Is the US killing off tourism?

[am1]

In a time when getting tourists back will be hard is the US trying to kill it off? More cases then any other country and more violence then most. It will be a while before I bring my family back. My sons are 7 and we have visited all over Florida a few times, Boston, New York, DC, Chicago, Vegas and LA. Our next trip is Hawaii for September but does not look promising. After that we were going to do Yellowstone and then a cruise to Alaska. Lots to see and visit but at the risk or being infected caught in the middle of a violent situation we will choose to stay away for the time being.

 

[beejaybee]

News reports from the US can have a chilling effect not only on foreign tourists but citizens. Your plans for this September are likely moot due to Covid. As far as 'violence' please remember that most protests are peaceful. I am grateful to live in a country that allows demonstrations- in 2018 I "Marched for Our Lives" in our suburban community. The terrorist attacks in Nice and Paris did not keep us from travelling there.

I think that if one avoids potential trouble spots and hot spots, visiting the US should be as safe as previously.

 

[Monykalyn]

In a time when getting tourists back will be hard is the US trying to kill it off? More cases then any other country and more violence then most. It will be a while before I bring my family back. My sons are 7 and we have visited all over Florida a few times, Boston, New York, DC, Chicago, Vegas and LA. Our next trip is Hawaii for September but does not look promising. After that we were going to do Yellowstone and then a cruise to Alaska. Lots to see and visit but at the risk or being infected caught in the middle of a violent situation we will choose to stay away for the time being.

That’s a good point and probably a matter of perspective as well. In this age of instant information news outlets try to gin up revenue by only having the most sensationalist news and making it seem as if it is the norm. OTOH the fast news cycle means you can usually also find more local newspapers and channels to see what is actually happening on local level where you plan to visit.
I guess it boils down to being as informed as possible and your risk level.

 

[turkel]

Hate to say it but what is currently going on here is detestable . Terrorist attacks would 100% effect my traveling choice.

If we were only having peaceful protests there would be no issue.
Will we still travel within the US? Yes. But to each his own.

 

[Cornell]

My daughter's host family in Switzerland had hoped to visit the US this upcoming year. They emailed me this week saying they are rethinking b/c "they don't like what's going on in the US".

Last night I was downtown (Chicago) and the entire city is filled with boarded up buildings. One of Chicago's attractions is it's beauty - especially in the summertime. I find it sad, depressing, anxiety-inducing and awful. If I had someone asking me "should I visit Chicago?", I'd probably steer them away from it and I'm one of the biggest "homers" there is.

 

[bbodb1]

Thankfully, our national parks continue to be a world away from the idiocy we see reported on the news these days. You mentioned Yellowstone @am1 - don't pass that up! Nothing cleanses the system like nature and while I know Canada is awash in natural beauty and wonder, one can never get too much of that.

 

[am1]

Thankfully, our national parks continue to be a world away from the idiocy we see reported on the news these days. You mentioned Yellowstone @am1 - don't pass that up! Nothing cleanses the system like nature and while I know Canada is awash in natural beauty and wonder, one can never get too much of that.

We were going to do Yellowstone this spring but using miles we could get a stopover outside USA/Canada. No direct flights from Cancun etc to a Yellowstone airport but there is Cancun - Calgary. So went with two nights in Cancun then direct to Calgary Bnaff, Jasper, Edmonton with an overnight in Toronto to see family then back home. But all the planning for nothing. Now that my sons are older national park/Hawaii destinations can be a little easier as long as they have their ipads. Then eventually it may be back to cities when they can appreciate more then playgrounds, kids museums and observation towers.

 

[Pompey Family]

We've decided to stop visiting the US two years ago after over a decade of annual travel. It's not just the protests (we have them in the UK) but it is the general violence and crime levels that are the main reasons. Having travelled much of the world I have only experienced hostility and threatening behaviour on three occasions, all of which were in the US. I've also witnessed violence but not been the subject on many more occasions.

I'm not a prude nor timid, I'm a former police officer so I've experienced more than my fair share of violence and abuse but I don't want it when I'm on holiday and I don't want my family to experience it.

There are other reasons why the US no longer interests us but the primary reason is the violence and crime.

 

[bbodb1]

We've decided to stop visiting the US two years ago after over a decade of annual travel. It's not just the protests (we have them in the UK) but it is the general violence and crime levels that are the main reasons. Having travelled much of the world I have only experienced hostility and threatening behaviour on three occasions, all of which were in the US. I've also witnessed violence but not been the subject on many more occasions.

I'm not a prude nor timid, I'm a former police officer so I've experienced more than my fair share of violence and abuse but I don't want it when I'm on holiday and I don't want my family to experience it.

There are other reasons why the US no longer interests us but the primary reason is the violence and crime.

Absolutely understandable - and I share that sentiment with you. Out of curiosity, (generally speaking) where did these experiences take place?

 

[Cornell]

We've decided to stop visiting the US two years ago after over a decade of annual travel. It's not just the protests (we have them in the UK) but it is the general violence and crime levels that are the main reasons. Having travelled much of the world I have only experienced hostility and threatening behaviour on three occasions, all of which were in the US. I've also witnessed violence but not been the subject on many more occasions.

I'm not a prude nor timid, I'm a former police officer so I've experienced more than my fair share of violence and abuse but I don't want it when I'm on holiday and I don't want my family to experience it.

There are other reasons why the US no longer interests us but the primary reason is the violence and crime.

YUP -- Here is what went on in Chicago 2 weeks ago. This barely registers on the national news.

