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When Americans go out of the country they always want to travel to Europe or Canada if anywhere else but they won't bother traveling to any other part of the world.
Europe is the root of western culture and civilization. Africa, Asia and Latin America are not.
So, it is understandable why a lot of Americans would prefer to travel to a place where they share a common heritage.
The reality is, the majority of Americans can't afford to travel very far away.
I don't know why people in other countries seem to think that we are all rich.
I'm actually very well off, and still can only afford a trip out of the country once every decade or so.
As for why more Americans seem to go to Europe than other places (if that's true) it probably has more to do with the cost of air fare and in-country transportation than anything else.
To some extent it is a matter of budget priority and some apprehension about distance and safety. First off, its easier and cheaper to stay in the US -- and no language issue. Secondly, many or most Americans have a certain affinity toward Europe (ancestry, war service or whatever). Third is the safety and stability issue --- not as bad as people think but perception is reality.
A lot of people asked if I wasn't fearful to go to Peru. Peru was the most welcoming and tourist friendly country I've visited. Also, there's no jet lag going to South America.... same time zones, generally. It is also pretty affordable.
7 of the top 10 cities are in Asia. Only London & Paris are in Europe, and NYC is North America. All of those places are safe, clean and accommodating enough to attract tens of millions every year.
Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia are probably the only places on Earth that I have yet to do heavy research on. I don't really understand their geography and I have never felt a strong urge to visit Africa proper. I think maybe, and despite that it does have cities, it lacks something for those who aren't seeking only bucolic-type travel experiences. It's also quite a bit more expensive and complicated to get there from the Americas compared to Europe or Asia or Latin America.
When Americans go out of the country they always want to travel to Europe or Canada if anywhere else but they won't bother traveling to any other part of the world.
I think that is a reflection of the people you know there in Ohio.
The Americans I know, travel all over the world, to all of those places, myself included.
Having grown up in Michigan though; the people I grew up, very very few would be able to afford to travel anywhere at all; and being American history textbooks are generally European-centric; I think Europe pops in their head first in their dreaming mind. The reality of most Michigan people though, is few would get farther than Florida.
It's not that they wouldn't want to travel all over; its just that financially, its completely impossible. So, generally, they don't even think about it at all.
Most Americans if they do leave the US, and it is not to Mexico, to visit close relatives (meaning US citizens who immigrated, but yet are traveling to another country who are counted in the statistics), to Canada, or to some Caribbean country, only will leave the US maybe two or three times in their life. So the biggest bang for the buck to them is Europe. There is no doubt Europe is rich in cultural history, a history in which the western world (meaning the US) was founded off of. So when someone has a few bucks and some time, they are going to want to see all of those iconic landmarks that they have heard about their whole life.
Despite the large immigration, the US is still European centric, and Big Ben means more to them than the Great Wall. Does not make one more significant than the other comparatively, but the attraction will be more towards London than to Beijing.
Americans in general are among the least traveling people given the number of Americans and the wealth of the country, I will come across less Americans than Australians, Spaniards, Russians, Kiwis, Swedes, and even Israelis. Of those that I do or here stories in the US of their trips, it is often because of college, Peace Corps, or missionary work.
1) When you only get two weeks vacation a year it is impossible anyway. 2) It is relatively expensive to live here on a US salary and so no spare cash for vacations. 3) A lot of Americans don't realize there are other countries in the world anyway.
Another related topic is worldwide airline routes. Airlines operate routes because of travelers needs.
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