Having just returned from Europe, and traveled to Asia late last year, I've seen how other countries often welcome international visitors… and their money. It's a smart move. Money from international tourists is bonus cash for an economy - money from people who don't stick around long, consuming many public services. And international tourists are great for theme park fans. Their money helps theme parks justify building expensive new attractions that Americans can enjoy, too. But the United States, somewhat isolated internationally due to geography, hasn't always embraced tourist-friendly policies.
Millions of honest, peaceful people around the world want to visit America, and spend their money here. We ought to make it easier for those would-be tourists to do that. Here are four steps that America can take immediately (or is already in the process of taking) that can help bring more visitors to the United States, including to our theme parks:
1. Reduce visa requirements for visitors
In a conference call with analysts this week, Disney CFO Jay Rasulo said "the only thing we're held back by from South America is actually, believe it or not, our visa policy and the ability for people to get access to the market." Earlier this year, President Barack Obama asked Congress to expand the list of countries whose citizens don't need a visa to enter the United States for a short visit. Yet Congress hasn't acted, using security concerns as an excuse. (It's not like being from a non-visa country exempts you from TSA checks when you fly to and enter America.) If potential visitors didn't have to go through the hassle of going to a U.S. Consulate, filing out extra paperwork and paying an extra fee, it's logical that more visitors would consider a U.S. visit. And since visa requirements are also always reciprocal, reducing the visa requirements on incoming visitors would mean fewer visa hurdles for US citizens traveling abroad, too.
2. Expand Open Skies deals
The United States has agreed to an "Open Skies" deal with Brazil, but it won't be in effect fully until 2015. Open Skies agreements reduce government restrictions on international flights, allowing the airlines to decide how many flights to schedule on specific routes. Of course, governments never want to act unilaterally - so the Open Skies framework creates a blueprint for governments to get together and open up more routes between their countries. More air routes = more revenue for airlines, on lower airfares for tourists, and more visitors for our country.
3. Post more multilingual signs in tourist areas
English is the international language of aviation, and even in Japan and France, many signs include English, often as the primary language in the Disney theme parks. But millions of visitors to America don't speak English, and millions more potential visitors stay home because they don't speak the language.
I don't care what you think about people who don't speak English, but the money tourists spend in America is more money for all of America. "English-only" laws that prohibit governments from spending money to include Spanish and other languages on highway signs and other facilities in tourist areas are costing all of us money by making America a more hostile place for certain visitors. Instead of prohibiting multilingual signs, government agencies and tourist-friendly businesses ought to be looking for more opportunities to post signs that include Spanish, German, French or other languages in addition to English. Let's roll out the welcome mat in areas international visitors most want to see.
4. Require that taxes be included in all posted and advertised prices
Traveling to Japan and Europe in the past year, it was a huge relief to me to find that posted prices included tax. That meant I could budget my spending much more accurately, since I knew exactly what I'd be charged at the register. But what really struck me was imagining what it would be like for people from those countries to visit America. With sales tax varying from city to city, not to mention state to state, these visitors would have no idea what their final bill would be. (Heck, many American visitors don't.) How would you know if a cashier wasn't ripping you off by throwing a couple extra quarters onto the bill? It's not like most visitors memorize the local tax rates for every place they visit.
And don't get me started on airfares and hotel room charges. Let's make it easier for people to figure out the true cost of travel. Let's be like much of the rest of the world and require businesses to include all applicable taxes in the prices that they post.
What do you think? Over the weekend, I'll post four more things that the U.S. can do over the long term to increase tourism, as well.
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It would bring in much revue to the U.S.A. and that Money could be put to good use as in Social Security Benefits, Veteran Benefits, Medicaid and Medicare. Not only would it bring in Revue n to this Good Old U.S.A. It will also boost up Tourism.
If you agree please go to www.Care2.com and look under New State Quarter Flags and Sign the Petition. We need only 1,000 People to help the American Dream come true. Now go make History and Thank You for your Comment on Four Steps the U.S. could take right away to earn more Money from Tourism.
