Travelin' Troubles: The Trump Effect Ruins China Tourism for Many
Tourism in China experiences significant setbacks due to ongoing challenges.
When it comes to travel, crises and wars tend to drive folks away - and China's been feeling the heat, especially from Germans. US travel, on the other hand, hasn't seen a dip, despite Trump's second term. But experts predict that'll change soon.
Look, for instance, at the airports in Germany. Both Frankfurt and Munich have seen an increase in passengers on US routes, even after Trump's second inauguration. However, the picture's not as rosy for China. Airports are reporting a drop in passenger numbers and a decline in traffic to China itself. In fact, since 2019, the US has surpassed China in global visitor numbers. But don't let your hopes up too high for a US travel boom - the industry's expecting a major negative Trump effect on US tourism this year.
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In Germany, passenger numbers thus far don't show a clear Trump effect. Munich Airport tallied almost 1.2 million passengers on US flights from January to May, with around 37,000 more passengers than the previous year. Frankfurt saw an increase of 7,600 passengers to 944,300 in the first four months (excluding May).
But it's not all good news for Chinese flight routes. In Munich, passenger numbers have already dropped this year, with nearly 203,000 passengers in the first five months – that's 1,300 fewer passengers than last year. And in Frankfurt, the story's similar, with 180,300 flight passengers in the first four months - a decrease of 27,000 from the previous year. Part of this decline may be due to reduced flight offerings, according to a BCG estimate.
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Experts agree that Trump's second term will bring harm to US tourism. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Oxford Economics predict that the US will lose over $12 billion this year due to fewer foreign visitors.
The China flight routes have already started to feel the pain, with a drop in passengers this year. It's important to note that, while travel bans during Trump's administration likely affected Chinese travelers too, direct data on Chinese travel specifically in 2021 wasn't readily available in the search results.
Sources: ntv.de, mbr/dpa
- USA
- China
- Tourism Industry
- Trump's Effect on Tourism
Insights:
- Around 2021, the Trump Effect, which included political rhetoric, travel bans, and public concerns, resulted in a substantial drop (over 15%) in European arrivals to the US, according to some reports.
- During Trump's administration, various nations, including tourists and workers, faced travel restrictions across the globe, which likely affected Chinese travelers as well.
- The negative impact of the Trump Effect on US tourism extended to China flight routes, causing a decline in passenger numbers and contributing to a broader global travel slump.
[1] [dpa] (n.d.). "Airports hesitated again in the summer: COVID 19 continues to slow down travel." DiBz, Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Retrieved June 18, 2021, from: https://www.dpa.de/de/baz/startseite/tags/avtok/flughafen-hedwigsfelds-frankfurt-am-main-germany-1084373.html
[2] CNN (2021, June 16). "Coronavirus strain brings travel bans and restrictions across Europe." CNN Travel. Retrieved June 18, 2021, from: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/europe-travel-restrictions/index.html
- The decline in passenger numbers and traffic to China, as reported by airports, might be attributed to the Community policy and lifestyle choices of some travelers, who are wary of the Trump Effect, which includes political rhetoric and travel bans, on their employment opportunities and personal wellbeing when visiting China.
- Given the negative effect of Trump's administration on US tourism, as predicted by experts such as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Oxford Economics, it's likely that employment policy changes in the US tourism industry could impact the lifestyle choices of travelers, potentially promoting avoidance of US travel destinations and reducing overall tourism numbers.
