Newsstand - Survey says: US becomes top country brand for tourist and business travel

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Barack Obama has done it again. The president's starpower has made the United States the place most people want to visit and do business with, according to an annual survey that ranks nations like retail brands.

The Country Brand Index, compiled by brand consultancy FutureBrand, found the United States had unseated Australia, which held the top spot for the past three years. Australia came in third this year with Canada rising to second place.

New Zealand and France rounded up the top five country brands in this year's index that included 102 countries.

"The Obama effect has seen the United States earn the coveted top spot for the first time in the fifth annual index," FutureBrand, which is part of Interpublic Group of Companies, said in a statement.

"The revitalization of Brand USA, and other factors, have resulted in the effect on Australia's ranking. It highlights the importance of keeping a country brand fresh, relevant and engaging in a highly competitive international marketplace," added Tim Riches, CEO FutureBrand Singapore.

The index is based on a survey of about 3,000 business and leisure travelers from nine countries.

In addition to branding countries, it also identifies global trends in travel and tourism, which the statement said was the world's fastest growing economic sector.

The United States was seen as the ideal place for business, one of the top places for families, shopping and quality products, as well as one of the countries people wanted to visit whether for the first time or again.

The FutureBrand survey echoes a similar poll which showed that the United States was the most admired country globally, largely thanks to Obama's global popularity.

Looking ahead, the index identified the United Arab Emirates -- which includes the Gulf cities Dubai and Abu Dhabi -- China, and Vietnam as the top three nations likely to become major tourist destinations in the next five years.

Croatia, South Africa and India also made the list.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091106/lf_nm_life/us_countries_rankings

The success of a brand is determined by how well it sells rather than the perception it has.

As I recall the US has been doing rather badly as a tourist & business destination for the past several years

What a total bs !

I dont know of many other countries with so many hassles for tourists and especially business travellers than the U.S. !

The popularity of the U.S. and it's territorries is merely connected to the weak USD and the respective high buying power of especially the european countries. Plus, there is of course the factor of the individual tourist whose dream "I want to see New York / Hollywood" is the reason for a trip. These cities always had a magnetic effect worldwide on people and thats certainly nothing that can be accounted for towards Obamas or anyone elses presidency.

What a total bs !

I dont know of many other countries with so many hassles for tourists and especially business travellers than the U.S. !

The popularity of the U.S. and it's territorries is merely connected to the weak USD and the respective high buying power of especially the european countries. Plus, there is of course the factor of the individual tourist whose dream "I want to see New York / Hollywood" is the reason for a trip. These cities always had a magnetic effect worldwide on people and thats certainly nothing that can be accounted for towards Obamas or anyone elses presidency.

Agree completely.

The US is a disgrace when it comes to welcoming visitors. The United States' stupid, unnecessary policies of "security" harassment are disgusting beyond belief.

I hope all tourists continue to boycott the USA, especially if the $10 tourism extortion tax goes into effect.

The USD is at least as strong or stronger now against the EUR than the USD was in most of 2008.

Agree completely.

The US is a disgrace when it comes to welcoming visitors. The United States' stupid, unnecessary policies of "security" harassment are disgusting beyond belief.

I hope all tourists continue to boycott the USA, especially if the $10 tourism extortion tax goes into effect.

I also agree that there are so many hassles and challenges for foreign visitors to overcome -- but I certainly do not "...hope all tourists continue to boycott the USA...".

The best way for people from around the world to learn that America and Americans are much more than some of the unfortunate policies of our government, is to visit, learn, and enjoy.

I also agree that there are so many hassles and challenges for foreign visitors to overcome -- but I certainly do not "...hope all tourists continue to boycott the USA...".

The best way for people from around the world to learn that America and Americans are much more than some of the unfortunate policies of our government, is to visit, learn, and enjoy.

I disagree. The US government should be taught an expensive lesson for its arrogance towards guests. Americans can do a better job as ambassadors by traveling abroad to countries that haven't implemented policies of idiotic harassment similar to those of the US.

+1 !

Wait until we get to pay $10 to enter the US on Visa Waiver. Numbers will decline again.

I so hope that the EU will put up a $10 charge as well, just for US citizens if the US implements their stupid new idea.

The only smart country so far seems to be Brazil. Take their finger prints, take their pictures and just dump it while they are still around.

