Europe seeing fewer Americans

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | Saturday, May 31, 2003 | BY FRANCES D’EMILIO

[DeaconBenjamin]

ROME — Almost outnumbering their customers, three waiters with no one to wait on leaned languidly in their starched white jackets against a table piled high with melons, pineapples and other fruit in the dining room of one of Rome’s most famous haunts for Americans.

These days the Americans have vanished, leaving the staff forlorn at L’Originale Alfredo restaurant and many other businesses across Europe, which had grown accustomed to big-spending U.S. tourists.

A nose-diving dollar, fears of being terrorist targets and the anti-American sentiment that resounded across Europe during the Iraq war are combining to keep U.S. citizens away.

Fear of SARS, a potentially deadly respiratory illness, also gets some blame, but — as Europe has largely escaped the disease — the weaker dollar seems a more likely culprit.

It took 92 cents in late May 2002 to buy a euro. A year later it takes nearly $1.20. And Western Europe is rarely cheap, even when the dollar is strong. "Foreign tourism has seen a big drop," said Andreas Balakakis, a Greek representative of the American Society of Travel Agents.

He singled out the war, which was widely opposed by the public in much of Western Europe, for hitting U.S. bookings hardest, with cruise business particularly affected. "Certainly, Americans have a very marked sense of security," said Natascha Kompatzki, a spokesman for Berlin’s tourist office, which said arrivals of American tourists were down 22 percent in March compared with March 2002.

Besides the effects of the war, Kompatzki said, there is "fear of terrorism in general, fear of flying in general, and, of course, the euro factor."

An Associated Press poll taken May 14-18 found most Americans didn’t plan to let terrorism or the economy cancel vacation plans, though fewer would take planes.

One in 20 planned to cancel vacations, but only 27 percent said they would travel by plane, down a third from a year earlier, according to the poll conducted for the AP by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pa.

The drop in tourism to Europe isn’t easy to categorize.

Kompatzki noted, for example, that tourist arrivals from Spain, which uses the euro, were also down 22 percent, while visitors increased strongly from Italy and France.

What seems universal is nostalgia for the American big spender. "Five Americans spend as much as 100 Europeans," said Konstantinos Koufinakos, a Greek merchant married to an American.

Americans now "think about each cent before they spend it," said Anna-Maria Bonatsou, who owns a souvenir shop in Plaka, an ancient district at the foot of the Acropolis.

Sam Horton, in Greece on his senior high school trip from Oklahoma, said he and his friends were trying to "minimize our expense by eating gyros," a Greek fast-food concoction of meat, vegetables and tangy sauce, instead of restaurant meals.

In Rome, Amanda Bayer, a seasoned traveler to Italy from Chicago, took a break from photographing the Pantheon to reflect on the battered dollar. "I usually shop for gold in Florence, but this year everything was just too expensive," Bayer said.

Koufinakos, the Greek merchant, said he believes many Americans bypassed Greece after hearing about the nearly daily antiwar protests and marches.

Anti-American graffiti, scrawled in English, some of it obscene, is common.

Barbara Leonard-Buckley, of West Lafayette, Ind., browsing in an antiques shop in the Left Bank of Paris, disagreed that U.S. citizens weren’t welcome but noted her tour’s departure date was delayed because there weren’t enough people.

Mariano Mateos, the maitre d ’ at Casa Botin, a cozy, woodbeamed place with centuries-old cast-iron ovens near Madrid’s lively Plaza Mayor, was dismayed that fewer Americans were coming to enjoy the renowned roast lamb.

Since Sept. 11, Americans are down by 30 percent at the eatery, whose American clientele has included Ernest Hemingway and Madonna, Mateos said. Casa Botin hasn’t raised the price of meat dishes or wine for two years to try to keep customers.

Countries are trying to cope.

Greek Premier Costas Simitis in May announced plans to spend $9 million on advertising and other tourism promotion. More than 700,000 of Greece’s 11 million people work in tourism.

In Britain, which doesn’t use the euro, but which has seen a drop in Americans, Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family plan a June 10 tour of places like a miniature railway, tea rooms and pubs to boost tourism.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Good luck with the advertising campaigns.

