s2s2
May 15 2007, 7:34 am
The Blueprint to Discover America by
The Travel Industry Association of America.
QUOTE (from Report)
America’s economic security, national security and public diplomacy efforts are inextricably linked with travel. In addition to adding more than 80 billion dollars annually to the U.S. economy, recent studies show that people who have visited the U.S. have significantly more favorable opinions of the country and are more likely to support our policies. In America’s effort to win “hearts and minds� around the world, no tool has proven to be as powerful and effective as travel.
Since September 11, 2001, however, the U.S. has experienced a 17 percent decline in overseas travel. Between 2004 and 2005, the U.S. experienced a 10 percent decline in business travelers. As the global travel market continues its dramatic expansion, the U.S. share is shrinking.
There are a variety of reasons that overseas travelers are choosing not to visit the U.S. But interviews with thousands of travelers around the globe and anecdotes shared in countless articles in foreign newspapers and other sources show that one factor stands out: the perception that foreigner travelers are no longer welcome. Travelers cite the lengthy visa process and the often confusing and claustrophobic entry process as evidence that—as one survey showed—the U.S. has the “world’s worst� entry process.
righter
May 15 2007, 7:59 am
Actually, you are wrong. It's us, the Welsh. God says so...
In the beginning the Lord God Almighty turned to the Archangel
Gabriel, and said:
"Today I am going to create a beautiful part of the Earth and I will
call it Wales. I will make a country of breathtaking blue lakes, rich
green forests and dark beautiful mountains from which from time to
time will be snow-covered. I will give it clear, swift rivers that will
overflow with salmon and trout.
The land shall be lush and fertile on which the people can raise cattle
and grow their food, as well as being rich with precious metals and
stones that will be sought after, the World over.
Underneath the land I shall lay rich seams of coal for the inhabitants to
mine. Around the coast I will make some of the most beautiful areas in
the World. White sandy beaches and cliffs that will attract all manner
of wildlife, and lots of islands that will be paradise to all who visit
them. In the waters around the shores there will be abundance of sea-life.
The people who will live there will be called the Welsh, and they will
be the friendliest people on my Earth. They will have magic in their
blood, and songs in their souls. Their Voices when raised in song shall
challenge the choir of angels."
"Excuse me, sire" interrupted the Archangel Gabriel, "don't you think
that you are being a bit generous to these Welsh?"
The lord just smiled and replied "You have not seen the neighbours
I'm giving them!"
BattalionBoy
May 15 2007, 8:16 am
You forgot to mention the sheep.
The word Welsh
[Origin: bef. 900; ME Welische, OE Welisc, deriv. of Walh Briton, foreigner (cf. L Volcae a Gallic tribe); c. G welsch foreign, Italian]
MandyNY
May 15 2007, 8:23 am
uhhh...yeah, so back to the US. I think the entry process is complicated. Theres always about 20 open US resident lines in customs, and about 5 backed up to hell foreigner lines. A few friends had to go through finger printing and video interogation, seriously-younger 30 something Germans. The process seems daunting, and I definately agree that post 9/11, America doesn't seem as attractive for a visit. I do also agree that Americans are friendly people and perhaps a visit could encourage people to think differently about our culture...they just have to cut through all the red tape first. I'm sure America will see the problem sooner or later and come up with some big capitalizing plan to encourage travel there. Maybe they will stop making people strip down to bare bones before the metal detectors or something...i'm tired of that lengthly process.
Neil
May 15 2007, 9:07 am
QUOTE
The lord just smiled and replied "You have not seen the neighbours I'm giving them!"
Looks like the Lord was right !
Meibion Glyndŵr - Wikipedia
BattalionBoy
May 15 2007, 9:43 am
Yer this gang really made me laugh it was okay for the Welsh to come to London and steal all the jobs and lower the wage level and drive up the price of accommodation but if the Englanders went to their place of living and had an effect on the scheme of things then that was a no no. Bloody hypocrites.
righter
May 15 2007, 10:23 am
Now this thread has been totally hijacked (sorry)! Was a light-hearted (if unsuccessful) attempt at humour. Can we get back on topic. Welsh nationalism is a bit dated isn't it and all those London jobs were so tempting.
Aschaffenburgboy
May 15 2007, 10:45 am
I get detained ever time I go through the customs check b4 baggage claims. There is a most wanted dude by the FBI that has the same name, and date of birth as i do. But then again, what the hell is the Social Security number for? and it never helped when i was in the Military either. And they tell me I can write a letter to the NSA, but most likely nothing will happen. I lose about 90 minutes when I go to the U.S., and that hassle keeps me from traveling there, it really does. I was in a wheelchair, coming back from the war back in 2004, and it still happened. That was a new low for the BUSHIES. And this is how they treat a citizen, imagine how they treat an imigrant.
Bumpy
May 15 2007, 11:08 am
QUOTE (Aschaffenburgboy @ May 15 2007, 11:45 am)
And this is how they treat a citizen, imagine how they treat an imigrant.
Legal or illegal?
s2s2
May 15 2007, 11:12 am
I don't think it matters! It's one of those incompetent agencies - you know, the three letter ones.
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