
Almost half of Americans are hesitant to travel abroad. Here's why
A new poll indicates nearly half of Americans are reconsidering international travel due to safety fears, with four in ten expressing hesitation about their next vacation.
Key anxieties for American travelers include concerns about personal safety, government policies, perceptions of American tourists, unfamiliarity with destinations, and potential travel delays or cancellations.
The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide security alert for U.S. travelers following the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, warning of potential travel disruptions and demonstrations.
Conversely, some international tourists are avoiding travel to the U.S., partly due to concerns over border issues and the administration's immigration policies.
This trend has resulted in a decline in visitors from countries like Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, and South Korea, with Tourism Economics forecasting a 5.1 percent drop in overseas travelers to the U.S. for 2025.

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Spectator
5 hours ago
- Spectator
How the drive-thru took over Britain
Britain has received many things from America that we have little reason to be grateful for: Black Lives Matter, Instagram, the word 'gotten' – and the brief and unlovely period that Meghan Markle was a resident of this country. Yet one of the most enduring American imports is something that we no longer much notice: the drive-through – or 'drive-thru' – restaurant. The all-American tradition of stuffing yourself with burgers and fries while sitting in the comfort of your car is here to stay. Thanks, America There are now over 2,600 drive-thrus in Britain. A good number, of course, are McDonald's – 1080, to be exact – but such is the growing allure of the drive-thru that others are getting in on the act – not least my beloved Greggs, which has 50 such outlets. As a result, the rent for a drive-thru has soared to almost double that of a fast food outlet in some shopping centres or retail parks. In just a few decades, the drive-thru has taken over Britain. The first drive-thru establishment in our country – a McDonald's, naturally – opened in Fallowfield, Manchester in 1986. As someone who grew up with the Golden Arches representing an exciting, perpetually tempting opportunity, I remember pestering my parents to let me visit one as soon as it opened in Bristol, which it duly did in the early Nineties. I have a vague recollection that the excitement of eating a Quarter Pounder and fries and drink a milkshake in the back of the family car was offset by the slightly stale lingering smell of the deep-fat fryer and the depressing sensation, a week or two later, of finding a stray chip somewhere beneath the driver's seat. On balance, I preferred 'eating in', but the novelty has persisted. It seems that I am not alone. There is, admittedly, something rather wonderful about giving your order to an anonymous server via a speakerphone, driving the car to the next checkpoint and then having your meal handed to you, removing virtually all need for human contact. That appeal has grown, rather than diminished, over the past three decades. It isn't hard to see why, especially for families. There is something quintessentially British about a car's driver, traditionally 'dad', being harassed and pestered by their hungry family and eventually seeking solace in finding the swiftest and most time-efficient means of feeding them. The drive-thru today is fast food at its most sophisticated, not least because the old methods of shouting your order into a metal box have long been superseded by app tracking and GPS location details. Theoretically, you could begin to feel hungry five miles away from your nearest drive-thru and have your order paid for and waiting for you to collect by the time you arrive. Just as Deliveroo has taken away the difficulty and inconvenience of shopping and cooking in favour of swift home delivery, so the sophistication of the twenty-first century drive-thru is a wonder to behold. But I wonder if the rise of the drive-thru is really something to celebrate. Covid dealt a near-existential threat to the service industry, and it has barely recovered outside the big cities and tourist centres. One of its least desirable byproducts is the rise in dehumanised, no-contact interactions with those who serve us our meals, which, to this day, are often simply dumped in a bag or box outside our homes. The continued popularity of the drive-thru is only really a motorised version of this dehumanisation. Few of us would seriously believe that a visit to McDonald's – especially these days – is an opportunity to exchange witticisms with a friendly staff member, not least because the whole process is largely technology-based in store anyway. But visiting a physical establishment still offers the remnant of the personal touch, to say nothing of being able to eat off a table and sit on a chair. But a growing number of Brits seem to prefer sitting in their cars instead. Doing so is undeniably convenient. But is it truly desirable for society? I'm not convinced. The all-American tradition of stuffing yourself with burgers and fries while sitting in the comfort of your car is here to stay. Thanks, America.


Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
American living in UK says he notices 'major difference' when he goes shopping
A man has left Brits in stitches after perusing a "mall", and expressing his shock at the things he found within it. He thinks all shopping centres are like this one An American exploring the UK has called out his homeland for not having shopping centres like those in the UK, because he was mind-blown by one. TikToker @kjordyy, who visits different cities around the United Kingdom to rate them, was visiting the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, and he captioned his video: " are we doing? British malls are genuinely insane". He said that shopping centres in the UK "blow his mind" in comparison to back home, saying that it's "so much more than a shopping experience". "I don't think you truly understand the complexity of these malls," he gushed. He said that "first of all", at every shopping centre he'd been in, the architecture was "insane". He went outside, and noted that there was "a moat outside of the mall". He shared that the shopping centre has over 280 shops, a cinema with 17 screens, an outdoor adventure park with a zipline and outdoor skydiving. "Back home in the US, you just don't get that," he shared. "If I were a kid, I just wouldn't leave this place," he gushed, because there were so many things to do. TikToker @kjordyy then decided that he was going to go skydiving, because you couldn't do that in a shopping centre in America. But, when he went, he was told that he was "too heavy" for the skydiving and zip line, so he had to walk away from the activities. He said: "Just the sheer fact that a mall has this, I'm impressed. I'm sad I've got too swole a body for them, but you know what, maybe next time". In the comments, somebody urged him to "go to the Trafford Centre" because it's impressive. "Especially the ship area with the restaurants," another penned. Someone said that when they went to the Trafford Centre, it "blew their mind". Others reassured him that "Bluewater is not an accurate representation of UK 'malls'." Another said: "Metrocentre used to have an indoor funfair including a rollercoaster!!! It's no longer there now". Some people said that the "internet is ruining shopping centre experiences" because "people are too lazy to go and walk round" these days, but others said that you can't beat going shopping in real life. One woman asked: "Are malls shutting down over there the way they are here? Even our giant mall only has about two stores in it now". "I mean my local one is all outside and has a cinema, like 20 shops and 6 restaurants, but there's better further away," somebody boasted. Somebody in the UK said that their local shopping centre just contains "a Greggs, McDonald's and the absolute bare minimum of stores," assuring the TikToker that this is a one-off.


Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Daily Record
Turkey Foreign Office advice explained and is it safe to visit
The latest Foreign Office advice for holiday goers travelling to Turkey this summer. Millions of people planning holidays to countries near Isreal and Iran may be worried about safety due to rising tensions in the region. On June 22, the US launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites as part of ongoing conflict between Isreal and Iran. Since then, there have been no further US strikes and American officials have said they do not want a wider war. On Monday, Iran fired missiles at a US base in Qatar, calling it a response to earlier US attacks. By Tuesday, a ceasefire between Israel and Iran had been announced by the US president. One popular holiday destination that sits relatively close to Iran and Israel is Turkey, but the country has not been involved in the recent military action. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regularly shares travel safety advice, and for Turkey the FCDO currently advises against all travel within 10km of the Syrian border due to ongoing fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism, the Echo reports. Conflict continues in parts of Syria near the Turkish border, and roads in Turkey's Hatay Province may be closed at short notice. In Turkey's Hakkari Province, located in the southeast, visitors must obtain permission from the local Governor's Officer to enter areas close to the borders with Iraq and Iran. The FCDO says: "If visiting with a travel agent or tour group, confirm with them whether you need an individual permit." Those in the region are urged to keep up to date with local media and follow the advice of the local authorities. Mount Ararat, in Ağrı Province of eastern Turkey, is a special military zone. You must have permission from the Doğubayazıt government office and pay a fee if going. If you're travelling with a tour group or travel agent, double check whether you'll need a separate permit. Anyone visiting the area is advised to "take extra care" and stay updated with advice from local authorities. Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). For every country, the travel agency says before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation Additional advise from the Foreign Office states: "If you are a British national wanting to cross the land border from Iran into Turkey, you will need to request facilitation from the British Embassy in Ankara by contacting the FCDO before travelling to the border, indicating whether you are contacting from Iran or from the UK on behalf of a relative." If you plan to leave Iran by land, be aware that you do so at your own risk. In some cases, simply holding a British passport or being seen as having links to the UK can lead the Iranian authorities to detain you. Meanwhile, regular protests are taking place in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey. The Foreign Office has warned that these demonstrations can turn violent, and police respond by using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds.. If you choose to travel, make sure to thoroughly research your destination and have appropriate travel insurance. The Foreign Office currently has no safety concerns for popular Turkish holiday spots like Istanbul, Marmaris and Bodrum. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!