It’s been overwhelming. The last few weeks have seen a barrage of funding stops and bizarre eccentric and scary behavior from our government. Hang on. This is America. It sure doesn’t feel that way. I remember coming to the USA in 1975. The land of open arms and opportunity. It was the beginning of student travel. American high school and college students were testing the waters of international travel. Experiencing the welcome mat laid out by our European friends. And in turn, a new wave of immigrants was arriving on the shores of America. That would be me! America was our sanctuary. A place of strong government and a land of opportunity. Where did that moment go? Last time I checked, government was about creating a strong environment so that we feel safe not just from the enemy without but the enemy within. Tax those who can afford to pay for those who cannot. Simple. Healthcare, education, and security.
Internalism goes nowhere. It promotes intolerance and stifles knowledge.
And what about respect? Where did it all go? I think of the crew at the local Dunkin Donuts. They all speak four languages. The car park attendant from Nigeria who is trying to get his son to a college here, works two jobs. Will his work visa be renewed? I don’t know.
I love travel. It’s my business. I think of all the things that will be affected. Tariffs on our neighbors. As if a car or a cell phone was ever fully built in one place. The marketplace is International. The firing of thousands of federal employees makes our ability to service our clients worse. It means obtaining visas will be more complicated, passports will take longer, and before we know it, “DO NOT VISIT” will start to appear in potential travelers’ minds. TSA employee cuts mean more lines, and passenger jams at airports. All for what? So, billionaires can prosper. Seriously. Life is not just a marketplace of deals and dollars. At least I hope not. It’s about kindness, compassion, and dignity too.
Hospitality employs 10% of our workforce. Travel and tourism contribute $2.4 trillion to GDP. That’s over 9%. Travel flows with the economy. It helps shape our view of the world. In our business, we introduce students to a world of different languages, diverse cultures, and new ways of looking at the world in general. We help create Global citizens, a venture that feels increasingly important to our future.
The USA is a powerful and wonderful country. It’s a treasure of endless possibilities that should not be abused. That’s the place I came to and that’s the place I love.
