Don’t drink the water: Visitors’ travel tips for coming to America

(Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Travelers love coming to America, a land many of them have seen via exports from Hollywood. They rave about the landscapes, the recreational opportunities, the vibrant cities and the culture.

But like international travelers anywhere, foreigners visiting the U.S. from other countries can be flummoxed by some of what they encounter. Fortunately, their fellow travelers have plenty of advice. The picture they paint portrays Americans as relentlessly cheerful yet sensitive folks who just might raid your fridge.

What outsiders say about the U.S. will strike an American as very true, very strange, or both. Here (with some help from Google Translate) are some travel advice gems from around the world.

From Latin America:

It’s probably best not to drink the water. “There are strict laws regarding Hygiene eating places that must be met, so that restaurants and even street stalls are safe. In some areas you can take the tap water. Bottled water is available everywhere and is most recommended.”

From Germany:

Americans’ social boundaries are weirdly inconsistent. “Things like “We should get together sometime” doesn’t really mean anything, unless the same people keep mentioning it to you."

“During a party at your house, don’t be surprised if Americans will just walk up to your fridge and help themselves.”

From Italy:

Tipping is fraught with misunderstanding. Q. Is it true that I have to "force" to tip at all? A. It is not mandatory to tip, however, it is strongly recommended, because in many cases it is the only entry of workers. Generally in a restaurant, in the cab, and in many places where there is a service gratuity is 15%. Since the bill that will take you specify the city tax of 8.875%, is sufficient to double that sum, without bothering to do the calculations. In the hotel you leave two dollars per day per person cleaning. Obviously you do not leave tips in places like McDonalds or Starbucks.”

From Switzerland:

Forget public nudity, intoxication or urination. "The legal system can be very different from one state to another and is often inspired by moral principles stiffer than in Switzerland. For example it is forbidden to bathe topless or without shirt (kids), urinate on public roads or photograph partially unclothed children (even at home). It is forbidden for people under 21 to drink alcohol. Similarly, people who drink alcohol in public or carry alcoholic beverages without concealing from the eyes are guilty of an offense."

From France:

Do take a road trip across the American West, but don’t be weird about Indians or cops. “Do not miss and be certain to visit driving in a country that venerates it, but scrupulously respect the speed limits, the constabulary of the United States not kidding ... Remember that Indian reserves in the western United States are economic and human realities, not museums."

Carl Bonham and James Mak

Carl Bonham is the Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and a professor of economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His research interests include macroeconomics, applied econometrics and forecasting, tourism economics, and the Hawaii economy. His recent publications include “Forecasting with Mixed Frequency Factor Models in the Presence of Common Trends” (2013) with Peter Fuleky inMacroeconomic Dynamics, and “Estimating demand elasticities in non-stationary panels: The case of Hawaii tourism” (2014) with Peter Fuleky and Qianxue Zhao in the Annals of Tourism Research. James Mak is a fellow with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. His research interests focus on tourism policy analysis from an economics perspective. He is the author of Tourism and the Economy: Understanding the Economics of Tourism (2004) and Developing a Dream Destination, Tourism and Tourism Policy Planning in Hawaii(2008), both published by the University of Hawaii Press.

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Tourists view the Shanghai skyline in 2013 (Wikimedia Commons)

Despite wars, political turmoil, natural disasters, medical scares, terrorist attacks, and economic and energy crises in various parts of the world, international trade in tourism services has grown spectacularly since the 1970s. In 2012, international tourist arrivals worldwide reached 1.035 billion. Slightly over half of them were on leisure trips. By comparison, there were just 166 million international tourist arrivals worldwide in 1970. The 2012 visitors spent $1 trillion on travel (excluding international passenger transportation expenses valued at $213 billion). Directly and indirectly, their spending accounted for nine percent of the world’s GDP and six percent of its exports.

For tourism-dependent countries and destinations, tourism’s share of GDP can exceed twice the world average. Today, international tourism receipts exceed $1 billion per year in some 90 nations. Worldwide, domestic tourism is typically several times larger. Tourism truly has become a global economic and social force.

It used to be that only developing countries actively pursued tourism exports as a key development strategy. Japan and the United States, for example, have historically paid little attention to luring tourists to their shores. This is no longer the case. Recently, both countries have implemented policy changes and relaxed visa regulations to promote inbound foreign travel, create jobs, and stimulate their sluggish economies. In 2013, Japan hosted 10 million foreign visitors—an all-time high. It hopes to double that number by the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020, and reach 30 million by 2030. The United States, widely perceived as a nation unfriendly to foreign visitors due to its strict entry regulations, is trying hard to improve its international image. It achieved a record 67 million international visitor arrivals in 2012, and President Obama has set a goal of attracting 100 million by 2021.

