I recently was forwarded this info about Lonely Planet making a push to get more americans to leave their own country. The author is Andrew Strickman:
"Dear esteemed friends in the world of publicity:
Most of you know me from my years of freelance journalism for pubs like Rolling Stone, Details, URB, SF Weekly and many others.
As some of you also know, I have a day job: I'm a co-owner of a boutique marketing agency focused on grassroots and influencer marketing for clients like Volvo, Miller Brewing, Earthlink and others.
I'm currently working on a project with Lonely Planet, a leading global publisher of travel guides and other travel-oriented products, to help launch the company's 3-year campaign to increase US Passport registrations, which are at a woeful 23% of American citizens... the lowest of any industrialized nation in the world.
To kickoff the campaign, Lonely Planet is releasing a book this September: Don't Let The World Pass You By: 52 Reasons To Have A Passport.
My company, Ammo, is producing September's "Lonely Planet Passport To The World Festival" which will include a series of highly visible musical events in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, headlined by our newly appointed Passport Ambassador, Michael Franti of Spearhead fame and featuring local world-focused musicians and DJs.
I'm writing to reach out to the artists you represent. We are soliciting 30-45 second video testimonials about why global travel is important from musicians, filmmakers and actors who know the power of holding a passport.
The video clips will be featured at Lonely Planet events including the "Lonely Planet Passport to the World" festival and on the web @ www.gotpassport.com (launching in late August)
The 4-1-1:
The concept: Do Something Great For Your Country... Leave."
Most of the international travel is in Mexico, the Caribbean,
the old cruise ship routine - fascinating
So 23% of Americans hold passports. That makes something like 70 million people.
That's a lot of people.
BTW, most people who can afford to travel abroad who live in those cities where LP
will be doing their promo, I'll bet already have passports.
This is the old chestnut and there are manifold reasons why Americans do not travel in the proportionate numbers of many other Western countries.
Some of those are mentioned above but the average holiday entitlement and the fact there is so much to seein their own country are two more - there are plenty others.
During my three year stint in the U.S. Navy, during the late sixties and early seventies, I was fortunate enough to be stationed in Morocco, and took every opportunity I had to travel around it. I was really amazed at how many of my barracks mates never left the base, ever. They considered the local population to be "dirty", the food poisoness, and besides; "There's nothing here that we don't have better in the USofA" Quite a few of them never left the base once in their three year posting, except to go to the airport for leave in the U.S.
There really is a large segment of the population that truly believes that there is nothing worth seeing anywhere else.
out of interest, what % of other nations hold a passport? thailand for example? does it show something detrimental if a person doesnt hold a passport?
Um, anyone think TV may play a small role here?
Why pay to go when I can watch a toothless Brit named Ian go there on my telly?
I think it has more to do with where peoples priorities lye. Spending money at home (or in nearby nations) seems to be the norm for many these days. And when I mean “home” I’m lumping Both the USA and Canada into one generality. (As views on international travel are fairly similar) Case in point....
I was one of the last few cars onto one of the larger 200+ car BC Ferries the other day. The reason was due to the number of Winnebago’s, campers, and SUVs loaded with tenting gear from all over North America waiting to get on. (And this mind you was of the more rural BC Ferry routes) It could be said that RV travelers are their own little niche of travelers. Many travel in mini convoys, meet each other from time to time in different campgrounds; heck to some retired folks like my aunt and uncle, it’s a lifestyle. They do that instead of going overseas.
Also, in many regions of North America, summer cottages (rented or owned) are still financially within the grasp of an average family who have disposable income that would otherwise be spent on international travel. This was the case in my family, we never went anywhere (well hardly anywhere) but we had a lake house in the Nicola Valley (in B.C) where we spent our summers (along with any other family and friends who showed up) This, I think for a lot of familes seems much better then trips to Mexico, Europe, or Asia. (My old man has never cared to leave Canada since he fell of the boat from England some 40 years ago) In his mind there is no more perfect place then his little slice of heaven by the seashore. And I suspect this sentiment is shared by many North Americans who simply feel that there own region of the world is hard to beat.
So they buy/rent a cottage, lease an RV, go to Vegas, go fishing, go on a cruise or go to Mexico. It’s just less hassle, and the limits of comfort and familiarity are never breached. (A big selling point when traveling with kids)
Last week the place two doors down from my folks sold to a family from Alberta (flat landers who’d never seen the ocean) they have their own airplane so it’s their “get away house” Again people who prefer to holiday at home.
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