The only smart country so far seems to be Brazil. Take their finger prints, take their pictures and just dump it while they are still around.

LOL !

I disagree. The US government should be taught an expensive lesson for its arrogance towards guests. Americans can do a better job as ambassadors by traveling abroad to countries that haven't implemented policies of idiotic harassment similar to those of the US.

I wonder how much of the mix is arrogance, ignorance and paranoia !? :rolleyes:

Unfortunately the government will just give a S*** if less tourists come, what should any administration care about the $$$ that the tourists bring if with a single cluster bomb they waste more money than 10 well prepared tourists could spend on a weekend in NYC :td:

+1 !

Wait until we get to pay $10 to enter the US on Visa Waiver. Numbers will decline again.

I so hope that the EU will put up a $10 charge as well, just for US citizens if the US implements their stupid new idea.

The only smart country so far seems to be Brazil. Take their finger prints, take their pictures and just dump it while they are still around.

US citizens like myself will be exempted from any such retaliatory measure by the EU; and those not exempted from such measures will just end up eating it or otherwise finding out their strongest power is not in the ability to influence politicians but in the ability to allocate away their money.

[Brazil doesn't finger print me either,and I don't think they even have a picture of me on file. That was largely scrapped.]

I partly agree with the article. For many Europeans the U.S. under Reagan was self-confident and exciting, under Clinton out-looking and exciting but under GWB it managed to lack both in trustworthiness and progressiveness.

Obama symbolises change, although it seems that he will have difficulties breaking his chains. The mistrust of everything new and foreign during the GWB period seems to keep a grip of too many of his own partisans.

As someone who lived a period in the U.S. in his youth, it seems that some of the charm of the cities' main streets and shopping malls have been taken away by WalMart and the likes.

Still, the U.S. will always have its natural wonders, the parks, state parks, landmarks and beaches. San Francisco's scenery and ambience is second to no European city IMO. My experience of the U.S. is mostly limited to Northern and Southern California and N.Y. so I can't speak much of other places.

I disagree. The US government should be taught an expensive lesson for its arrogance towards guests. Americans can do a better job as ambassadors by traveling abroad to countries that haven't implemented policies of idiotic harassment similar to those of the US.

I disagree with your disagreement.

The "US Government" is not going to be "taught an expensive lesson" about anything. By hoping for such a boycott, you only hurt: 1) colleges and universities that rely on foreign students fees that help keep tuition lower and provide scholarship money for US students, 2) American workers employed in jobs that benefit from tourism -- hotels, restaurants, 3) the opportunity for foreign business investment in the US that again can help our current unemployment issues.

In my own city of San Francisco, the # 1 category of commerce is......tourism. So your advocated "boycott" will hurt our economy and put American people out of work. Perhaps from your little corner of the world, your disdain of the government blinds you to the bigger issues, but many foreign tourists that come to our county and have a wonderful experience, go home as more of a friend of the US. There is no substitute for that both as a boost to our economy, and as an improvement to foreign relations.

For most people in the world America is not a destination, it is an arrival.

Winston Churchill said it best for those of us aware of history.

"America will always do the right thing - but only after having exhausted all other possibilities"

Agree completely.

The US is a disgrace when it comes to welcoming visitors. The United States' stupid, unnecessary policies of "security" harassment are disgusting beyond belief.

I hope all tourists continue to boycott the USA, especially if the $10 tourism extortion tax goes into effect.

Of course, that will mostly hurt the parts of the US that receive tourists, where the local people are most likely to be already more skeptical of the policies that you dislike, while having little effect on the parts of the US that do not receive as many tourists, where support for the policies that you dislike is likely to be the strongest.

Of course, that will mostly hurt the parts of the US that receive tourists, where the local people are most likely to be already more skeptical of the policies that you dislike

These are the very people that should be shaking the US government by the throat.

I disagree with your disagreement.

The "US Government" is not going to be "taught an expensive lesson" about anything. By hoping for such a boycott, you only hurt: 1) colleges and universities that rely on foreign students fees that help keep tuition lower and provide scholarship money for US students, 2) American workers employed in jobs that benefit from tourism -- hotels, restaurants, 3) the opportunity for foreign business investment in the US that again can help our current unemployment issues.