Travel is costly. Historically, only wealthy individuals could afford to travel abroad, and they tended to travel to affluent countries with quality tourism infrastructure and services. Not surprisingly, Europe and North America have been the largest sources and recipients of international tourists. But this, too, is changing. In recent decades, tourist arrivals in emerging countries have grown much faster than in developed ones. The Asia-Pacific region has seen—and will continue to see—the fastest growth. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that international tourism arrivals will grow by 3.3 percent per year between 2010 and 2030 and reach 1.8 billion total arrivals by 2030. Growth in emerging countries is expected to be twice as fast as in advanced ones. Tourism’s market share in emerging countries is predicted to rise to 57 percent by 2030, compared to 47 percent in 2012. The challenge of how to direct the economic benefits of tourism to the world’s poorest areas and populations, however, remains.

While growing affluence and falling real travel costs have been primary reasons for the surge in post-1970s international travel, changes in government travel policies have also played an important role. Japan is one example of this phenomenon. Japanese citizens were prohibited from traveling abroad for pleasure until after the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and currency restrictions on foreign travel remained in effect until the late 1970s. For many developing countries, including Japan, banning foreign leisure travel was intended to conserve scarce foreign exchange needed to finance industrialization. Eventually, with large and growing trade surpluses, the liberalization of outbound travel helped to defuse international political tensions stemming from trade imbalances. In the late 1980s, the Japanese government actively encouraged travel abroad and, by 1989, Japan led the world in international tourism spending. It currently sits in eighth place.

China also illustrates this trend. The country was essentially closed to the outside world during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Its subsequent opening led to a spike in foreign arrivals that have made China the world’s third most-visited country, receiving almost 60 million tourists in 2013. Outbound travel came much later. In the late 1980s, China began to formalize an outbound travel liberalization policy that allowed its citizens to travel abroad in tightly controlled, escorted group tours to countries that had been granted “Approved Destination Status” (ADS). Why—and when—some countries are awarded ADS remains something of a mystery. But China has not hesitated to use ADS awards as “soft power” tactics to gain political advantage in international affairs. No country that politically recognizes Taiwan has received ADS, even though China granted ADS to Taiwan itself in 2008. Several political disputes between Canada and China apparently delayed Canada’s ADS designation until 2010. Nonetheless, even with only partial liberalization, China has overtaken Germany and the United States to become the world’s number one source of international tourists (83.2 million trips in 2013). Its tourists are also the world’s largest spenders, lavishing $102 billion abroad in 2012.

As travel barriers have gradually lowered, international tourism has flourished—but not without its criticisms. Public awareness of tourism’s potential negative spillovers has increased. In recent years, the aviation industry’s contribution to global climate change has become a highly publicized and contentious global issue. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, the aviation industry “accounts for four to nine percent of the total climate change impact of human activity.” The European Union estimates that aviation greenhouse gas emissions in the EU have doubled since 1990. Today, 52 percent of international tourist travel is by air, and that number is rising. International travel has become a convenient target for those who want to moderate adverse impacts on climate change. Efforts by the EU to unilaterally impose carbon taxes on airlines using its airspace, however, have met with fierce resistance from the United States, China, Russia, and emerging countries. It is unclear how this contentious issue will play out. What is clear is that tourism has ascended to a more prominent position in international affairs in recent years.

Top 10 Weird Types of Tourism

While touring new places, we are exposed to new sights, new foods, new arts, and new civilizations. The cultural impact of tourism as an event is undeniable, but let’s not underestimate the significance of tourism in economic terms, since it is very important for the economy and a sector that can definitely create growth prospects and new positions of work. With $1trillion spent by 1 billion tourists every year on a global basis we should not only focus on its cultural impact but on what it literally has become during the last few decades – a business industry. But what happens when tourism rises to another level and seek more than the ordinary things the “pop-culture” tourism of our times requests? What happens when tourism becomes another field of human activity where the alternative view on it stimulates the human curiosity and interest?

10. Atomic Tourism

This is a type of tourism that sprang up after the dawn of the Atomic Era.  Curious tourists fascinated with the Atomic Era can visit places important to the history of the Atomic Age, places where significant incidents related to atomic power took place. There are museums that specialize in atomic weapons, but naturally the most visited sites are the actual places where atomic bombs were dropped or detonated. Needless to say, that means that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the two most visited places when it comes to atomic tourism, while you can learn every detail about the Chernobyl Nuclear accident and its effect on those who lived and worked around the area of the Chernobyl Museum in Kiev which is arguably the most visited museum of this kind of tourism. Before you decide to visit however, it will be wise to arrange for a translator or a local guide since pretty much all of the exhibits are in Russian.

