The World Is Reopening to American Tourists, Which Is a Terrible Idea

Thailand is one of 68 countries that Americans can currently travel to

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Alin Meceanu/Unsplash

A week ago, the United States posted 3,000 deaths in a day for the first time since the pandemic began. It’s passed that total twice since then, with a record 3,448 deaths on Wednesday. This is our reality here at the end of one of the darkest years in recent memory. During the peak of World War II, about 6,600 U.S. service personnel were dying each month; during this pandemic, it takes about 48 hours.

Vaccination began in earnest this week, but it could take until next summer for the States to achieve “herd immunity,” especially if distribution faces any complications — from supply chain shortages to the fact that over a quarter of Americans apparently don’t want to get vaccinated. The best way through it all is relatively straightforward: continued social distancing, mask wearing and priority vaccination. But Americans will be tested these next few months by their exhaustion, anxieties and even wanderlust.

Many of the world’s most tourism-dependent countries, eager to see the return of American dollars, have included the United States in the “Yes” column as they’ve eased travel restrictions. That tendency has added an extra temptation for Americans as we hit the home stretch, even though the second half of 2021, if everything goes right, could prove an epic travel bonanza. Just this week, Thailand curbed limits on visitors from 56 countries, including the US.

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Croatia has also welcomed back American visitors.
@madebymorgan/Unsplash

Thailand isn’t a huge destination for American tourists. A shade over a million Americans visit the country each year, which is good for eighth place on Thailand’s visitor rankings (behind countries like Russia, Laos and Malaysia). Still, it’s remarkable that Thailand is considering inviting American tourists at all right now. Thailand has reported just 60 deaths from COVID-19 this year. According to Human Rights Watch, that figure — and its accompanying rock-bottom infection rate — was achieved thanks to a (questionable) zero-tolerance lockdown policy from the Thai government. That approach devastated the Thai economy, though, especially in tourist hot spots like Phuket, which locals now describe as “deserted.”

It’s understandable that a country like Thailand, where tourism accounts for 13% of the GDP, is pivoting heading into 2021 and eager to catalyze its economy by welcoming the world back in. But even with extra safety measures for visitors (like a 14-day quarantine and health screenings), it’s puzzling that Thailand would add the United States to its list. Why risk an outbreak? Americans already have enough governmental representatives urging them to ignore the CDC at home. When international officials do so, too — remember, the CDC still urges Americans to “avoid all nonessential travel” — it gives this sick, sad show a chance to go global.

Thailand is nowhere near the first country to allot for American travelers this year. It’s actually the 68th. Island nations in the Caribbean and other tourist destinations to the south have predictably led the way. It’s little surprise that of our two borders, Canada is still firmly closed to American tourists while Mexican states are operating on an ad hoc basis — you can guess which one of those countries is more reliant on American tourism. (Both land borders, we should note, will remain closed until January 21, 2021.)

Then there is a country like Croatia. Similar to Thailand, the Mediterranean nation escaped the worst of coronavirus this spring. In August, it became the only member nation of the European Union to allow American travel. By visitor metrics alone, the country had a great summer. It managed to reach 67% of its tourism totals for the same time the year before. But it also reported a 174% increase in COVID cases during one week.

Countries like Thailand, Mexico or Croatia may be better equipped to keep infections low this winter. They’re warm-weather spots where outdoor dining can actually continue through January without restaurateurs building veritable cabins on the side of the road. But researchers are still studying the relationship between so-called “curb-to-curb” travel (hired cars, baggage check, airport gates) and infection rates. You could sit around and wait for scientists to figure out what we already know to be true: unnecessary travel spreads the virus. But at that point, you — and tourism boards the world over — might as well just wait for the second half of next year, and the safe, sustainable travel recovery it will bring.

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