USA tourism down with Trump Slump attributed to travel ban

[dfcatch]

You always keep forgetting to mention George W Bush brought in the ESTA... Not sure if your forgetful memory is due to possible political or racial reasons...

Trump's EO could have easily included the countries you mentioned, but let's not forget not about George W Bush going on holiday and dropping the ball on the warning that Bin Laden was about to attack.

And you've totally got your facts wrong and misrepresented RooFlyer's comments (possibly due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of these things).

RooFlyer is referring to the ban on ESTA use due to a visit to Iran subsequent to 2011 - this rule was brought in by the Obama Administration in 2015, and came into force in 2016. Additional countries were added to the list in 2016 (again under Obama), these countries were Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan.

No such restrictions existed under the Bush Administration.

As for Trump - he didn't select the countries in his "ban" - he simply used the existing list approved by Congress and Obama in 2015/16. In fact, he has since removed Iraq from the list. although Trump's restrictions go further than Obama's - the list of countries was not selected by Trump.

Additionally - the criteria cited by both Administrations for the selection of countries has everything to do with ISIS infiltration, and the lack of credible government intelligence reporting/sharing from those countries. Which to anyone who pays any attention to world affairs - makes perfect sense.

9/11 has absolutely nothing to do with the current threat level, nor the countries that we should be concerned about.

 

[amaroo]

Some more reports on the USA visitor numbers slump....

The number of illegal immigrants crossing into the US from Mexico went down by 40% from January to February, according to the US government.

US hails '40% drop' in illegal immigrants from Mexico - BBC News

 

[zainman]

I'm definitely going to avoid travelling there if I can help it until this mess is sorted out, also not keen on handing over my phone or laptop to them!

 

[cove]

We will boost the visitor numbers today. No big issues for us...the last immigration officer talked to Mrscove about fishing around Marina del Rey when she was taken off for an interview. All quite nice and friendly.

 

[Ralphie]

We're heading there in May. The trip was booked well before Trump's election and there's a little part of me that thinks I may not have gone ahead had I known. I'm slightly concerned that immigration and then domestic TSA processes will be more problematic than previous trips, but truth is I'm excited for another visit and I really can't wait.

 

[Melburnian1]

Mr Trump may not have been the most preferable Republican candidate but he sure is better than the 'emporer with no clothes', the vacuous socialist up north in Canada.

The figures out today showed that Mr Trump paid US$40 million tax in FY2005 on revenue of US$150 million, vindicating his previous claims that (while not perfect) he is a successful businessman.

That's what I like - someone who knows how to generate wealth. How would Justin T's record stand up against that? Not too good, I daresay.

I visit the USA irrespective of politics but the exchange rate is often a factor in a decision, although it can vary markedly between booking and travel.

 

[Cossie]

Hmmmm, with the latest QF sale I'm tempted to go to SF and spend some of the dollars that I bought when it was over one to one, in favour of us, but nah, don't think so, too many more interesting places to visit imo.

 

[dajop]

Mr Trump may not have been the most preferable Republican candidate but he sure is better than the 'emporer with no clothes', the vacuous socialist up north in Canada.

The figures out today showed that Mr Trump paid US$40 million tax in FY2005 on revenue of US$150 million, vindicating his previous claims that (while not perfect) he is a successful businessman.

That's what I like - someone who knows how to generate wealth. How would Justin T's record stand up against that? Not too good, I daresay.

I visit the USA irrespective of politics but the exchange rate is often a factor in a decision, although it can vary markedly between booking and travel.

All but the last sentence of this really belongs in the playground thread. Whilst discussion of the Trump factor in contributing to travel ban is appropriate to this thread, and related policies, general political commentary and political point scoring belongs in the playground, and general discussion of Trumps's merit as president (not related to the travel effect) belongs in the Trump thread there. I don't know what comparisons to Canada nor his tax returns have to do with perceived travel ban and tourism figures allegedly being down.

 

[Himeno]

That's what I like - someone who knows how to generate wealth.

That was his personal tax return, no info on any of his businesses, or the sources of the income.
He also lost $103 million.

 

[serfty]

Yes, it was good to see the end of the i94W.

What's even better is they are starting doing away with the customs forms as well - the Q's are asked by the immigration machines. Now only need a form if you are not eligible to use the automation (e.g. new passport).

Well, cove I flew from a sunny 23 degree Monterey to Los Angeles on my birthday - landing in 5pm fog!

I have found no difference here in the USA during my journies of the last days, 9 flights and counting. (TSA PREcheck on half helped).

Luck was in on arrival, I was off QF15 at 6:02am, through immigration, customs and was back airside waiting outside the Qantas First lounge* by 6:15am.


(*It doesn't open 'till 6:30am! Who Knew?!)

 

[Quickstatus]

Hmm interesting that Qantas started to pivot away from USA and toward Asia before Trump.
I suspect its partially to do with the relative strength of the US dollar.

Reluctance to travel to US? thats ok, Im hoping the queues at LAX will be reduced so I can minimise my 2 PNR itinerary layovers.
ESTA - great idea
Restricted travel from certain countries - OBummer brought it in. No one complained then.

