Though it's the third-most-visited country in the world after France and Spain, many Europeans say the U.S. is doing everything it can to discourage tourism. Not only is there no national tourist office—an amazing failure for a country where tourism plays such a major role in the economy—and anyone calling the U.S. consulate in Paris with questions about obtaining a visa is required to pay almost $20 just to speak with an operator. For information unrelated to visas, one must address individual state or city tourist offices.
All over Europe, newspapers bristle with indignant letters from people who've had rude or difficult experiences with U.S. Immigration and Customs. Charles Paper, writing in Britain's Daily Telegraph, said: "When I am convinced that I won't be treated like a criminal, and that passing through U.S. Immigration won't raise my blood pressure any more than entering countries such as Thailand or Australia does, I will resume travel to the States." Hundreds of letters in other British, Spanish, German, French, and Italian papers recount humiliating searches, damaged luggage, missing contents, and a surly attitude on the part of Immigration. In a move certain to inspire further hostility, U.S. authorities also plan to take prints of all fingers from incoming travelers, with trials currently underway at major airports. (Currently, only index fingers are scanned.) Opponents say the new requirement will increase delays and ill feeling among visitors.
While global air travel has continued to rise since September 2001, Britain's Civil Aviation Authority reveals that the number of Britons flying to the U.S. actually fell this year, with 46,000 fewer people flying from British airports to the U.S. than in the same month last year. Overall visitors to Florida are down 20 percent so far compared with last year, and theme parks are being forced to cut prices. Though increased security measures may be regrettably necessary, they are unfortunately contributing to a general perception of the U.S. as a hostile, fortresslike country best avoided.
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