Will Americans be welcome??

AlanS

I don't want to start a political discussion, but, in view of recent events, I think it is time to talk about the elephant in the room. I'm assuming you all have read or heard about what is going on at JFK, LAX, etc. with respect to arriving non-US citizens.

Whether as a protest against the US/US policy or as a show of support for citizens and/or refugees of certain countries, I have to wonder if any or many other countries (popular tour destinations) will respond to this new US policy and how. Will US tourists be as welcome as in the past and will tours be allowed to continue to operate in some countries in the near future? Will these countries feel strongly enough to cut off their noses to spite their faces- suspend US travel there and forego a considerable amount of tourist money? Even if there is no official government response, how will airport/border officials and the local people treat US tourists and tours?

I'm getting a bit concerned with what is going on. I hope the travel industry weighs in quickly and heavily on this and contacts the appropriate elected officials.

Claudia Sails

I'm a tad worried too and have been for the past year. The only saving grace was that we were only going to France and the UK since the former already has it's own issues given the terrorist attacks they suffered and the later has Brexit to answer for (except for Wales and Scotland). At a minimum I worry that delays getting through customs/security - especially for anyone trying to make flight connections - could screw up their trip. Glad none of our trips this year involve overseas connections - just possibly a long lines at De Gaulle or Heathrow.

You're right that our current leader's approach (i.e. Mexico) isn't particularly conducive to friendly relations. Hopefully the locals can discern the different between politicians and just average citizens. Maybe my "Nasty Women Vote" Tshirt will help??

Possibly Tauck could contact their leadership in Washington - although for CT it's all democrats so not sure they'd be listened to.

British

Apart from US citizens entering the countries that have had the restrictions put on them and excepting Mexico, most of these countries are not really current US tourist destinations, I do not think it is going to make any difference to US citizens traveling out of and into the US, as long as they have a US passport. The most popular Tauck tour destinations are unlikely to be affected, our dollar spending is far too valuable to their economies.

Nanos

The times are difficult and punitive, especially to those with visas attempting to re-enter the US. And difficult and challenging to those US tourists who represent their country abroad. I will be traveling shortly to Hong Kong, Singapore and India. Yes, these countries will welcome tourists and their spending. However, there is no doubt that this will be a topic to be discussed with other tourists from other counties and with locals. Perhaps we (US tourists) will be viewed differently. Hopefully nothing more. I suppose these are the hard lessons of democracy. I may need to borrow Claudia's tee shirt.

AlanS

British wrote:

Apart from US citizens entering the countries that have had the restrictions put on them and excepting Mexico, most of these countries are not really current US tourist destinations, I do not think it is going to make any difference to US citizens traveling out of and into the US, as long as they have a US passport. The posts popular Tauck tour destinations are unlikely to be affected, our dollar spending is far too valuable to their economies.

I'm not talking about the 7 countries, but others that are on Tauck itineraries who might be sympathetic to the plight of people from the 7 and join them in some sort of show of solidarity by protesting the actions of the US in some way. We have a friend who worked for the Fed gov't, and had an office in the White House. She said, in the past, presidents have run draft Executive Orders through the department that will be responsible for implementing the order to determine- if it can be implemented, how should it be implemented, if it will it do what is intended, if it will have unintended consequences, what it will cost (dollar/manpower), etc., etc. and importantly if it is legal and Constitutional. It appears it wasn't done this time.

joycesw

I'm going on a golfing trip to Mexico in three weeks....I hope! It ought to be interesting, to say the least!

British

I understood you meant all countries Alan. Many countries have always thought unfavorably of Americans in the past but as some people have commented in the past, we are in a bubble on a Tauck tour and rarely mix with regular people. If we behave like decent and humble human beings then there will be no changes. I think this should be the end of this thread, tauck atim will not be happy.