Should Americans wishing to travel abroad during the next four years be more careful? Should they even do so? It’s no secret that most of the world thinks poorly of president-elect Donald Trump, and it’s reasonable to think that people might look down upon American tourists over the next few years. However, it’s important to keep in mind that most people don’t think that elected officials represent every single person living in a country.
In fact, some say now might be the best time to let people know you’re an American. Political consultant Kori Crow said in a recent USA Today article that “the more fractious [your] country’s politics are, the better your experience could be. [People in foreign countries] are more forgiving because they don’t usually equate elected leaders as a reflection of its citizens.”
While it’s always a good idea to think about safety while traveling abroad, it is unlikely that you’ll be in any more danger now than you were under the Obama administration, or the Bush administration before that. But if you want to make the most of traveling abroad, there are a few things to keep in mind that, while always true, might be more so in the near future.
Don’t be the obnoxious American. If you’re traveling somewhere outside the English-speaking parts of the world, learn some of the language. Even a handful of Spanish will help you get by in Mexico (the most popular destination for Americans) and show that you’re at least trying.
Respect the culture. If you’re going to another country, presumably you have some interest in the culture and history of that place, so engage with it and above all else, be respectful of it.
Do your research. Tourism is good for most economies, so people are generally willing to be nice to tourists, but that doesn’t mean you should strike up conversations with everyone you see. Do some research and get an idea of how people interact and dress in the place you’re visiting before you go, so that you don’t inadvertently offend anyone.
Being a good tourist while traveling abroad requires effort, but it always pays off. It will be especially important if you want to give people a better impression of Americans than they might have from the news.