[OpusatFR]

We are supposed to go to Rome in October, but I can tell you now that I want out of it. I just don't go where I'm not welcomed.

I love President Bush. I support his policies. If you are a vociferous Bush hater, I stay home.

[thinktwice]

The world-wide "I don't want to think about it" evasion about the war on terrorism will result in far more economic damage if it is not accepted -- soon -- that the enemy is an unchecked and highly supported wing of Islam.

Until that fact is accepted, and then vigorously addressed -- especially within Islam -- the war on terrorism (like that in Vietnam where the actual enemies were Russia and China) will be lost.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Most of us wouldn't even cross the street to visit people we don't like and who don't like us, much less cross an ocean. Maybe the liberals will take up the slack for us regular Americans who are saying @&%*!**^ you. You like Saddam? Let him come fill up your cafes.

[Prodigal Son]

I'm going across the Channle to the Continent on vacation next week. The Euro is slightly stronger against the Pound as well but I have a couple 'spare' accounts in countries that use the Euro so this isn't an issue. I'm mainly hoping the sun shines and the sea isn't too cold ;-)

[Prodigal Son]

Channle = Channel (crikey!)

[Movemout]

My daughter, who was born in Belgium, and my wife were going to visit Belgium and France as a present to my graduating from HS daughter this summer. The trip is off! I told her I would give her the cash instead if she promises to buy American.

[Bill Davis FR]

AT A DOLLAR TWENTY FOR A EURO EUROPE IS NO LONGER CHEAP...AND BESIDES THE EU DOESN'T LIKE AMERICANS...

[EggsAckley]

And Bob's your uncle ! !

[Consort]

Who needs Europe when we have Cleveland?

[LadyDoc]

Italy supported us in the war, so enjoy yourself. Of course they have a lot of socialists there, but that shouldn't bother you unless they have a demonstration or strike...

[breakem]

Have you been to Rome before?

[Prodigal Son]

Who's Bob? (seriously)

[1rudeboy]

By your standard, you'd be better-off in parts of Italy than, say, New York or California.

[demkicker]

My daughter and I had planned to attend a family friend's wedding outside of Paris in June. I backed out, but my daughter can't get out of going. Until the French showed their asses, I was really looking forward to the trip.

At least my daughter and her friends are leaving immediately after the wedding and going to Corsica for a week. That was the closest to Paris I'll ever get. It would be different if the French felt guilty about their back stabbing behavior, but they don't.

[1rudeboy]

AND BESIDES THE EU DOESN'T LIKE AMERICANS....

Good grief.

[CFC__VRWC]

The weak dollar has something to do with this, but let's face it - lots of Europenas have for the longest time despised America and Americans, and have held us beneath their contempt as a bunch of hayseed savages. Leftist European politicians have fanned the flames of anti-Americanism to pander for votes, but they have been careful to keep the sentiments at a simmer instead of a full boil, as about the only profitable sector in their corrupt socialist economies has been tourism from America.

The 9/11 attacks and America's response to them have given the Europeans a perfect excuse to rip away even the sham of civility toward Americans, and open hatred and loathing of our citizens is very much in fashion now. The amazing thing is that they seem to honestly think we're too stupid to notice, judging from articles like this.

Why should I go someplace and spend my money if I'm not welcome, especially when the locals have made these feelings perfectly clear? As far as I'm concerned, there are enough great places and things to see and do right here in America to keep me amused for the rest of my life.

[Let's Roll]

They forgot the main reason - we're pissed. Denial - just like the way they're "dealing" with their muslim problems.

[Calvin Locke]

I went to Europe in the mid-1980s. The Swiss Franc was about 2.92 and Sterling was down to $1.05. Great time. A raclette meal was about $1.50.

[Pharmboy]

Well, here's a Freepereport from the front.

I am typing this in my hotel room in Helsinki, Finland (high speed access through ethernet connection), and all I can say is: What a great city this is! (I'm here on business). The food is great, EVERYONE speaks English (with American accents, no less) and the Finns are nice folk (the people remind me of the folks in Minneapolis).

My cab driver--when hearing I was from NY--asked me how things were in the city and how we have adjusted post-911. In the ensuing conversation, it was clear he was on our side.

