- Title: Travel industry voices Trump concerns
- Date: 7th November 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) SOUNDBITE (English) ENRIQUE DE LA MADRID CORDERO, TOURISM MINISTER, MEXICO, SAYING: "We are all concerned in the world of the election tomorrow. But in Mexico we are prepared. We will have to work with whomever wins. We are neighbours. This is a very strong relationship between our countries. It's a huge trade between both nations. And our view is that we're partners for the long term. So we're ready for whatever result, we should adapt to whatever result it will take place. And we believe, this is a long-term relationship and we will continue to work on it." VARIOUS OF MEXICO STAND AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET SOUNDBITE (English) ENRIQUE DE LA MADRID CORDERO, TOURISM MINISTER, MEXICO, SAYING: "It's not only Mexico who could be harmed but it could also be millions of people in the United States. So that's why I say let's wait and see first what are the election results and then which of those ideas that were raised in the campaign, really become policy." 'DISCOVER NEW ENGLAND' SIGN ROAD SIGNS POINTING TO US STATES VARIOUS OF USA STAND SOUNDBITE (English) MALCOLM SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER, US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION, SAYING: "It would be very impactful, which is why when we educate the policymakers we are confident those won't happen. We talk more about the security, the intelligence communications, that's what needs to happen. That's what keeps us safe. Not banning a religion, or a country, or building walls." VARIOUS SIGNS PROMOTING US STATES SOUNDBITE (English) MALCOLM SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER, US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION, SAYING: "It's the same with security. We need to educate our policymakers that the visa waiver program actually makes us more secure than to ask people to go the US Consulate for an in-person interview. We have nearly 5 million visitors from the UK, from all religions, and there's just no possible way to facilitate in-person interviews in the visa process. But again it's also educating our policymakers of our visa waiver program because our intelligence communities are speaking to one another. If someone's on the no-fly list in the United States, or the terror-watch list in the UK, they're not going to get access. And that's what we have to educate to policymakers. When they start understanding this, then a lot of that rhetoric goes away. But again, that's why US travel is going to be working hard, starting on Wednesday." CLOSE-UP OF TRUMP HOTELS BRANDED CHOCOLATES VARIOUS OF TRUMP HOTELS STAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARCOS TORRES, GLOBAL SALES DIRECTOR, EMEA, TRUMP HOTELS, SAYING: "The Trump hotels have a certain growth right now. We're opening three hotels as we speak here so for us it's a very bright future. This is the first time we're coming to London, the first time exhibiting at WTM, because we see the business growing. The destinations are growing. We have the first hotel now opening in Brazil, at the end of the year, so yes for us, it's kind of a positive outlook." GOLD BAR-SHAPED CHOCOLATES EMBOSSED WITH 'TRUMP'
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 19:04
- Keywords: travel Trump election Mexico US tourism wall
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: USA
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA00257G3PL3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexico's tourism minister says his country will work with whoever wins the U.S. presidential election, but also warned of the damage that could be done if trade agreements between the two countries are scrapped.
"We are all concerned in the world of the election tomorrow. But in Mexico we are prepared. We will have to work with whomever wins. We are neighbours. This is a very strong relationship between our countries. It's a huge trade between both nations. And our view is that we're partners for the long term. So we're ready for whatever result, we should adapt to whatever result it will take place. And we believe, this is a long-term relationship and we will continue to work on it", Enrique de la Madrid Cordero said at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
The U.S. is a key market for Mexico's tourism industry, accounting for 59 percent of visitors who arrive by plane.
The country is watching the election result closely, after Republican candidate Donald Trump promised to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico should he become president.
He has also pledged to either revise or scrap the existing trade deal between the two countries.
"It's not only Mexico who could be harmed but it could also be millions of people in the United States. So that's why I say let's wait and see first what are the election results and then which of those ideas that were raised in the campaign, really become policy", de la Enrique Cordero warned.
Some in the American travel industry are also concerned about the prospect of a Trump presidency, after the billionaire vowed to ban Muslims from entering the country.
"It would be very impactful, which is why when we educate the policymakers we are confident those won't happen. We talk more about the security, the intelligence communications, that's what needs to happen. That's what keeps us safe. Not banning a religion, or a country, or building walls", said Malcolm Smith, General Manager at lobby U.S. Travel Association.
Should Trump win, Smith said the industry would be lobbying hard to dissuade policymakers from following through on the Republican's call to end the visa waiver system.
"We need to educate our policymakers that the visa waiver program actually make us more secure than to ask people to go the US Consulate for an in-person interview. We have nearly 5 million visitors from the UK, from all religions, and there's just no possible way to facilitate in-person interviews in the visa process. But again it's also educating our policymakers of our visa waiver program because our intelligence communities are speaking to one another. If someone's on the no-fly list in the United States, or the terror-watch list in the UK, they're not going to get access. And that's what we have to educate to policymakers. When they start understanding this, then a lot of that rhetoric goes away. But again, that's why US travel is going to be working hard, starting on Wednesday", said Smith.
Despite the concerns of the industry, though, Trump's own brand appears to be stronger than ever.
Exhibiting at WTM for the first time, Trump Hotels says visitor numbers in Europe and the Middle East were up 112 percent in September compared to the same month last year.
"The Trump hotels have a certain growth right now. We're opening three hotels as we speak here so for us it's a very bright future. This is the first time we're coming to London, the first time exhibiting at WTM, because we see the business growing. The destinations are growing. We have the first hotel now opening in Brazil, at the end of the year, so yes for us, it's kind of a positive outlook", EMEA Global Sales Director Marcos Torres said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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