In my own city of San Francisco, the # 1 category of commerce is......tourism. So your advocated "boycott" will hurt our economy and put American people out of work. Perhaps from your little corner of the world, your disdain of the government blinds you to the bigger issues, but many foreign tourists that come to our county and have a wonderful experience, go home as more of a friend of the US. There is no substitute for that both as a boost to our economy, and as an improvement to foreign relations.

The American people should be calling for the hides of those in the US government who plan to make the US an even less-desirable place to visit with $10 added to disgusting, un-American harassment. Those who stand to be personally affected should be howling all the louder. These policies and this proposed $10 tax both just plain stink. :td:

Americans can do a better job as ambassadors by traveling abroad to countries that haven't implemented policies of idiotic harassment similar to those of the US.

The list gets smaller and smaller, with more countries implementing Bush era Nazi style controls as time goes on.

Of course, that will mostly hurt the parts of the US that receive tourists, where the local people are most likely to be already more skeptical of the policies that you dislike, while having little effect on the parts of the US that do not receive as many tourists, where support for the policies that you dislike is likely to be the strongest.

Once upon a time, I believed what you do. After having paid attention more closely in recent years to the behaviors of travel industry executives and to skepticism in "flyover country", I now find myself doubting that those dependent upon the industry and in non-"flyover country" are as willing to pressure the government to ease up on the government's unwelcoming approach to travel industry customers. This is not just a US phenomenon. In the UK, it's the "cosmopolitan" travel industry that is pushing for mandatory national ID cards.

"Useful idiots, the bunch of them" seems more applicable today than ever before. :eek:

$10! WOW. That will virtually destroy tourism to the U.S. (Wait 'till they hear that it can cost as much as $50 to park in San Francisco and $20 simply to enter some of our national parks.)

$10! WOW. That will virtually destroy tourism to the U.S. (Wait 'till they hear that it can cost as much as $50 to park in San Francisco and $20 simply to enter some of our national parks.)

I think you miss the point here !

For WHAT are these 10$ ? Waiting 2 hours in Line to get processed by CBP in ORD... Having a grumpy CBP officer... getting harrassed with personal questions... instead of being welcomed on knees for spending money you get questioned why you come "so often" to the US (with a current exchange rate of 1.50 USD per EUR). The organisations CBP and DHS are a colossal failure of common sense ! :td:

If you park in SanFran it's your own fault... take a cab ! The National Park I get at least something amazing in return !

I think you miss the point here !

For WHAT are these 10$ ? Waiting 2 hours in Line to get processed by CBP in ORD... Having a grumpy CBP officer... getting harrassed with personal questions... instead of being welcomed on knees for spending money you get questioned why you come "so often" to the US (with a current exchange rate of 1.50 USD per EUR). The organisations CBP and DHS are a colossal failure of common sense ! :td:

If you park in SanFran it's your own fault... take a cab ! The National Park I get at least something amazing in return !


Absolutely. Americans should be begging people to come here and spend gobs of money.

$10! WOW. That will virtually destroy tourism to the U.S. (Wait 'till they hear that it can cost as much as $50 to park in San Francisco and $20 simply to enter some of our national parks.)

It acts as a visa fee in effect. Raising the costs and other barriers to visit the US on top of what we already have is no smart way to encourage tourism to the country.

If you believe raising such costs merely to attempt to enter the US encourages tourism, then why aren't you calling for the fee to be increased way beyond just $10? Good at $10, great at a $100 or more?

It acts as a visa fee in effect. Raising the costs and other barriers to visit the US on top of what we already have is no smart way to encourage tourism to the country.

If you believe raising such costs merely to attempt to enter the US encourages tourism, then why aren't you calling for the fee to be increased way beyond just $10? Good at $10, great at a $100 or more?

Right. The other thing that has a bitter taste is: There is no Visa !

The Australians at least call it eVisa and let the people pay a few bucks.

In the end it is a fee to support the espionage of my personal data :td:

" For WHAT are these 10$ ?"

I believe that this $10 fee, though the amount is relatively insignificant, represents a justifiable token transfer of costs from the U.S. taxpayer to the "user", the tourist, who wishes to enter this country. I am surprised that there seems to be such outrage posted here over this trivial fee.

