US Tourism In A Slump

Traveling is a gift that only a few can afford. First of all, you need money – lots of it. It is pretty obvious and self-explanatory. How can you afford plane tickets, hotel accommodations and still have enough money left with you to explore the various attractions if you aren’t rich enough? It is also the main reason why many stay and die in their hometowns and not get to travel anywhere at all. So if you get to travel, then you should be thankful to get to see other places in the world others don’t get to see in their lifetime.

In spite of the rising costs of air travel and the challenges of securing a tourist visa, many people flock to the US. It’s not surprising at all considering how popular this western country is and the long list of attractions to explore. There is definitely something amazing that will capture your attention no matter what your interests are. Your destinations aren’t just limited to theme parks but there’s a whole lot more to see and visit. And who knows, maybe you’d bump into a popular celebrity in your travels.

America's market share of international leisure tourism declined an average of 11% between October 2016 and March 2017, reports Foursquare, the location technology company known for its check-in app. 

The decline began in October when market share fell by 6% and reached its low point in March, falling 16%. Foursquare said that there is currently no sign of recovery.

Foursquare's data indicates that residents of the Middle East and Latin America are avoiding the U.S. more than residents of Asia, Europe and elsewhere.

Its numbers also indicate that visits to the rest to the rest of world are up, making the U.S. an anomaly.

Foursquare said more than 13 million smartphone users have opted into its global research panel and share "always on" location trails that it uses to detect when these phones travel and when they walk in or out of 93 million public places around the world.

Foursquare data measure the number of stops made at leisure venues by people that are visiting from abroad, such as casinos, department stores, malls, monuments/landmarks, museums, night clubs, restaurants and theme parks.

(Via: http://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Foursquare-data-inbound-US-leisure-travel-slumping)

The numbers don’t lie. Fewer tourists head to America for leisure nowadays. Why is that so?

Is an unwelcoming political climate really creating a "Trump Slump" in the annual $250 billion business and leisure travel industry in the United States?

"Yes," "No," and "Maybe So," say travel industry experts and number crunchers who point to a variety of hard and soft data points to measure the travel impact of initiatives such as President Donald Trump's efforts to impose a travel ban barring inbound travelers from some predominantly Muslim countries and the recent ban on electronic devices in the airline cabins of U.S.-bound airplanes from certain countries.

(Via: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/trump-slump-travel-fact-or-fiction-n742381)

The drop in foreign tourists can be felt across all US states and many actually got creative and called it the Trump Slump alongside other popular terms like Trumponomics and Trump era coined in the wake of Trump's presidency. and Despite winning the presidential race, we can’t deny the fact that Trump still isn’t popular with many of his citizens and even from people of foreign nations. And his controversial policies involving travel bans and the crackdown on illegal immigrants weren’t helping his image at all.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, ahead of Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich called on the Trump administration to take concrete steps to address the reported decline in tourism to the United States as a result of President Trump’s hostile rhetoric and harmful travel policies, which have created the perception that the United States is not a welcoming place for foreign visitors. 

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Udall and Heinrich said that this “Trump effect” threatens to hurt the economy of the United States and of New Mexico, where tourists spend more than $6 billion annually and help sustain more than 90,000 jobs. Udall and Heinrich also noted that the “Trump effect” risks damaging the United States’ leadership in science and innovation, as foreign scientists are reportedly considering skipping crucial science and technical conferences in the United States. As the senators wrote, President Trump has proposed eliminating Brand USA, which promotes the United States as a travel destination around the world. 

(Via: http://www.ladailypost.com/content/senators-tom-udall-and-martin-heinrich-urge-trump-administration-address-tourism-slump)

It is only half a year into Trump’s administration but things aren’t looking pretty good for the US with him in command. His flamboyant and kind of arrogant behavior isn’t earning him points with his constituents. And worse, it is a major turn off for potential foreign tourists who want to explore and discover what a rich and diverse nation like America has to offer. Add to that the various bans he imposes when it comes to travel making visits to the land of Uncle Sam too stressful and cumbersome for many foreign travelers.

