Life and Thoughts of The One Ocean

Unfriendly, Suspicious, Arrogant... Simply The Worst Country In The World: America !!!

By Catherine Elsworth and Melissa Whitworth
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 22/11/2006

The land of the free has become the home of the rude thanks to the "arrogant" and "unpredictable" immigration officials who police its borders, according to a survey of travellers.

The nation that once welcomed all with its Statue of Liberty and declaration E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one) is now considered the world's most unfriendly.

Visitors are staying away, costing the country billions of dollars in lost revenue, and the situation threatens America's already battered image, according to the group behind the survey.

The Discover America Partnership, a group of travel industry leaders, found that two thirds of the 2,011 foreign visitors it questioned found America "the worst country in the world" in the way they were treated.

"Visiting the United States and interacting with the American people can have a powerful, positive effect on how non-US residents see our country," Geoff Freeman, executive director of the DAP, said. "Unfortunately, perceptions of a 'rude' and 'arrogant' entry process are turning away travellers and harming America's image."

The survey of visitors from 16 countries showed that the US was ranked "the worst" in terms of visas and immigration procedures by 39 per cent, twice as many as the next destination considered unfriendly, the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent. More than half of those surveyed said US immigration officials were rude and two thirds said they feared they would be detained on arrival for benign mistakes in paperwork or for saying the wrong thing to Customs and Border Protection staff, whose motto is Vigilance, Service and Integrity. The DAP said travel to the US from countries other than Mexico and Canada was down 17 per cent from its high in 2000.

Earlier this year Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, promised to speed up what is for many a lengthy and expensive visa process and make the US a friendlier place to visit. But critics say they have yet to see evidence of improvements.

"The problem is that since September 11, this country has viewed visitors more as a threat than an opportunity," said Mr Freeman. "The entry process has created a climate of fear that is keeping visitors away. There is more fear of our immigration officials than of terrorism or crime."

Several high-profile figures have fallen foul of immigration. In 2004, the novelist Ian McEwan was refused entry from Canada. Eventually allowed in, he thanked the Department of Homeland Security "for protecting the American public from British novelists". He later received an apology. At Newark airport in New Jersey yesterday, passengers arriving on a flight from Glasgow had plenty to say about their welcome.

"They have this weird accusatory tone," said Chris Stack, 26, a film director, who was given a grilling at immigration before being let in. "It's the first time I've been back to the US since 9/11. Now you feel like they're looking at you and labelling everyone a possible terrorist."

John McLelland, 26, a shop manager, agreed. "It's their way of asking that makes you feel uncomfortable, their manner and their tone."

But perhaps Miss Rice's message has got through to some border officials. Angela McClean, 29, who works for a finance company, said she had braced herself and expected an ordeal, but fortunately came through without incident.

Ross Paterson, 25, a personal trainer, said he and his girlfriend, party planner Beverly Dalgleish, 37, had had "cheery" border experience this time around.

"They tend not to be very chatty – they usually get down to business," Mr Paterson said. "But our guy was chirpy and cheery, the friendliest I've ever had. Usually they stare at you, but we were surprised."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2006/11/22/wusa22.xml

posted by The One Ocean @ 11/22/2006 05:15:00 PM