Travel — Not So Broadening

Coronavirus has upset the travel industry. Fear of disease has resulted in restrictions on travel into the United States. Guess what — already fewer foreign travelers were coming to the U.S.

Traveling around the world has been increasing… prior to pandemic angst. Nearly one-and-a-half-billion people traveled internationally in 2019, six-percent more than the year before. But almost two-percent-fewer people visited the U.S. The number of visitors from China is down more than five percent since the advent of trade wars. The Chinese government has also warned its citizens about American gun violence and robberies.

The ever-changing list of travel restrictions has made entering the U.S. more difficult for everyone. An attorney at an international law firm specializing in U.S. immigration put it thusly: “Travelers must be ready for increasingly-hostile questioning from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents about the nature of their travel and itinerary while in the U.S.” People entering the U.S. should expect to face “law enforcement” culture at the border. They should also be prepared to have their electronic devices and data on phones and laptops examined.

Business travelers particularly are avoiding trade shows, expos, conferences and in-person sales calls. Since the current occupant of the White House took office and issued travel restrictions, many have decided that the increased hassle and time required to enter the country are not worth it.

Making America Great Again

Our new administration has pledged that everything it does will be to make America number one. For some reason that doesn’t seem to be working in the category of tourist destinations. Only a month after the inauguration, foreign tourism in the United States is down 6.8%. And it’s probably going to get worse. Internet searches for flights to the U.S from locations outside our country are down 17%. This translates to many billions of dollars that will not be spent here. New York City alone takes in $60 billion annually from tourists.

Business travel in the U.S. declined $185 million in the first week after the Executive Order was issued banning travel from seven countries.

If you make your living from hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail stores, tour operations et cetera… good luck.

Read more about it from Frommer.

On the Road

After years of traveling for work, I am planning my next career move: I will become the all-powerful, unquestioned dictator…

… my first act will be to mandate that all hotel plumbing be exactly the same. Every room in every hotel will have the exact same type of fixture that turns in the same directions to turn the water on and off, or to switch the diverter from tub to shower, or to adjust the water temperature. That will save the scalding/freezing surprise that comes from moving the mixing lever/knob in the wrong direction. And all sinks will have the left handle for hot and the right for cold.

Continue reading “On the Road”