Unfortunately, this current Trump Slump not only hurts the country’s image but even the nation’s economy as well, especially the business owners who rely on tourism to make money for a living. More Americans will hate Trump if he doesn’t take measures to address this tourism slump that is growing worse by the minute.

US Tourism In A Slump Read more on: The PopEgo.com Blog

source https://popego.com/us-tourism-in-a-slump/

Medical Cannabis To The Rescue Or Not

Despite all the advances in technology these days, many people still frown upon alternative medicine. They have this perception that alternative isn’t always best and may even be dubious too. While this suspicious nature is actually beneficial to make sure that we always get quality products above all else, it can also be very restricting. Mankind tends to forget how most of the first drugs developed actually came from plants. That’s how powerful and useful they can be when used right and in moderation.

One of the most controversial treatments that many still can’t seem to get over with is the use of medical marijuana. The funny thing about it is that while many oppose its legalization, many are actually rooting for it. Even if the marijuana stigma is still very much alive, various US states have already passed bills to legalize its use medically. It’s also a lucrative business for marijuana growers that will, in turn, boost the economy than when it was still sold illegally.

Longtime head shop owner Luke Reynolds sees recreational marijuana in Canada eventually rolling out “like Tim Hortons and Starbucks” on every corner.

“It will be government run and I think they’re going to crush all the little guys like us who started this movement in the first place,” said Reynolds, owner of PipeDreamz in Ajax, while selling his vaporizers and pipes for pot smokers at Lift, Canada’s biggest cannabis convention, Saturday in Toronto.

With legalization of recreational weed in Canada slated for July 2018, there was a lot of uncertainty in the air — among other distinct aromas — at the massive expo of all things herbal that runs through Sunday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

A new study released at the convention backs up some of the pot paranoia out there, with support clearly sliding for legalization of recreational marijuana since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced the July, 2018 launch date.

(Via: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/28/canadians-worried-ottawa-rushing-into-pot-legalization-poll.html)

It’s obvious that many states are still torn whether to support the legalization of medical cannabis while Canada already sets the approval for recreational marijuana in July 2018. Questions whether marijuana will also be sold alongside booze and tobacco now fill people’s minds.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) has vetoed legislation that would have legalized marijuana for recreational use, delivering a blow to legalization backers who hoped Vermont would be the next domino to fall.

Scott told reporters during a press conference Wednesday that he is not strictly opposed to legalization, but he said he would ask the legislature to make changes to the bill.

“I’m not philosophically opposed to ending the prohibition on marijuana,” Scott said, according to local news outlets.

Vermont legislators are unlikely to override Scott’s veto of the measure, which passed by only a narrow margin.

Legalization advocates took solace in Scott’s comments, which they said could lead to a new bill as early as July.

(Via: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/334958-vermont-governor-vetoes-marijuana-legalization)

The legalization of medical marijuana actually received a lot of support from Vermont legislators. The lawmakers aren’t easily deterred by this initial roadblock and will come up with a revised bill to be passed this summer. Marijuana loyalists may be disappointed in not getting the governor’s approval they’ve been waiting for but the mere fact that the bill reached the governor’s desk is a good indicator of better things to come for those pro-medical cannabis advocates.

Many people are actually scared that when the use of medical cannabis will be legalized, its users will go on a violent rampage all over the city like some crazed drug addict but that is not the case. Crimes have actually decreased over the years in the Colorado area ever since recreational cannabis was legalized. Aside from that, people who actually used it right expressed positive changes in their bodies and in their health, especially among patients with conditions that don’t find relief in conventional medicine. And most of all, the government can save money and manpower in trying to catch illegal marijuana users and put all those money and effort to good use instead.

Medical Cannabis To The Rescue Or Not Find more on: The PopEgo.com Blog

source https://popego.com/medical-cannabis-to-the-rescue-or-not/