Donald Trump’s envoy for tourism has said Americans are the “most welcoming people” in the world, as the number of people visiting the US falls.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the global market for tourism rose by 4% last year in every major market - expect one.
The United States saw tourism numbers fall by 5.5% - a blow to President Trump’s efforts to attract 100 million tourists annually to America.
Some of that is likely to be due to people’s concerns about the social media vetting required to get a visa and fears of being detained and deported by ICE.
However, on Breakfast Business, US Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams said that the vast majority of tourists in America have a wonderful experience.
“99.9% of people that come to the United States of America as tourists, as travellers, are going to encounter an entirely seamless experience,” he said.
“So, all of the perceptions that are out there that you're going to travel to the United States, that you're going to be detained, that your phone is going to be confiscated, that your social media is going to be poured over, that you're then going to be placed on a plane and returned to where you came from - all of that is just not true.”
The Statue of Liberty in New York City. Picture by: Alamy.com.Mr Adams added that America and Ireland “have a very special relationship” and that “we love the Irish”.
“We absolutely would love every single person in Ireland to come and visit us,” he said.
“This summer is a great opportunity, it's the biggest one we've ever had.
“250th birthday and, of course, I know it's a little bit of a sore point, but we do have a small tournament that is going on as well.”
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One concern sometimes cited by those thinking of travelling to America is the cost of visiting the country.
Annual inflation in the United States currently sits at 3.8%, marginally more than the 3.7% recorded in Ireland.
It means that while prices are rising in America, they are not increasingly at a significantly higher rate than those in Ireland.
“Prices are going up everywhere, the cost of living is going up everywhere,” Mr Adams said.
“As a person in my role, I would love for everything to be as affordable as conceivably possible, because that would mean that the most amount of people would come.
“But my other message would be to everybody that is listening, America is worth it.”
A wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Picture by: NPS/Jim PeacoOverall, Mr Adams believes there are still plenty of reasons why Irish people should consider taking a trip Stateside this summer.
“Americans are the most hospitable, the most welcoming, the most incredible people,” he said.
“We are the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
“But we are also the land of helpful concierges, friendly waiters and tour guides that have more charisma than a Hollywood star.”
Main image: Micheál Martin meets Donald Trump.