Still for those who can, getting a ESTA for the USA is easy compare with China where you need a full visa.

Possibly less illegals coming in on visitor visas?

I can only see an upside as a tourist to the USA.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

OBummer

Just so freakin' tedious.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just so freakin' tedious.

Correct the election is over and many still cannot accept the verdict and continue to scrape the bottom of the barrel for any reason that will reinforces their view that 45th POTUS is illegitimate. So unfortunately while this is continuing others will scrape the bottom of their barrel to even the narrative. Tedious. Yes definitely

Don't like the Potus don't visit USA?
What about other countries whose practices, laws and customs are offensive/ repugnant.

Middle east - treatment of women, gays, Christians, banning of alcohol,
Bali - executed 2 x Bali 9 after they have reformed
Malaysia - official discrimination against Chinese and other minorities based on race. Internal security act allowing incarceration without trial
Singapore - internal security act. Democracy is not strong. One major party in power for decades
China - communist, judiciary controlled by the State
Japan - you want to be a japanese citizen - must be able to speak and write in Japanese and assume a japanese name and accepted 28 refugees in 2016. Racist?
India - separation of people into castes (still occurs). Treatment of women. Massive corruption in government

There are others..

Should we then decline to travel to these countries and others?. Why not?. Apparently some are declining to travel the US supposedly due to the actions of the government/Potus. Has the country and its people changed for the worse?. Sounds like irrational bigotry.

 

[Cossie]

It doesn't matter who is in power in the states, I haven't been there for 25 years, apart from transiting through Honolulu to Vancouver. I have no desire to go there in the short term, trump, clinton or anyone else can be in charge, as I said before too many other more interesting places (imo) to visit.

My comments previously were about letting a poster know that it is possible to fly direct to YVR and to do it in PE, if they want

I will however go back oneday, the boeing factory is still on my bucket list.

I bought cash US dollars when the rate was very good in our favour, as it's very useful in some countries that we are visiting soon where new, crisp, clean notes in small denominations are prefered.

 

[Quickstatus]

Cape Canaveral was a waste of time. "Meet a real astronaut " was actually just a guy paid to dress up in an astronaut suit

 

[TomVexille]

Well, the USA is going to see less of me due to Obama's law preventing me from using an ESTA to visit, after I travel to Iran. I'll need a full visa, almost impossible for me to get due to my needing my passport to travel to Canada and Chile at short notice for work and hence unable to send it for a trip to Melbourne and American consulate.

Thanks a lot, Barry; Aussie hater.

I guess you'll no longer be transiting the USA on your way to Canada then as well.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yep spoke with colleague at work about this today. She said nope won't be visiting USA due to Trump and lack of gun control. Instead she will visit China. I said :
"sound like your decision was politically based". "So what's good about China politically".
"I want to visit Great Wall"
" What about the lack of democracy and the fact that China does not accept refugees and oppresses minorities?".
"Trump is worse"

(Would have had coopers beers but she does not drink beers - ie non judgemental exchanging of opposing views - sorely lacking in today's society which only tolerates one view with a rabid hatred and intolerance of any opposing view.)

 

[dajop]

Hmm interesting that Qantas started to pivot away from USA and toward Asia before Trump.
I suspect its partially to do with the relative strength of the US dollar.

Or maxed out capacity? Big change from the early '00's when you only had QF & UA flying non stop between Australia and North America. In the last ten years DL, VA & AA have entered the market , and AC has gone non-stop to YVR and added BNE. Then you have extra capacity via AKL too, with AA and UA entering NZ-US too.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yep spoke with colleague at work about this today. She said nope won't be visiting USA due to Trump and lack of gun control. Instead she will visit China. I said...
" What about the lack of democracy and the fact that China does not accept refugees and oppresses minorities?".
"Trump is worse"
(Would have had coopers beers but she does not drink beers - ie non judgemental exchanging of opposing views - sorely lacking in today's society which only tolerates one view with a rabid hatred and intolerance of any opposing view.)

Outstanding post Quickstatus.

Your colleague needs to read up about the mainland Chinese courts, the huge number of executions (no one knows how many), 'detention' (ask quite a few Australians) and mainland China's incursions into the South China/ West Philippine Sea.

Trump was democratically elected. The mainland Chinese do not have proper elections (not unless one considers voting for a single party as the only choice is an 'election.')

I visited the USA last year and as usual enjoyed it. I have no qualms about visiting again.

But dajop does make a good point about more competitors to QF now on the Oz - USA routes.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We have crossed the USA off our list for a few years (maybe forever). Apparently there is a new question for the ESTA - have you ever held a passport from another country. If yes you have to fill in the details (including passport number). Well yes I did - 40 years ago and no I have no idea of the details..... At some point I will send a request to the SA embassy and see if I can find out, or maybe see if I can do a full visa application (if I can be bothered), but in the interim there are too many other countries to visit. We have had quite a few trips to the States, so no compelling reason to battle with visas.