The number of countries around the world inviting Americans back to visit is on the rise.
With more Americans feeling financially strapped from the plunging value of the dollar against other currencies, the travel industry has expressed concern that the recession might discourage Americans from traveling overseas. But that outlook is far from confirmed.
The number of countries actively promoting travel to the United States rose 16 percent last year, and jumped 28 percent in the first quarter of this year. Even the U.S. State Department says that in the months after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Americans’ interest in travel plummeted nearly 50 percent. Since then, overall interest in overseas travel remains at an all-time high.
The number of countries that have lost out on the fruits of U.S. tourism is startling. If the numbers were positive, it would not be news, but the announcement comes just a few weeks after the Arab League pulled out of a terrorism fund and just a month after Mexico announced a massive crackdown on illegal border crossings by Mexican criminal gangs.
There are three major drivers behind the revival of U.S. travel abroad: (1) the plummeting value of the dollar, which has reached more than one-third of its value, versus many overseas currencies; (2) Americans’ yearning to visit foreign countries because of their friendliness to non-native speakers, especially since security threats began mounting after the September 2001 attacks; and (3) the need for a summer escape.
Here are the nations welcoming Americans back:
The Netherlands : 1 million visit the Netherlands annually and 400,000 Dutch take trips overseas
: 1 million visit the Netherlands annually and 400,000 Dutch take trips overseas Canada : 300,000 travel to the United States each year
: 300,000 travel to the United States each year Japan : 250,000 U.S. tourists make annual trips to Japan
: 250,000 U.S. tourists make annual trips to Japan Mexico : 213,000 U.S. tourists visit Mexico each year
: 213,000 U.S. tourists visit Mexico each year Canada : 205,000 U.S. tourists visit Canada each year
: 205,000 U.S. tourists visit Canada each year Great Britain : 183,000 Americans travel to Great Britain each year
: 183,000 Americans travel to Great Britain each year Australia : 180,000 Australian tourists travel to the United States each year
: 180,000 Australian tourists travel to the United States each year Canada: 170,000 Canadians travel to the United States each year
France : 165,000 U.S. tourists travel to France each year
: 165,000 U.S. tourists travel to France each year Japan: 160,000 Japanese tourists travel to the United States each year
The European Union
As of July 1, every country in the 27-nation EU, except Iceland, will open itself to U.S. tourism.
Other nations:
Australia: 109,000 U.S. tourists travel to Australia each year
: 109,000 U.S. tourists travel to Australia each year New Zealand: 91,000 U.S. tourists travel to New Zealand each year
The Arab League pulled out of a U.S. terror fund shortly after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.