With the State Quarter Flags it would give you "FIVE" Good Reasons to bring in Money from Tourism.
Mastic, New York
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Anyway before I digress, it was nice to see someone else like me mentions taxes on vacation… Bravo Roberto!!
Yes you are correct – Include taxes to be paid in the prices listed would help out of town folk’s budget monies.
But what I really don't like Is the immigration process. I mean they have all my information and they can see that I visit the US quite often and always leave before the expiration of my temporary immigration permit. I really hope they will soon expand the Trusted Travellers program to more countries, I'll happily pay a fee if I could do the immigration formalities on a computer and don't have to stand in line to see an immigrations officer. Would save them money too and free up manpower to check on the complicated cases...
Oh, and another thing! American airlines really should upgrade their planes they use between Europe and the US. Most European carriers offer personal displays and onboard entertainment systems at every seat, but Delta and US Air only have one screen somewhere in the front and sometimes the plane interior looks really old fashioned.
I do agree with all the issues with travel though. It's amazing how we make foreigners who want to visit us, enjoy our country, and spend their money jump through hoops, while illegals and criminals simply jump the fence from the south and walk across from the north. I get that 9/11 changed everything..etc etc, but some of the restrictions and regulations are a little much, and it keeps people away.
What will really boost tourism is making it less expensive to actually go somewhere. That means companies cutting costs and reducing prices, which simply won't happen when more taxes, regulations, and government mandates interfere. Another factor is the rate of inflation, which affects absolutely everything. I know these are broad things, but everything is affected by them, and they are the real root of the problem. It's not by greed or a whim that these places simply raise prices or make things difficult. Businesses have little choice but to react to the conditions that they are operating in, and right now the conditions aren't good.
If the US wants to gain more money from tourism starting immediately, I have two words....fuel prices. We can talk about oil companies and speculation and foreign oil dependency all day long, and all of those are factors... but has anyone taken a good look at the amount of taxes you pay on a gallon of gas? Probably not many because taxes are included in the purchase price. I encourage people to take a look and consider what we are paying and where it all goes. Like it or not, people drive their cars in this country, and they especially drive on vacation. It's not that people can't afford the fuel, it's that they are spending a higher percentage of their budget on it. If they aren't doing that, they are simply staying home. Meanwhile, fuel costs are adding to the bottom line of businesses, and the prices reflect that as well.
I hate to make the whole thing political, but in essence that's what it boils down to. If the economy sucks, then the tourism sector sucks. The question then becomes...Why does the economy suck and how does it get fixed? That can of worms is probably better left for another site and another forum. After all it's supposed to be fun around here right?
As for the others, I agree for the most part, but I thought that since 9/11, there has been beefed up security requirements for any plane entering the US. I mean, remember the Underwear Bomber? He came on a plane from Amsterdam. I think that international airports have to prove to the US that they doing the right security. Is this right or not? I think it has its pros and cons.
The English thing is a fascinating point. What languages should be written? I think Disney World does a pretty good job with this compared to other places. I also feel that one of the downsides of Disneyland Paris is that it is located in an area (Europe) that has too many languages flying around. I think capping the amount is good. Perhaps Disney could look at recruiting more international cast members. I also thought Portuguese (Brazilian) is making its presence known in WDW lately!
My passport shows that I never overstay my ESTA and am normally in the US to visit Orlando so I am obviously not some criminal mastermind, but every time its the same. Myself and my parter had a serious discussion about not returning the last time.
Any other country you visit you get welcomed and told to enjoy your hoiliday in the US its Sir answer these questions for the fourth time, scan your bags for the third time, que here so we can Pat you down, why are you visitng the US again?, what hotel are you staying in?.I actually saw a family being delayed on the grounds one the kids could not remeber the name of the hotel they were staying in !!.