Last week I was in (shudder) Paris (again, on business), and while all the Parisians make me for a yank at 50 meters (they ALWAYS speak English to me from the gitgo) I have felt zero animosity from them.

I tend to think that--just like our wonderful mainstream media--the people of the EU are wiser than their leaders or media.

[Happy2BMe]

"The trip is off! I told her I would give her the cash instead if she promises to buy American."

GOOD ON YOU!

Just one question - where do you go to buy American-made goods anymore?

Computers? T.V.s? Stereos? Shoes? Cars? Furniture? Clothes? . . . .

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

I just got back from 3 weeks in Europe. I hardly saw any Americans so I was quite surprised to find a bunch on the plane trip back home.

I was thinking that either the Americans are boycotting and its working or no one cares. Now I am hearing about how bad the tourist sector is. In my view, the public transport system was busy but not overly so, and despite talk from the locals about bad traffic, I never saw any on the highways which were mostly empty except for this Thursday in Switzerland where it was a public holiday.

[Mike Darancette]

AT A DOLLAR TWENTY FOR A EURO EUROPE IS NO LONGER CHEAP...AND BESIDES THE EU DOESN'T LIKE AMERICANS...

I wonder how many EU types will be taking advantage of exchange rates and coming to visit America.

[God luvs America]

Anti-American graffiti, scrawled in English, some of it obscene, is common.

And they refer to us as the "ugly Americans"!!

To hell with all your-a-peons ....if they didn't appreciate what our GI's did for them, and they don't, let them feel the consequences in their pocket books. Let them eat those f*ckin eurodollars!

[Centurion2000]

We are supposed to go to Rome in October, but I can tell you now that I want out of it. I just don't go where I'm not welcomed.

Go visit Poland .... I'm sure they'd love the visit.

[mewzilla]

Hey, they were on our side :) Go to Rome. You'll love it. Honest. We did. Haven't been back in years, but it's on our list of places to go again when we get the chance.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

What seems universal is nostalgia for the American big spender. "Five Americans spend as much as 100 Europeans," said Konstantinos Koufinakos

Call it the Monopoly Money Syndrome, because I can make a $100 US last a very long time in my wallet but those colorful 100 Euro and SFr notes fly out very quickly. It also doesn't help that everything costs so damn much over there and the only tax you don't have to pay is for breathing...

[thinktwice]

I understand that Finnish TV, for many years, has been virtually all American programming in english.

[OpusatFR]

Not Italy. I'm going with relatives who spend the Fall in Rome just about every year. I've heard some pretty nasty stories about mistreatment of Americans by Italians. Gives me pause for thought.

[breakem]

IMHO, we had a great first visit two years ago. There were demonstrations against the US in Afghanistan and also in support of. There were more police than demonstrators in most places. I never saw so many police in one city in my life.

If you are going with folks who go often, they will make your trip so much easier and also efficient. Although my wife and I enjoy walking around and being lost. We did a triangle from the Collessium to the Vatican to the Spanish Steppes. The sides of the triangle were about 2 miles. We walked everywhere.

I recommend the "scavi tour" at the Vatican. It is the tombs under the church with a side view into Peter's tomb. Look it up on the internet and get tickets as soon as you can. They only take about 20 people per day.

We found more rudeness in Italian cities than in Paris or London, bit I would go back to Rome again. Have fun.

[freedumb2003]

>>believes many Americans bypassed Greece after hearing about the nearly daily antiwar protests and marches.<<

Do ya think?

Dumb putzes. Great destinations in the USA -- more than a lifetime full!

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Maybe those are just stories. I witnessed nothing of the sort in my trip. I came into contact with lots of Italians and French, Germans and Belgians, etc...The average man and woman in the street is too busy with their life and struggling to make ends meet to care so much about politics and how to treat tourists badly. Even the muslim taxi drivers in Amsterdam were courteous after saying 'American consulate...rapido!'...lol.

[Owl558]

"Why should I go someplace and spend my money if I'm not welcome"

"Five Americans spend as much as 100 Europeans,"

Europeans out there take heed. My family decided against going to Europe this year (and will not be going for a long time to come) because of the anti-Americanism. Despite their Socialist entitlement mentality, Europeans do not deserve my hard-earned dollars now or ever. We went to Hawaii instead and pumped some dollars back into the US economy (the people were awesome) and we easily spent as much as 5 Americans by ourselves.

