Turn on charm to lure tourists - Americans could help travel industry by being friendlier

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/28/7 | David Armstrong

[SmithL]

America, with its $645 billion hospitality industry, is increasingly seen as downright inhospitable by foreign travelers -- a trend that is worrying U.S. tourism officials and prompting them to come up with a charm offensive to lure international travelers.

While the number of overseas visitors to the United States -- about 55 million -- is the same now as it was 15 years ago, this country's market share of all international travelers has fallen from nearly 10 percent in 1992 to 6.5 percent in 2005.

The trend could damage this country's tourism economy, travel insiders say, especially in San Francisco, where 1 in 4 visitors hails from another country and the $7 billion-a-year tourist business is the city's largest industry by revenue.

There are many reasons for this country's shrinking market share, according to Cari Guittard, executive director of Business for Diplomatic Action, a nonprofit travel and tourism lobby formed to address America's image problem. Among them are the war in Iraq, Americans' perceived suspicion of foreigners, rude immigration officers at U.S. airports and intensified competition from other destinations. Travelers also complain that stepped-up security has made it more difficult to get visas to enter the United States, especially for visitors from Muslim countries.

And you can add Americans' manners -- or lack of them.

"We are seen as arrogant, ignorant, loud, and we don't listen,'' said Guittard, a former State Department official who worked for five years in the Middle East. "America's reputation has never been worse.''

[RC2]

They're talking about their home town. San Franfrico ain't the friendliest place around. They need to look in the mirror before telling the rest of us to be friendlier.

[brownsfan]

"America, with its $645 billion hospitality industry... "

Ok, what they are really saying:
Listen up people! You are on your way to 3rd world status. As such, you better learn to be nice to people so they can come and pay your wages in the service sector.

[Rio]

San Francisco tourism officials say they will step up their U.S. marketing efforts, focus on specialized markets such as gay and lesbian travelers

And they wonder why tourism is down?

[Cecily]

"Travelers also complain that stepped-up security has made it more difficult to get visas to enter the United States, especially for visitors from Muslim countries."


CRY ME A RIVER!!!

[Bombard]

LIFE IS HARD!!!!!

[Domicile of Doom]

"We are seen as arrogant, ignorant, loud, and we don't listen,''

Good then don't come here. And if you do, wear deodorant. I don't listen to any foreigners, because it's pointless. They come here with their ideals and why we don't get it etc (These people who sometimes hail from countries where indoor plumbing is some sort of modern miracle). And that doesn't count the illegals.

[A message]

Bunkum.

Here are my reasons for less Europeans visiting.

Rising air travel costs due to increasing regulations imposed on airlines flying from Europe.

Less disposable income due to increasing taxes Europeans pay.

[digger48]

I'm sure no Muslim would be offended by San Francisco for just being itself.....

[spikeytx86]

"and disdain for often-crude American popular culture is strong"

Compared to french commercials that involve three ways to sell juice? Brilliant marketing but not exactly what one would call a refined culture.

[Jedidah]

Speak for yourself, California.

You're far removed from Texan and Southern hospitality.

[ansel12]

Replacing Americans with foreigners and their culture was going to alter us.

Did they think that the America of 40 years ago could become multi racial, and multi cultural, yet stay as nice and friendly as it was before it was replaced by broken communities and bonds, and a culture of chaos and cultural isolation.

Let them visit some of the more remote communities and get a glimpse into what America, and even it's big cities used to be like.

[dighton]

"We are seen as arrogant, ignorant, loud, and we don't listen,'' said Guittard, a former State Department official who worked for five years in the Middle East.

Gone native.

[MortMan]

hey - It worked so well for the French in the 1940s, right?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I still wonder why they call it tourist season, but you can't shoot them.

[razorback-bert]

I met plenty of foreign tourist on my cruises, most of whom say Americans are the most friendly.

I can't say the same about some of them.

[Eagle of Liberty]

While the number of overseas visitors to the United States -- about 55 million -- is the same now as it was 15 years ago, this country's market share of all international travelers has fallen from nearly 10 percent in 1992 to 6.5 percent in 2005.

Do newspaper writers actually THINK before they go to print? We have the SAME AMOUNT of visitors, but this makes the news because 55 million is just a smaller portion of the total market share? How is this a problem exactly? If 15 years ago, a business planned to get X amount of business and 15 years later, they STILL get the same X amount of business....oh, nevermind. DUCT TAPE!

You know why people are pissed in this country? It's because crap like this is what makes it to print. Taking numbers, mixing them around and then printing some bogus American hit piece just to make America look bad ONCE AGAIN! Well, I have had it. GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT!

And guess what Cari Guittard? The ME isn't liked much over here either.

[bert]

The reason for visiting SF is to see all the freaks.

[Vigilanteman]

Yep. The problem with tourists is where they go. Too many go to liberal sewers like San Fransicko, New York, DC and LA. They find only a slightly Americanized version of what they went on vacation to escape from in the first place. Thus it is not surprising they do not have a good experience.

On the other hand, those who visit the real America and less traveled tourist destinations like Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, Salt Lake City or even Pittsburgh, PA, come away with a positive feeling because people in flyover country don't have to be told to be nice. They are that way naturally.

And the San Fransicko Chronicle will never figure it out.

[Cecily]

I wonder how our supposed arrogance, ignorance, loudness, and inability to listen stack up against all those same qualities in your typical ME dictator and dictator flunky class.

State Department officials have no clue on this earth, and probably never will.