USA travel warnings mount
From gun violence to Zika, problems make U.S. look less than desirable
Zika, violence could hurt American tourism
Government travel advisories are common for war-torn, disease-ravaged nations, but a growing number of countries are warning their citizens about taking trips to the United States.
The United Arab Emirates, Bahamas, France, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Germany are among those urging caution to U.S.-bound travelers. The concerns include mass shootings, police violence, antiMuslim and anti-LGBT attitudes and the Zika virus.
While it is too soon to determine if the warnings are hurting U.S. tourism, the warnings tarnish the image the U.S. promotes abroad of a country that prides itself on being a welcoming society.
“All of the warnings that come from specific instances add up and can potentially erode the positive image of the U.S.,” said Tom Buncle, managing director of the Yellow Railroad, an international tourism consultancy in Scotland.
Buncle said the warnings about gays and Muslims may deter some from taking U.S. vacations. “If you are in any of those groups, ... you might feel threatened,” he said.
Another turnoff is gun violence. “America has surprised a lot of the world because of all the mass shootings and the attitudes on gun control, or lack of it,” Buncle said.
Foreign tourism to the U.S. is lucrative. An estimated 77 million foreigners visited the United States last year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. They contributed $218 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the State Department.
Countries such as the U.K. have added the U.S. — the state of Florida in particular — to the list of countries where travelers face a “moderate risk” of catching the Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a warning this month about an outbreak in a Florida county north of Miami.
European governments have warned about a spate of gun violence in the U.S., including June’s mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub that left 49 dead, and the murders of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge in July. France’s travel advice website informs citizens that it is legal for many Americans to carry firearms. Germany warns, “If you find yourself the victim of a gun attack, do not try to resist!”
Xenophobia is another worry. The UAE released a travel advisory in July urging men not to wear traditional clothing after a citizen was tackled and injured by police in Ohio. Officers had been alerted by hotel staff who feared the businessman’s robe and headscarf indicated terrorist intentions.
A Muslim couple was removed from a flight from Paris to Cincinnati after a crew member complained that she was uncomfortable with them. The woman was wearing a head scarf and using a phone, and the man was sweating, the crew member told the pilot.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s repeated calls for a temporary travel ban on foreign Muslims and people from countries where terrorist groups operate has added to the woes.
Britain’s Foreign Office issued advice to LGBT travelers about laws prohibiting transgender people from using public bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity. “Attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country,” the website said.
Despite the advisories, the U.S. “remains a first-rate tourist destination,” said Mark Toner, deputy spokesman for the State Department. “We value the enormous economic benefit that foreign tourists bring.”
“The warnings add up and can erode the positive image of the U.S.” Tom Buncle, managing director of the Yellow Railroad, a tourism consultancy