Note: All quotes in the article come from foreign nationalists.
Americans, you are not welcome here.
Turnabout is fair play – but only on every other turn
While the far-right accelerates their hatred toward foreign immigrants, foreign nations across the globe are turning their hatred toward American tourists. You see, Americans are no longer welcomed in Europe and other first-world countries, even by their “Christian” counterparts. But that’s okay. “Turnabout is fair play” tells us that taking turns hurting each other is morally right.
Immigrants vs. tourists
Build a wall to keep out the tourists.
The parallels between the far-right’s hatred of immigrants and foreigners’ hatred of American tourists are uncanny. Today, we see protestors in the streets carrying signs saying Americans are not welcome. Graffiti on buildings demands American tourists return to where they came from. Tourists are harassed and threatened on the streets. In the same way, some Americans think immigrants are destroying the American economy, even though they provide cheap, skilled labor, Europeans believe that American tourists are stealing their livelihood, even though Americans inject billions of dollars through their economies each year.
As a result of this irrational fear, Venice has begun charging daytrippers an entry fee, and a busy Swiss town has expressed its intention to do the same. And this problem is not limited to Europe either. A Japanese town near Mount Fuji installed barriers to block tourists’ views and Bali has introduced an entry tax for foreign tourists.
It’s not that we hate you but, go home, please
Foreign nations say they don’t necessarily hate Americans. They just don’t want them in their country. One man told an American news agency:
“I don’t think people are anti-tourism, but they’re beginning to understand finally that it has to be controlled.”
They feel like Americans are taking advantage of Europe’s prosperity and heritage.
“Once you’ve filled the golden goose you start a downward spiral. It’s very difficult to get back to where you were before.”
Others think it’s a matter of tourists taking over the country, pushing out the locals.
“I don’t think overtourism is the root cause but a symptom – we’re out of balance.”
Most believe there needs to be better control over who is allowed to enter their country.
“You can host lots of people if you’re intentional about how they flow through. But just one person coming at the wrong time and wrong place will outstrip the available resources.”
It’s not unChristian to demand respect
Why so much hatred towards Americans? There are various factors, including the proliferation of low-cost airlines, vacation rentals, and growing economies, which make it easier for people to move about. This allows more tourists to travel abroad. The more tourists there are, the more short-term rentals (e.g., VRBO, and Airbnb) drive up housing costs, which locals say is pricing them out of the market. In the manner Americans believe immigrants hurt our economy, other countries think tourists make the economy bad for locals.
The perceived threat to the local’s well-being, whether valid or not, causes fear to proliferate. Fear causes anger, which leads to hatred. Hatred leads to locals fighting back when their government refuses to impose restrictions.
“The more you look at it, the more frightening it gets. At the moment we’re seeing a culmination – all these problems are coming home to roost. Enough is enough.”
They agree that not all tourists are bad. Some should be allowed, but others are undesirable.
“That tension between being a tourist and a traveler, or the “right” and “wrong” kind of tourist, has always been there. People are very snobbish about group tourists – that they were lower class and didn’t know anything.”
So before you decide to tour another country outside the United States, recognize that you are probably not wanted. Of course, if they wanted to keep you out so badly, they should build a wall.