[God luvs America]

I agree with you totally.

This may be shortsighted and I'm sure I'll get flak for this statement but unless you must travel to Europe or made previous plans that you cannot get out of, with Americans out of work and the need for money spent in our economy, traveling to a place like Germany, France, Belgium is treason to my mind.

I've always despised the French and their nation. On my honeymoon in July of 2000 my wife and I took a cruise through Italy and Greece (let me tell you, at least from this experience, europeans are some of the rudest, pushiest people ever. Cutting the line, stampeding to the dinning hall like out of control cattle).

The last day and a half was spent in Paris....we took a boat ride around the city the first night we were there and that was enough for me. The next day, our only full day in the city, we hoped on a train, got off at Caen, rented a car and toured all the D-Day Beached in Normandy by ourselves. I had an American flag with me and proudly carried it out. In a word, awesome....all the movies or documentaries you've ever watched does not do it justice!

[nutmeg]

We've spent many a vacation in Europe, and last summer spent a couple of weeks in Quebec, Canada (and Maine). It's the 'ol USA for us this year!

nutmeg & zelig

[lonestar]

Not Italy. I'm going with relatives who spend the Fall in Rome just about every year. I've heard some pretty nasty stories about mistreatment of Americans by Italians. Gives me pause for thought.

Italians mistreat other Italians.

[lonestar]

My cousins had planned a week in Paris; went to England instead.

[mtbopfuyn]

When I was there many years ago, all of Scandinavia was airing old b&w shows like Flipper but they were dubbed. At night though everything was their own b&w nudie shows.

Back to the original topic - They can reap what they sown. Too bad about England and one or two of those who were on our side but with France and Germany leading the pack, I'm not the least bit sorry for their lack of American $. I've tried to buy American and I'm going to continue to do so for a looooong time. Europe has always despised us ugly Americans so now it's pay back time for them. Funny how quickly they all came whining back for the almighty US dollar, huh.

[RJayneJ]

It is that same hatred that gave us 9/11 to begin with. During the war the French and Germans showed us that they had more in common with the terrorist than they do with us and it is going to cause a deep resentment for years to come.

[vikingcelt]

"Europe has always despised us ugly Americans..." I have occasionally wondered just why exactly that is. I tend to think that it is because the best, the brightest, the strongest, the most courageous and the most fearless and energetic emigrated to the United States (like my grandparents did from Denmark in the late 1800's) and left all the losers behind in the "old country". I don't think they despise us at all. Actually I think they envy us.

[Flavius]

well you can go to certain parts of us and see no american either

[Flavius]

Sorry, long day, I meant you can go to certain parts of US and see no Americans either.

[Pharmboy]

They learn it early on in school, and--you are right--get much American TV. Smart people--to learn English, that is.

[McGavin999]

What they're getting now is the liberal students who participate in those protests and the aging hippies. Those of us who work hard for our money are not about to spend it in countries that hate America. It has nothing to do with fear of terrorism, it has everything to do with not going where you're not wanted.

Save your money on advertising campaigns europe, do something to clean up the anti-Americanism and we'll be back. Spewing hatred at your best customers has to be about the stupidist move in the world.

[RobbyS]

Add to this the old saying that the French are rude even to their own cousins.

[Pharmboy]

Well, the Parisians certainly look down upon their cousins from the countryside (more than 100 km from Paris).

[patriciaruth]

Italy's President Bersculoni(sp?) has supported President Bush consistently. However, there are supposed to be lots of thieves in Italy, so it isn't safe to walk alone or keep your money/passport/credit cards where a pickpocket can get it.

If I were going to Italy or Spain, I'd have a dummy wallet or purse with very little in it for them to grab if they put a knife to your throat.

Charming comment, but I'd say the same for foreigners coming to Miami.

[Movemout]

"Just one question - where do you go to buy American-made goods anymore? "

I know. I know. I figure if she spends the the money in the US of A that some of the profits will go to us. If she spends it in Europe there is no benefit to us.