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Despite the fact that traveling to America is a major bargain for the Brits (the dollar is at an historically low point right now against the pound), UK travelers are electing to spend their quid elsewhere. In fact, travel to the US is still 11% off from 2000 when the UK economy was not nearly as strong as today. And it's not because British subjects aren't traveling. Travel to Turkey, India and New Zealand have doubled over that time.
The Discover America Partnership is highlighting this news in an effort to gain needed support for the Travel Promotion Act of 2007 (S. 1661).
I have refrained from commenting here for quite a while due to what appears to be a disagreement in our views and that's okay. However, on this issue, as I am a Brit, I would like to possibly state why the Brits are not coming despite the weak dollar. In fact everything is half the price compared to the UK. My parents for example, try to visit me here in Los Angeles since I cannot travel (due to USCIS fiasco in my case) and their experiences since 9/11 reveal that immigration is so unwelcoming that quite honestly why bother coming here? When an elderly couple, with money to spend, in their 70's (who hardly look or could be terrorists) are interrogated and have to add on another 2 hours after a long journey to get through immigration, it hardly makes for a welcoming country. If not for visiting their daughter, they would prefer to go to any country in Europe or indeed the world where they are never even questioned as if they are criminals but treated with respect.
The problem all round is the negative attitude inherent it seems in all USCIS personnel. In business, I am finding in my own industry - tech and business - that Europe and India is attracting the investment. Why? Because businesses cannot find technology experienced people - whether computer sciences or business management. So we are dealing with outsourcing on a big scale. Nobody in America seems to understand world economics and globalization.
The whole current policy makes little sense. The system is even more broken than ever as those of us wait in the 485 backlog, unable to really move forward, unable to travel freely and unable to fully contribute to the economy as a result. Americans don't care. Politicians don't care about legals. And it's election time. What hope is there for us? What hope is there for the future of America when even people don't want to visit? I would suggest that the country is entering into a recession not just because of world oil prices, but because it is losing it's edge in two important industries: technology and the movie business.
I think it's time to write to politicians. I hope everyone will do this. We need change and we need it now or this country will lose much to Europe and the Euro.
It is at a low point against all the major (and minor for that matter) currencies. China's public ruminations (a week ago) about diversifying caused the USD to plumet further. Worldwide reserves (excluding the US) exceed $6.5 Trillion.
US population = 300 Million.
If all this money comes back to the US that is about $200,000 per person. The US economy would be destroyed. The antis are fools to be advocating that the US isolate itself!