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| US 'most unfriendly country' |
| 2006-11-20 |
| RUDE immigration officials and long delays in processing visas have turned the US into the world's most unfriendly country for international travellers, according to a global survey released today. The survey showed the US was ranked "the worst" in terms of visas and immigration procedures by twice the percentage of travellers as the next destination regarded as unfriendly - the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent. The survey, of 2011 international travellers in 16 countries, was conducted by the polling firm RT Strategies for the Discover America Partnership, a business-backed group launched in September to promote travel to the US and improve the country's image abroad. More than half of the travellers surveyed said US immigration officials were rude and two-thirds said they feared they would be detained on arriving in the US for a simple mistake in their paper work or for saying the wrong thing to an immigration official. "The entry process has created a climate of fear and frustration that is keeping foreign visitors away," said Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership. "The survey shows there is more fear of our immigration officials than of terrorism or crime." |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #13 DEATH to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Yemen, Sudan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Norway, Somalia, Iran, Bangladesh, Syria, France, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium!!! Now it feels just like the old country. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-11-20 21:10 |
| #12 Visity we did elliss island, America we lov you |
| Posted by: 15 million imigrants 2006-11-20 20:28 |
| #11 "The survey, of 2011 international travellers in 16 countries, was conducted by the polling firm RT Strategies for the Discover America Partnership." 2011 people from 16 different countries. What 16 countries? Let's see: Pakistan Saudi Arabia Sweden Yemen Sudan Indonesia Lebanon Norway Somalia Iran Bangladesh Syria France Canada Mexico Germany Belgium I'm sure it's true. We're not a friendly country. Breaks my heart. Really. We need to learn not to spit at the enemy. If only we could be as tolerant as the Saudis and French. We've so much to learn from our betters. |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2006-11-20 19:44 |
| #10 Too many polls which don't really mean anything except for those who fuel for anti-americanism |
| Posted by: Jesing Ebbease3087 2006-11-20 19:37 |
| #9 Welcome to America - now go home! |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-11-20 17:19 |
| #8 Discover America Partnership® Leadership Committee Chairman: Stevan Porter President, the Americas Intercontinental Hotels Group Joseph A. McInerney President and CEO American Hotel and Lodging Association Steven C. Anderson President and CEO National Restaurant Association Bud Nocera President and CEO VisitFlorida August A. Busch III Chairman of the Board Anheuser-Busch Jay Rasulo Chairman Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Roger Dow President and CEO Travel Industry Association Andrew C. Taylor Chairman and CEO Enterprise Rent-A-Car Michael D. Gehrisch President and CEO Destination Marketing Jonathan M. Tisch Chairman and CEO Loews Hotels Travel Business Roundtable J. Willard Marriott, Jr. Chairman and CEO Marriott International |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2006-11-20 16:40 |
| #7 Just had a friend visit from overseas (European nation reknowned for producing Nazi Fuehrers and schnitzel, not much else), and she could not get over how much friendlier people are here than back home. That assessment included immigration officials. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2006-11-20 16:29 |
| #6 Nonsense. My wife and I have had 2 visas each in the last few years, for 2 then 4 years, and both were turned around virtually overnight. ICE staff at LA, SF and NY are always polite, focused and, with hundreds of people always waiting, very businesslike. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2006-11-20 16:22 |
| #5 We aren't unfriendly. Now get off my damn lawn, you flat-land foreigner! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-11-20 16:12 |
| #4 Shouldn't this be called the "who has the longest immigration lines" poll or something as opposed to "most unfriendly country"? I mean, the courthouse isn't "unfriendly" because they make me go through the metal detector. It is "secure". Moreover, just like the courthouse metal detectors, you know you are going throught them, so take a sec and make sure you aren't carrying anything which would slow you down and that all your arrangements are correct. |
| Posted by: Mark E. 2006-11-20 16:02 |
| #3 "The survey shows there is more fear of our immigration officials than of terrorism or crime." Hmmmmmmm. I wonder who took this survey? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-11-20 15:54 |
| #2 Works for me. |
| Posted by: Quana 2006-11-20 15:53 |
| #1 The entry process has created a climate of fear and frustration that is keeping foreign visitors away," I honestly think its more of a sanitary issue. If someone is wearing a diaper on their head, insert punch line here |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2006-11-20 15:45 |