their privacy seriously. The word has gotten around that the US is poking more and more into people's data when they visit. There's plenty of other beautiful places to visit in the world, so obviously tourism to the US will go down.

    Treat visitors as guests and not suspiciously, damnit.

    1. Re:Nobody wants to be treated like a criminal by arth1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The last few years, it has become more arduous to try to visit USA, and it's gotten progressively worse under both GWB and Obama, and there's little hope it will get better under Trump.

      For the 38 countries on the visa waiver program, you now have to get a new passport with a chip, then apply electronically for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), pay for it through a credit card, and answer mandatory questions that you previously didn't have to answer, like your employer, name of your parents, city of birth, and the name of a U.S. contact (which you may not even have if you're a pure tourist).
      And if you've been a tourist to some countries that the US doesn't like, you get denied. Even if you have absolutely no affiliation to those countries and only like to travel the world.
      And that's before you get to the airport and is subjected to the rather unfriendly border checks.

      I tell my European friends to think twice before visiting. And no, they can't use me as their U.S. contact, because I don't want to be added to the database for 15 years and get goonies at my door if someone with a similar name as them ever does something bad.

  4. Re:Can't hang it on Trump by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Ya know, you can't just change the meaning of the word "racist" just by shitting it all over every thread you can.

    Bias against trump because he's a dickweed isn't racist merely because he's right. Likewise bias against Obama just because he's a Democrat isn't racist just because he's black no matter how much you seem to want that to be the case.

    And your sig is still idiotic because I remember people criticising bush before Obama being called unpatriotic.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  5. Not a surprise, due to border security! by foxalopex · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think the main problem is if you look middle-eastern and the border agents are having a particularly bad day then you might get denied entry for no apparent reason at all. This has happened to several Canadians and apparently without even an explanation. This has caused entire conferences and school trips to be cancelled and or moved to Canada because on a class field trip, no teacher wants to have to deal with a situation where a student is left behind. Heck there was an Iranian Student who was invited to speak to a US trade show on refrigeration because of something new he had invented who got denied entry. Can you imagine how disappointing it would be to lose your lead speaker at a Conference because of such issues. This plus poor currency exchange, apparently gun violence issues and possibility issues at the border are scaring people away.