Is the political climate in the U.S. impacting travel? One D.C.-area travel agent said when it comes to Americans booking trips overseas, interest is still up and bookings are higher this year than last year.
This year, clients still have a lot of questions about international travel, according to Damian McCabe with in McLean, Virginia.
鈥淭hey’re saying, ‘Gee, I鈥檓 a little bit worried. Our government is not well perceived in some cases around the world and are we going to encounter anyone who’s not friendly to us?’鈥� McCabe said.
McCabe said she tells clients to be friendly to anyone they come across, and they’ll likely be respected back. Expect political questions, though, she said.
鈥淎merican clients will be questioned about what their perception is about what’s going on. People may answer that in two very different ways. And I think staying as middle-of-the-road as you can, no matter what your flavor is, is really important,鈥� McCabe said.
She strongly encourages those traveling to not get into heated debates or try to push any agenda.
鈥淏e respectful. If people ask questions, answer as much as you’re comfortable with, but don’t be inflammatory,鈥� she said.
One change in her guidance this year is encouraging clients traveling abroad to not wear political clothing or decals. She also discourages displaying the American flag on clothing or on luggage.
鈥淲e just think that that’s a little too overt,鈥� McCabe said. “I think Europeans are more curious than anything else about how the Americans they’re interacting with are proceeding all of this.”
She said with that guidance in mind, the clients who have traveled to Europe so far聽this year said the trip was enjoyable.
鈥淲e haven’t had a single client come home and say, ‘Wow, my enjoyment of this trip was affected by how we were treated,’鈥� McCabe said.
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