It’s an eternal conundrum in the travel industry – should you (and/or your clients) travel to a place whose government you disapprove of?
I was recently invited to visit Monterey County in California to explore Highway 1, which reopened in February following a three-year closure as a result of landslides.
I was excited by the idea, but also acutely aware that – from concerns about overzealous border staff to ongoing political tensions – the US doesn’t feel like the most inviting destination right now.
My trip, however, was a powerful reminder the US government is not synonymous with the American people.
Before I flew, I of course had to apply for my Esta, something that made me slightly anxious having myself reported on US Customs and Border Protection’s proposals to require visitors to provide five years of social media history to enter the country.
Thankfully, while there was indeed a section asking for social media details, it remained optional, so I left it blank. I don’t believe I have anything to hide, but as a travel trade journalist, I’ve covered a wide range of topics, including stories which haven’t painted US president Donald Trump in the most positive light (#TrumpSlump anyone?).
Highway 1 runs through a rugged stretch of the Big Sur coast in central California
As our flight approached San Francisco International airport, I braced myself. Like most, I’d heard the horror stories about the long snaking queues at border control resulting from the ongoing partial US government shutdown.
But as it turned out, my husband and I breezed through border checks, as one (very pleasant) officer explained that due to the shutdown having recently eased, queues were minimal. He even offered us advice on the best route to access Highway 1 from the airport.
California, it must be remembered, is staunch Democrat territory. Californians have voted for the Democratic Party in every presidential election since 1998, but I was still curious to pick up on their stance on the US’s current political situation.
Business owners along Monterey County’s iconic – and breathtaking – stretch of the Big Sur coast have been badly impacted by Highway 1’s closure, while also having to grapple with rising anti-US sentiment among European travellers.
One chatty Pacific Grove Uber driver passionately argued he believed Trump was the reason "we’ve had fewer visitors to the area".
Then there was the bartender who insisted that with The Salinas Valley (“the salad bowl of America"), Silicon Valley and Hollywood all residing in California, the state should “break away from the rest of the USA” and the proprietor who said Monterey County’s “unrivalled natural landscape” is what keeps him from moving to Europe.
It quickly became clear to us that California is just out there doing its own thing. We saw peace signs and Ukraine flags adorning cars and houses. The general vibe was welcoming and friendly, with people palpably pleased to have tourists visiting – an opportunity to explain to outsiders the local politics are far removed from that of the White House’s current occupant.
The Henry Miller Memorial Library is a treasure trove of books and curiosities
While we might have felt trepidatious before our trip, as the week came to a close, we found ourselves sad to leave (despite wanting to get back to our children, of course!).
Then a text message arrived – a warning from Virgin Atlantic that due to the “ongoing government shutdown”, some passengers were experiencing longer-than-usual security screening times for their return flights home from San Francisco.
Once again, we braced ourselves, but we breezed through departures and flew home without a hitch.
Bohemian California perhaps isn’t representative of the majority of the US, but it is a warm and friendly reminder that we shouldn’t judge an entire country by its leaders. My American adventure this month felt no different to the multiple times I’ve visited previously.
And we could see how much tourism still matters to countless businesses and individuals. Yes, we might abhor some of the US president’s actions and policies, but one man does not represent an entire nation. And travel remains, as ever, a powerful force for good.
