Just back from the Upper Midwest CVB Conference in South Sioux City NE...and, while there were a number of great presentations, the one that is sticking with me was decidedly different from just about any other I've ever heard at a Tourism Conference.
The speaker was Thomas Miller, VP of Business for Diplomatic Action.
The stat: 76% of American Voters think our image around the world stinks. But, do ya think that any of the current crop of candidates has put two and two together to realize that a national tourism strategy that welcomes visitors from around the world to see that we're not the demons at home that we are perceived to be abroad is the answer?
'Course not...but Tom's group is out to change that. Check out the website. Pass the word.
Have you noticed how much our press wants Americans to think we have a bad reputation abroad?
I don't mind being hated when we are hated by the right people: Nazis, communists, terrorists, dictators, drug lords, etc.
Posted by: Fred | September 24, 2007 at 02:10
While I think the media has a large hand in shaping public opinion, the research is pretty clear here, Fred. There has been an alarming decrease in international travel to the U.S. And, where international citizens used to be able to tell the difference between citizens and policy makers...that subtle difference is crumbling. I have no problem when bad guys hate us. I do have a problem when good world citizens no longer want to visit America because of how we've been positioned by the international media.
Posted by: Bill Geist | September 24, 2007 at 16:32