Terry and Chris Wells regard themselves as experienced globetrotters, usually making several international journeys each year. However, this summer will mark the first time they won’t be traveling abroad for their vacation.
A couple from Georgia had arranged a journey to Seoul for this coming August — they even secured accommodation at a hotel — but reports of political tensions within the U.S. and escalating disputes with various nations led them to rethink their plans, explained Terry Wells, who is 54 years old. Instead of going to Seoul, they added the city to their future travel wish list and opted to visit her sibling in Hawaii.
Although Wells doesn’t think she and her 56-year-old spouse would face safety issues in Seoul, “the ongoing political situation creates too much unease for me.” She added, “I’m uncertain; usually, I’m not prone to anxiety, but this time I feel quite uneasy about it.”
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The Wells are not alone among travelers who prefer not to disclose their American identity when abroad. An increasing number of U.S. tourists fear encountering hostility outside the country—believing that being identified as an American might render them unpopular due to sentiments stirred up by the president.
Donald Trump
‘s comments or policies.
A few people feel uneasy, whereas others are ashamed of being linked to the unstable political situation in the U.S.
A
survey in April
According to findings by Global Rescue, 72% out of approximately 11,000 participants — mostly residing in Canada and the United States — think that Americans will face increased negative perceptions internationally come 2025 because of recent proposed U.S. international policies. This worry stems from several actions taken under current U.S. foreign policy as well as comments made by a vocal president which have heightened frictions with various nations through measures like trade disputes, tougher immigration rules, prominent deportation cases, alongside discussions regarding territorial acquisitions.
Greenland
and
Canada
.
As certain foreign individuals have resorted to
boycotting the United States
American tourists are curious about how extensively the sense of disapproval might extend as they journey abroad.
Issues never arose when we wore those patriotic Fourth of July T-shirts adorned with the American flag abroad,” Wells stated. “But definitely not anymore – now it feels like we’re sporting a bullseye.
Walking carefully as an American
Even though domestic trips and local vacations such as those to the Caribbean are expected to surge this summer, many Americans still aren’t abandoning plans for significant overseas journeys, reports indicate.
Expedia’s Summer Travel Outlook
. Queries for distant locations such as Italy, Spain, and Japan have increased, and popular sunny spots like Cancún, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, continue to be favorites among American travelers, according to the travel platform.
When Americans travel overseas, they tend to be careful about their image once they cross into different countries—sometimes even withholding information about their nationality. Alicia Walter, who is 29, and Nate Stark, aged 41, have spent the last half-decade journeying across the globe. Recently, though, they’ve encountered a fresh type of response when others discover they’re American. Following the previous November’s election, discussions with local residents frequently veer towards Trump—a topic that generally provokes intense reactions from those conversing with them.
When full-time travel content creators, who share their journeys as
The Passport Couple
In the charming Italian village of Santa Severa at the beginning of May, a local inquired about their visit and jokingly asked if they were trying to escape from Trump. The couple chuckled amiably and dismissed the comment.
“It just appears that whenever we mention being from the U.S. nowadays, it invariably leads back to Trump, which happens much more frequently than it did before,” Walter commented.
The pair mentioned that the political climate does not make them feel insecure or anxious about traveling internationally. However, they identify themselves as Californian to divert conversations away from directly addressing their U.S. origins. They emphasized, “We prefer not to draw unnecessary focus to our American identity.”
They make every effort to steer clear of engaging in any political debates and maintain politeness. “Our approach is simply to dodge these conversations,” Walter stated. “We tend to be quite evasive with our answers.”
Other adventurers opt for a more daring strategy. According to Alessandra Riao, a tour guide from Naples, Italy, she has observed that many of the Americans she interacts with are genuinely worried about European reactions towards them. Recently, two American tourists shared with her their contemplation of wearing badges stating “I didn’t vote for him.”
‘A taboo conversation’
Riao added that she hasn’t seen or heard of any locals reacting unfavorably towards tourists so far. “Neopolitans are known for their hospitality, and political disagreements seldom interfere with personal connections,” she stated. “Although concerns may arise prior to the visit, these typically diminish after experiencing the city’s friendly atmosphere.” She pointed out that this might also be due to how much people rely on tourism for their income.
Jack Napton, a visitor from Tahoe, California, encountered a situation comparable to what Riao described during his travels through multiple European nations in April. Initially, Jack was apprehensive about potential negative reactions due to being both a tourist and an American. His primary worry revolved around traveling to Spain, following numerous reports he had come across regarding the issue.
country’s movement against overtourism
including locals using water guns to spray travelers during protests.
Following his exploration of Barcelona, Spain, over two days, Napton was taken aback by the absence of political discussion. The 79-year-old remarked, “I thought this would be a place with possible anti-Trump feelings, but found none.” He continued, stating, “During my participation in two separate guided tours involving individuals from various nations, politics were never brought up once.”
In Athens, Greece, one of Napton’s taxi drivers expressed support for Trump. However, as Napton tried to keep an open mind, he remained unperturbed by the courteous discussion, despite having differing views. He mentioned that this openness to various opinions is precisely what makes traveling enjoyable for him.
Despite locals occasionally mentioning Trump, Stark and Walter pondered over what causes their discomfort. They believe it stems from Americans who view political subjects as “off-limits discussions” relative to those in other societies. According to Walter, “If somebody brought up such an issue in America—say, to a random person on the street—it could lead to a very intense discussion.”
Despite this, the pair has shown no intention of scaling back their global travels. “Every nation we’ve had the chance to visit, including those that might have greater political disagreements with our home country, has nonetheless received us warmly as visitors,” Stark stated.
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
I Didn’t Vote for Him”: How American Tourists Are Handling Global Perceptions
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