Given a choice, most people will want to travel overseas once a year
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
April 17, 2016 9:12pm CST
The statistics shows that only 21 percent of Americans traveled overseas in 2014.
When I read a blog post, If More Americans Traveled, So Many Of Our Problems Would Go Away, in Elite Daily, I get very angry at the title.
The problem of travelling is that it costs money.
It costs so much more money than all the bills you need to pay every month.
A return air-ticket (with all fees and taxes) from my home country, Singapore, to US cost above a thousand dollars.
That is just the air-ticket. Travelling means additional cost for food, hotel, and funds for sight-seeing.
On top of that, we have to pay the monthly bills.
It is obvious that when Americans can have the money to travel, many problems will go away!
The problem is definitely not the unwillingness to travel. The problem is getting the time and money to travel.
It's all about perspective.
9 people like this
10 responses
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Apr 16
I don't know whose problems would go away. (I didn't read the article) However, if the travel industry is looking to America to solve their problems and bring in more business, I think they're smoking some whacky tabaccy. As you said it's expensive to travel and the average American can't afford it. The last time I was over seas was when my husband was stationed on Guam. My only time to travel outside the US.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
19 Apr 16
That blog post talks about the spiritual benefit of travelling.
A well-traveled person is basically more open-minded.
At least he gets used to people who have different views, such as eating with hands, and not using forks and spoons.
For me, I think about the financial aspect.
if a person can afford to travel, or if the whole country can afford to travel, that means the people do not have to worry about paying bills.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
20 Apr 16
@just4him That is true.
In all countries, the rich can afford to travel.
The upper middle can afford to travel in or out of their country.
The lower middle and the poor may find it tough to travel outside of their own country.
Those who can afford to travel may not travel because of health reason.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Apr 16
@scheng1 Unfortunately a whole country will never be able to afford to travel. There will always be something holding them back and usually it's their finances.
Blogs are good at uniting people around the globe. Through the eyes of the people, we can see the various cultures without needed to travel there. We can see the customs, and we can see that people everywhere are no different one from another. We all need the same thing.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
18 Apr 16
I just don't understand why traveling can solve many problems. I might be in the minority group, even if I have the time and money, I might not go traveling very often too. I think we can do many other things with the given time and money. Moreover, I don't think traveling solve the problems, the gems are always within us, we do not need actually need to go far away and seek for it.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
19 Apr 16
I do not agree that travelling can solve many problems, but I think when many people in the country have the money and time to travel, it will solve many problems.
For one thing, travelling frequently means they have the money for it.
Another thing is that travelling allows them to be more open-minded.
1 person likes this
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
18 Apr 16
That is right. Money matters here. Without it one cannot travel.
1 person likes this
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
19 Apr 16
@scheng1 That's right. I notice that many like traveling because others like traveling too. They forgot that household bills are awaiting to be paid. Even some borrow money just because they want to travel abroad.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
19 Apr 16
@yanzalong Borrowed money to travel abroad is stupid, unless they are going there to look for job.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Apr 16
The biggest reason why Americans have reduced overseas travel is expense and terrorist dangers. Plus the vast majority of Americans have no interest in leaving because there is so much to see and do in the states.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Apr 16
@scheng1 Terrorism is a major issue. Americans are leery of visiting Paris with the knowledge that there could be an attack on the Champs Elysees which has happened in the past.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
19 Apr 16
@JohnRoberts Actually many of us are leery of visiting US for the same reason!
Those countries that are very vocal and have taken direct actions at ISIS will sooner or later get the bombs! I think if Trump becomes the President, the terrorists will be out in full force to attack US cities.
@tecchigurl (672)
• Philippines
18 Apr 16
People who can leisurely travel are so lucky! It's very expensive even if you get a discount with the plane tickets. It depends on the country too.
1 person likes this
@tecchigurl (672)
• Philippines
18 Apr 16
@scheng1 But the overall experience is great if the itinerary is good.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
18 Apr 16
I can't afford flights at present - not been abroad since 2003
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
15 Mar 18
That is why I traveled overseas to where I want to be a little over 31 years ago and traveled back to here twice.
