Originally Posted by
Spiff
[
I hope many would-be US visitors decide to spend their money elsewhere. The United States should be treated as an international pariah for the way it currently treats visitors. Guests are treated like criminals, despite having to beg to visit in the first place, and for some, an $100 non-refundable fee + an interrogation that might take place hundreds of miles from their home.
Tourists and businesses should give the USA nothing until it mends its ways.
The OP being most probably himself US American is quite harsh with his/her country, but unfortunately not wrong.
Myself despite having worked with US Americans in the 80s and 90s, my last ever trip to the US has been in February 2002. For sure I will never return as certain kinds of treatment and attitudes are unacceptable to me whatever happened before.
I am also avoiding US American products: This ranges from wine to software. It is regrettable as I basically love the country. Dreaming driving from L.A. to San Francisco
.
Get a life and manage your place in a way as it is done anywhere else.
I always have a big simile on my face how certain South American countries treat US citizens by reciprocity
. I salute their courage, we are far from doing this in Europe bacause we consider US Americans as our brothers.
So the answer to the OP's initial question is: For sure the US lost a huge amount of business and tourists due to its policies. But being a big and great nation it can absorb it.