World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)Êboss David Scowsill has lambasted US President Donald Trump’s travel ban to the United States on citizens of seven countries as Òagainst the fundamental right to freedom of travelÓ.
On Monday nightÊMr Scowsill, CEO of the WTTC, criticized the chaos and confusion the ban had caused within his industries, both central to the hospitality field.
ÒThe Executive Order issued by US President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017 banning travel to the US from seven countries for 90 days goes directly against the fundamental right of freedom to travel,Ó said Mr Scowsill. ÒIt has created immense confusion among travellers and travel companies worldwide.
ÒWTTC believes that all people have the right to cross international borders safely and efficiently for business and tourism purposes. The blanket suspension of admittance of travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen to the US flies against this principle. Suspending travel based only on a person’s nationality or their origin is wrong.Ó
Mr Scowsill pointed out that many travellers have been unnecessarily disrupted due to the unclear nature of the executive order, together with a lack of prior consultation and poor communication to airlines and border officials.
ÒIf this move by the Trump Administration is designed to Ôprevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals’, it is important to point out that the vast majority of terrorist attacks in the recent past have been perpetrated by home grown, radicalised nationals of the country involved,Ó said Mr Scowsill.
ÒNone of the shocking domestic incidents in the US since 2001 have been attributed to external terrorists who have specifically flown into the country to commit an atrocity. Preventing Ôaliens’ from entering the US for legitimate business or leisure purposes is misguided and counter-productive for the American economy.
“Travel and Tourism bridges divides between cultures, fosters understanding across religious and geographic boundaries, and generates more peaceful co-existence. Our sector is responsible for the livelihoods of millions worldwide. The US has suffered in the past from similar isolationist policies. We urge the Trump Administration to reconsider this ban.”
