The backlash continues against Donald Trump’s temporary ban on select nationalities from entering the United States, with one of the world’s leading bodies in travel describing it as “wrong”.
World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) President and CEO, David Scowsill, has urged the US government to reverse the Executive Order, which stops people from seven countries (Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Libya and Sudan) from travelling to the US, saying it not only creates confusion among travellers, but it goes directly against “the fundamental right of Freedom to Travel”.
In a statement, the tourism leader described the ban as “wrong”, saying he believes it flies against US principles and is ultimately removing people’s freedom to travel.
“Suspending travel based only on a person’s nationality or their origin is wrong.”
David Scowsill, World Travel & Tourism Council President & CEO
“WTTC believes that all people have the right to cross international borders safely and efficiently for business and tourism purposes.”
Scowsill continued by clarifying that if the Trump Administration’s ban was designed to ‘prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals’ than they’re going about it in the wrong way because “the vast majority of terrorist attacks in the recent past have been perpetrated by home grown, radicalised nationals of the country involved”.
As your President, I have no higher duty than to protect the lives of the American people. pic.twitter.com/o7YNUNwb8f
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2017
“None of the shocking domestic incidents in the US since 2001 have been attributed to external terrorists who have specifically flown into the country to commit an atrocity,” he explained.
“Preventing ‘aliens’ from entering the US for legitimate business or leisure purposes is misguided and counter-productive for the American economy.
“Travel & Tourism bridges divides between cultures, fosters understanding across religious and geographic boundaries, and generates more peaceful co-existence.
“Our sector is responsible for the livelihoods of millions worldwide. The US has suffered in the past from similar isolationist policies.
“We urge the Trump Administration to reconsider this ban.”