Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Norbert

(7,304 posts)
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 10:38 AM Sunday

The 'self-inflicted injury' to US tourism that's making some Americans angry and disappointed

Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.

Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.

Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.

As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.

“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said...


https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/north-america-travel/the-self-inflicted-injury-to-us-tourism-that-s-making-some-americans-angry-and-disappointed/ar-AA1LA6Vi?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68b45b5e4d5246fbb9286f5edd64a661&ei=15
5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The 'self-inflicted injury' to US tourism that's making some Americans angry and disappointed (Original Post) Norbert Sunday OP
T-rump is a world grade moron... wcmagumba Sunday #1
A disappointed tour operator: tanyev Sunday #2
Sacrifice some cultural things... kerouac2 Sunday #3
They are in the find out stage. Blue Full Moon Sunday #4
I'm interested to see how the Palm Springs area is going to look come fall. That's when usually a whole bunch of beaglelover Sunday #5

tanyev

(47,669 posts)
2. A disappointed tour operator:
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 11:44 AM
Sunday

“It’s hard to be angry, because it’s not just me,” he said. “For all the promises of a good economy — and maybe people were thinking, ‘we’ll sacrifice some culture war things for this good economy that’s going to come from this administration.’ It doesn’t seem like that’s happening.”


🙄

beaglelover

(4,336 posts)
5. I'm interested to see how the Palm Springs area is going to look come fall. That's when usually a whole bunch of
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 06:51 PM
Sunday

license plates from Canada start to show up and they are usually here until late April. If they don't come this year or ever while tRump is in office, the Coachella Valley is going to be in for a world of hurt economically.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The 'self-inflicted injur...