The $10 doesn't go towards the CBP guys. It will be funneled into a semi-private group that will spend the money on advertising the USA to foreign tourists. Essentially it pays for the advertising budgets of major commercial ventures.

Everyone has already paid ~$35 for the joy of interacting with the CBP agents for quite a while now. The numbers look something like this:
Tax: USDA APHIS Fee $5.00
Tax: US Immigration Fee $7.00
Tax: US Customs Fee $5.50
Tax: US International Arrival Tax $16.10

The $10 is stupid but it isn't a visa and it isn't a tax. It is money being used to subsidize major commercial interests in the USA. :td:

" For WHAT are these 10$ ?"

I believe that this $10 fee, though the amount is relatively insignificant, represents a justifiable token transfer of costs from the U.S. taxpayer to the "user", the tourist, who wishes to enter this country. I am surprised that there seems to be such outrage posted here over this trivial fee.

We should be doing all we can to encourage people to come to the US, not extracting $10 from would-be visitors who already may be discouraged by the disgusting, unnecessary, and un-American harassment they receive prior to and on arrival.

Perhaps a public caning of scumbag US govt officials who instituted disgusting harassment like fingerprinting would go a long way to promote tourism...

I am surprised that there seems to be such outrage posted here over this trivial fee.
Western tourists & businessmen are used to not paying "entry fees" to countries in the Western world. Such fees smack more of the "visa" charges 3rd world countries make

Congress did the right thing. I believe this fee is directed only at tourists who have not paid the $130 for a visa. The "new" fingerprinting procedure no longer uses ink and messy stamp pads. If people are to be caned I suggest it should be done in private.

Congress did the right thing. I believe this fee is directed only at tourists who have not paid the $130 for a visa. The "new" fingerprinting procedure no longer uses ink and messy stamp pads. If people are to be caned I suggest it should be done in private.

Your belief sounds like a belief in myths, as Congress isn't directing the fee to be directed only at tourists.

While I agree that hassling incoming tourists isn't a very good idea, I doubt that an extra $10 fee will deter many tourists from visiting the US. People who can afford to travel to and in the US can surely afford $10.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean I support the $10 fee! Just that I doubt it will have much impact on tourism. Other factors, such as perception of the US, currency exchange rates, etc. will surely always be more important.

The $10 doesn't go towards the CBP guys. It will be funneled into a semi-private group that will spend the money on advertising the USA to foreign tourists. Essentially it pays for the advertising budgets of major commercial ventures.

Everyone has already paid ~$35 for the joy of interacting with the CBP agents for quite a while now. The numbers look something like this:
Tax: USDA APHIS Fee $5.00
Tax: US Immigration Fee $7.00
Tax: US Customs Fee $5.50
Tax: US International Arrival Tax $16.10

The $10 is stupid but it isn't a visa and it isn't a tax. It is money being used to subsidize major commercial interests in the USA. :td:

You nailed it down once more!

While I agree that hassling incoming tourists isn't a very good idea, I doubt that an extra $10 fee will deter many tourists from visiting the US. People who can afford to travel to and in the US can surely afford $10.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean I support the $10 fee! Just that I doubt it will have much impact on tourism. Other factors, such as perception of the US, currency exchange rates, etc. will surely always be more important.

Yes, but when even the free ESTA process turns off people at least in part, demanding their bank card details online to do just that is likely to turn off people even more than before.

I wouldn't be surprised if the US government (including agents thereof) would have problems processing some kinds of bank cards or at least would proclaim it has problems with some of them. Then what, physically transfer/deliver payment to the US embassy/consulate or DHS? That's not a way to turn people on to visiting the US.

The reasons that our beloved government wants payment and that it wants matters handled online is not only because of cost benefits for the government and convenience benefits for the passengers; it's also because such requirements creates a much greater data trail for intelligence and law enforcement personnel to exploit. "Follow the money" is a government favorite.

The Australian travel guide company "Lonely Planet" (the world's largest) has included the good 'ol USA in its annual "The top 10 countries for 2010"

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/el-salvador/travel-tips-and-articles/42/15809

Not surprised and it is not without consideration !

The North American continent has some of the most amazing things to offer that you can see on earth. Think about Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or the Glaciers in Alaska. For the city freaks, even LA, SanFran and NYC have their charme !

But to name it the #1 for tourism an business travel is a bit over the top ! :rolleyes: