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There's every good reason why the casino operators in this town bend over backwards to attract more Asian travelers, aside from increasing competition from Macau, as it's been stated: a plane load of Asians is equal to the spending power of two plane loads of American travelers.
What do you see on the Strip during these dire economic times? A number of domestic tourists, forsaking buying drinks in the casino's, they go to a liquor store, drag an 18-pack to the Strip and drink it there. 99-cent Steel Reserve beers cans everywhere!
I walk the Strip with my pet ferret one or two nites a week, and I see it all and I've seen the changes over the years.
More and more tourists from the emerging economies like India, Brazil, China, Russia, and with the continuing prosperity of Australia I run into more and more Aussies.
And I sincerely appreciate their efforts in flying all those long-distances to visit here and help out our dire economy here.
..their efforts in flying all those long-distances to visit here and help out our dire economy here.
So let's return the favor, if at all possible!
The keyword is "dire economy", which translates to higher unemployment, or only employment with lower wages, which in turn translates to less discretionary income. The fewer jobs that exist out there do not give the employees a strong sense of security to let go of their precious salary on foreign travel, or any travel at all.
My daughter, who has visited more European countries than she has been to cities in her own state, could no longer afford a plane ticket to fly anywhere. She and her husband earn high salaries, but as at-will employees in this failed economy, there is no guarantee whatsoever on the duration of their jobs. Thus, they can only go to Vegas for vacation since the last couple of years. Free or minimal cost in accommodations + inexpensive food (they don't drink) and entertainment + 4 hours drive = ideal get-away.
Last edited by Ol' Wanderer; 08-14-2011 at 12:05 AM..
. Many of the penny-pinching Europeans stay there, where in a 3rd world country, you can get a bunk for as cheap as $2 a night. No one can stretch out their tourist dollars better than those Europeans! Comfort is not one of their priorities like Americans!
For about the 10th time, I call bull**** on you. I've stayed in plenty of hostels in third world countries and spoken with plenty of long-time travelers, and there are Europeans, Americans, Israelis, South Americans etc. all among the dreadlocked $2 bunk crowd. If I had to pick a country most represented by budget travelers I'd say it would be the Germans, both for males and females.
Also, you've got to take into account that most who travel avidly do not come from countries with the geographic diversity that the U.S. has. To have "sun and sand" any time of the year, an American merely needs to visit southern Florida, Southern Texas, or Hawaii - and many more places on the Gulf Coast and California have it most of the year. Can't do that in Germany or England, or most other European countries.
For example, lots of English and Germans visit Spain. Do most of them go for the "vivacious" Spanish culture or the "exquisite" Spanish cuisine or the museums? No. They go for the sun, beaches, . Therefore you have towns on the Spanish coastline where you'll find British pubs, British grocery stores, and British-themed radio stations. Likewise, Germans have their "Ballermann 6" in the Spanish isles. In addition, you won't find warmth even in Spain in the winter (when many are drawn to warmer climes), so Brits and Germans find themselves in Cuba, Mexico, or Thailand.
I think those complaining about the American lack of travel in this thread are really complaining about our lack of intellectual curiosity. Whether this lack is real or not compared with nationalities who travel more assiduously, I do not know. But not all international travel is done to see "the culture"; in fact, with the exception of certain destinations (Cancun, Maztalan, Puerto Vallarta, Caribbean Islands), I would say that most Americans traveling abroad for leisure are more "intellectually curious" than a German or British vacationer in Mexico or Spain.
...most who travel avidly do not come from countries with the geographic diversity that the U.S. has. To have "sun and sand" any time of the year, an American merely needs to visit southern Florida, Southern Texas, or Hawaii - and many more places on the Gulf Coast and California have it most of the year. Can't do that in Germany or England, or most other European countries.
For example, lots of English and Germans visit Spain. Do most of them go for the "vivacious" Spanish culture or the "exquisite" Spanish cuisine or the museums? No. They go for the sun, beaches, . Therefore you have towns on the Spanish coastline where you'll find British pubs, British grocery stores, and British-themed radio stations. Likewise, Germans have their "Ballermann 6" in the Spanish isles. In addition, you won't find warmth even in Spain in the winter... so Brits and Germans find themselves in Cuba, Mexico, or Thailand.
I think those complaining about the American lack of travel in this thread are really complaining about our lack of intellectual curiosity... But not all international travel is done to see "the culture"; in fact, with the exception of certain destinations, I would say that most Americans traveling abroad for leisure are more "intellectually curious" than a German or British vacationer...
Very true. I did not want to mention the "party" theme that was the central point of most British travelers, for fear someone would call my comment a generalization (even though it's the truth.) Luckily, this morning, I came upon a reply in another tread from English Dave, saying the exact thing you said in your reply above, and the same thing I had known for many years. Here is his exact quote:
"The English travel all over Europe all the time because it's so near to us. I can understand American reservations as I suppose to many it all seems so, well, foreign!! Also much of the travel we (English) do is not cultural, just to have a good time which usually involves a lot of drinking. The trouble is, where the real culture is, tends to be in capital cities which are always expensive."
There is a saying, a common understanding actually, among expats all over the world: "When the Brits travel, they bring England with them. When they move to another country, they make colony out of the area." With my knowledge of the 50+ Brits in my circle of friends, I can vouch for that saying. I cannot do the same about the Germans though, since I only have six German expats for friends.
What Charles in PGI says about us English abroad is very true - we do like our home
comforts! Spain is a two hour plane ride from here, and generally cheaper than having a
holiday in England, that's why we go. Most of us go for the sun, cheap alcohol, and a
party, not anything like museums. I don't include myself, but most people. We are not
adventurous, most hotels in Spain cater to what we like to eat at home. We mainly go
half board, breakfast and dinner included. I watch the Germans at breakfast with their
yogurt and other healthy foods, while the English tuck into eggs, bacon, sausage and
baked beans!! Wherever we go it's the same, Spain, Greece, Turkey or anywhere else.
We are creatures of habit, not truly adventurous at all.
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