No other country makes you fill in so many forms or have your fingerprints taken and no other country makes you go through so many hoops just to get in,I can deal with the forms etc but the treatment in customs is getting old fast.
Have been to the US many times since 1975 and if Im honest its getting harder as time as gone on, Your comments on the immigration is very correct as an australian I feel like I am treated like a terrorist, My wife and I have had at least two realy bad experiences - we had one of the officers tell us she hated australians and stamped our cards SSSS which ment we spend two hours being subjected to all sorts of searches, let me say I am 100% happy to have any checks to ensure the saftey of all passengers and the country in general, but this sort of anti australian sentiment gives the whole experence a bad feel and it this sort of thing you tell your friends when you get home, a few smiles with welcome to the USA, have a great time would be a great start. Maybe disney could train the immagration department in customer relations LOL
the taxes are a real pain, it would be great if the price on show was the real price, its impossable for us travelers to calculate the different types taxes to add, in the UK theres a flat cost (VAT), here we have GST and its illegal to put a price on anything unless the tax is included.
tips - theres a another thing that I guess australians find difficult - I am never sure what I am supposed to add so usually end up asking a local to help - boy I get some funny looks, I think to show the power of the resistance to tips is that the US cruise ships that roam the australian shores have deleted tipping on cruises here,
the US doesnt seem to want to entice visitors, Australian TV is constantly blitzed with Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China even Canada, but never the USA which seems a bit odd as theres some much you have to offer. The welcome you get in the Asian countries is just brilliant,
I tried recently to book a cruise through a (theme cruise company in the USA)on Princess cruise ship. Even though there is a free trade agreement between the US and australia, I was not allowed to book the trip, because I did not have a US address, the cruise was Miami to the caribbian,so clearly not tourist friendly, no I could not book the cruise from here either as it was run by a US company
Australians have good disposable income, every working person is guarrenteed a minimum of 4 weeks paid annual holidays every year and every worker is guarrenteed that when youve done 10 years with the same company that you get one months paid holiday plus a further months paid leave every 5 years after that, many workers negociate 6 or 8 weeks annual leave, thats why we travel so much.
As I said at the start I am not trying to bash the US, but give an honest view from an outsider and Im sure their are US tourists who had problems here also, you cant please everyone
I will be back in the US next year for my 14th visit, I have cousins and children that are now US citizens,
thanks david
I don't see reducing visa requirements happening any time soon. Much of America is still shell-shocked from 9/11 and it might take decades more before getting over it, if it ever happens. Unlike many locations, it was our "first time" and was not anything many ever conceived of happening. By the way, could anyone decipher ESTA for me? I'm guessing "extended stay" for the first two, but...
I can't speak for many other locations, but here where it never rains, road signs have been going up in a European style for many moons. I think, based on what I've seen, this is a non-issue. If you know where you're going - let's say Balboa Park - that's what you should be expecting to see on a road sign. The turnoff will also be what it is. It's not going to help to see "The Royal Way 2 miles" on a road sign when the turnoff itself says, "El Camino Real". It's not going to help to see a sign that says, "Temecula 10 km" when the speedometer and odometer on your - presumably rented - car are in miles.
As far as taxes go, I can't see what the issue is here either. Adding about 10% to everything planned should get you around the cost of your trip and might be a pleasant surprise when all is said and done.
5. Currency exchange. Most banks in U.S. do not exchange foreign currency. I'm planning on traveling overseas and it would be nice if I can pre-exchange dollars to something else and then re-exchange when I return, but it is likely that I cannot do this at home.
6. Credit cards. U.S. cards are not compatible with European standards. Foreigners must figure out how their credits cards work in the U.S.
7. Phone service. The major phone companies do a poor job of allowing you to use your phone at foreign countries. Think of how bad a visitor will use U.S. service. In most cases, you have to look for an alternative phone.
8. Internet. Let's make it easier for everyone.
9. TSA is a mess. Let's fix it before too late.
10. Airlines are a mess. Nickle and diming everyone to death.
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