85 shot, 24 fatally, over Chicago’s most violent weekend of 2020

More than half of the weekend’s victims were shot on Sunday as the city reeled from violent protests Saturday night that led to hundreds of arrests and the implementation of a curfew.

chicago.suntimes.com

 

[Tia]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read your post about boarded up downtown Chicago -> I had missed this on national news

YUP -- Here is what went on in Chicago 2 weeks ago. This barely registers on the national news.

85 shot, 24 fatally, over Chicago’s most violent weekend of 2020

More than half of the weekend’s victims were shot on Sunday as the city reeled from violent protests Saturday night that led to hundreds of arrests and the implementation of a curfew.

chicago.suntimes.com

 

[bbodb1]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read your post about boarded up downtown Chicago -> I had missed this on national news

This is exactly what should be front and center of the national news - in this article was another one that needs a LOT more attention as well:

18 murders in 24 hours: Inside the most violent day in 60 years in Chicago

‘We’ve never seen anything like it at all,’ said Max Kapustin, the senior research director at the University of Chicago Crime Lab.

chicago.suntimes.com

 

[Cornell]

@bbodb1 I have so much to say on this topic but will refrain from doing so as I don't want to stray into anything "socially contentious" on TUG.

Bottom line is that I don't feel particularly safe in my hometown these days.

 

[am1]

A few years ago it was Europe all over the news with bombings and trucks hitting tourists. Thankfully less is heard of that now.

 

[pedro47]

I have not read or heard on the news one tourist attack in the United States or in the World. Protest yes!

The last terrorist attack in the United States was 9/11/2001.

 

[Cornell]

I have not read or heard on the news one tourist attack in the United States or in the World. Protest yes!

The last terrorist attack in the United States was 9/11/2001.

What? There have been dozens of terrorist attacks in the US since 2001.

 

[Country Roads]

Interesting question however, tourist still travel to Mexico.

Five Mexican states currently are designated by the U.S. State Department as Level 4, which is “Do Not Visit”. By the way, the same designation for Iraq. Eleven other Mexican states, surrounding Mexico City, are designated as Level 3, “Reconsider Travel". Mexico as a whole however, was designated back in December, 2019, as Level 2. Of course, “Exercise Increased Caution”. Acapulco for example is perhaps one of the most dangerous states in Mexico. Remember though, once you’re in Acapulco things tend to be very safe.

In America, like in Mexico, known tourist areas are kept pretty safe.

 

[pedro47]

What? There have been dozens of terrorist attacks in the US since 2001.

You are correct Cornell.
That 9/11 attack force me to retire in November 2001.
Enough was Enough..

 

[am1]

I have not read or heard on the news one tourist attack in the United States or in the World. Protest yes!

The last terrorist attack in the United States was 9/11/2001.

Not to go too far off topic but I would call last night in Atlanta a terrorist attack. Others may see it differently and that is fine.

 

[Conan]

Not to go too far off topic but I would call last night in Atlanta a terrorist attack. Others may see it differently and that is fine.

Here we go again.

 

[bizaro86]

In a time when getting tourists back will be hard is the US trying to kill it off? More cases then any other country and more violence then most. It will be a while before I bring my family back. My sons are 7 and we have visited all over Florida a few times, Boston, New York, DC, Chicago, Vegas and LA. Our next trip is Hawaii for September but does not look promising. After that we were going to do Yellowstone and then a cruise to Alaska. Lots to see and visit but at the risk or being infected caught in the middle of a violent situation we will choose to stay away for the time being.

Do you think things have really changed? The US has had higher much deaths by homicide than most developed countries for a long time. The most recent stats I could find had the US neck and neck for homicide rate with paragons of safety like Angola and Cuba. Intentional homicide rate in the USA is ~3-6 times higher than comparable countries like Canada, the UK and Australia.

Maybe that is just your perspective catching up to the reality? I go to the USA regularly (and will again) but I think the risk of facing violence or crime as a tourist is much higher there than other countries. I've been a lot of places and have only been hit up for bribes in Egypt and the USA. And the USA also is my most aggressive panhandling experience. There is a lot going for the US, but it's not an especially safe country by international standards.

List of countries by intentional homicide rate - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

(I think it's relevant to point out here that I blend in with the majority population in the USA in basically every way. People generally guess I'm from Minnesota.)

 

[am1]

A lot more in your face now and it seems to becoming more normal. Throw in the economy going forward and its a recipe to worry. Yes NYC is a lot safer then in the 70's so I have been told. We do not stay out late as we have young kids and it is a lot safer before dark. Thankfully never personally had a problem. But do not want to find one either. Thankfully there will be lots of options inside our country and outside and we are flexible. Well based on using airline miles and hotel points and free offers (Atlantis).

A big draw for us is the shopping. Clothes/shoes/food in person and school books/electronics on amazon and ranching supplies/equipment from their online stores. What we save in shipping or buying locally if possible offsets the taxes/fees of the airline tickets.

 

[Country Roads]

(I think it's relevant to point out here that I blend in with the majority population in the USA in basically every way. People generally guess I'm from Minnesota.)

A very interesting way of saying you're white, whatever that has do with it. Why the reference to Minnesota?

 

[am1]

A very interesting way of saying you're white, whatever that has do with it. Why the reference to Minnesota?

Probably the go to state that Americans think white Canadians are from.

 

[bizaro86]

A very interesting way of saying you're white, whatever that has do with it. Why the reference to Minnesota?

Accent. Americans typically think I'm from the midwest based on the accent I speak English with. I wasn't intending to bring race into it, although I can see how it could be taken that way. My point was that I blend in to the population in the USA quite a bit better than I do somewhere like Egypt. I speak the language, wear similar clothes, etc. Generally speaking one would expect blending in with the locals to make risky encounters less likely, but that hasn't been my experience. Maybe countries where I'm more obviously a tourist result in me getting a "non-authentic" experience, as many economies are very dependent on tourism.