9. Tolkien Tourism

Despite the astonishing success of The Lord of the Rings books and films, when we first heard about this specific type of tourism, we didn’t know what to think. Sure, Lord of the Rings is a cultural and pop phenomenon with millions of fans and fanatics all over the world, but we could never imagine that it would become the reason for travelling and tourism.  Tolkien tourism is about two things: on the one hand, dedicated and hardcore fan visits to the Lord of the Rings fictional “planet;” and on the other hand, visits to every site of importance mentioned in the films or books.  New Zealand is the ultimate country of attraction because it was the main location of the film series by Peter Jackson.  The two British hot spots for hardcore fan tourism are Oxford and Birmingham, where Tolkien tourists can contact the Tolkien Society and take in anything from artifacts to art and from libraries to pubs – anything, as long as it’s related to Tolkien in any possible way.

8. Dark Tourism

Dark tourism revolves around anything that has to do with death, disaster, tragedy, and in a few cases, even the afterlife. The locations where multiple deaths took place are high on the agenda of the tourists who follow this kind of tourism, and the historical value of the places where deaths occurred seems to matter a lot as well. Sites where mass suicides took place – and various castles, for some reason — seem to be among the most favored spots.  One of the most visited sites around the world is Romania’s Poenari Castle, where Draculalived – and killed.

7. Drug Tourism

Nowadays the destinations for drug tourism are pretty well established — even mainstream. For personal use and the fun of the thing, the capital of drug tourism is Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where every year the infamous Dutch Cannabis Cafés attract a couple of million young people from around the world.  If the thing is strictly about business and trade, Colombia comes to mind first. A highly popular destination, especially back in the 90s, used to be Goa in India, where the excessive use of drugs like ecstasy at the famous rave parties was a pop phenomenon. Despite the decline of this kind of tourism, India is still famous for drug tourism, especially to a place called Malana, where good quality Indian hashish is produced in large quantities.

6. Ghetto Tourism

Ghetto tourism is probably the newest on this list — the term was used for the first time back in the mid-2000s. With the spread of hip-hop culture over the past fifteen years, more and more people became curious about the places where this specific genre of music and lifestyle began. In the past few years, the American ghettos of Detroit, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have become tourist spots, mostly because of young people interested in this specific lifestyle, graffiti, music, and clothing. At one time, the highlight of this kind of tourism used to be Real Bronx Tours, bus rides conducting tourists through some of the most notorious ghettos of New York City.  But unfortunately for the visitors, Real Bronx Tours ended just this year after local authorities and neighborhood residents complained of feeling insulted by the way their neighborhoods were portrayed.

5. Shark Tourism

Well, the name says it all in this case, and in all honesty you probably can’t get a creepier or more dangerous type of tourism than this. Shark tourism  is actually a subgenre of another type of tourism – eco-tourism.  It appeals to all these people who love sharks and their bloody jaws; anything related to the Great White shark (and other less harmful sharks) is what’s on offer in these touristic experience.  Experienced divers and protective cages are must-haves for this adventurous kind of tourism. Despite the high professionalism and excellent organization of the professionals who operate shark tours, there have been a few accidents, and even some fatalities.

4. Halal Tourism

Religious tourism is not new; it’s been practiced in various forms (such as pilgrimages) for centuries, and this new kind of religious tourism has been for years now one of the most popular types, but once you learn more about it you will understand why only Muslimswant to join in.  How would it sound to you if you had to spend your vacations without drinking any alcohol, without having any sex, and having to swim in separate swimming pools for men and women? Believe or not, that’s what Halal tourism offers, and of course if you like pork or if you’re gay, don’t even think about it; you could be killed for your “sinful preferences.” However, this specific type of tourism is kind of popular in specific Islamic nations such as Morocco and Turkey, which try to attract more and more Muslim tourists every year. We wish we could say that Muslims know better, but we’re afraid that we can’t say any such thing about Halal tourism.

3. War Tourism

Sometimes this is referred to as “suicide tourism,” and not unfairly so. The significant difference between this type of tourism and Atomic or Dark tourism is that in this case, the tourist visits an active war zone to experience what it’s like to be in the middle of bombs, bullets, and grenades. War tourists are often extreme sports lovers as well, and generally they are after adventures that give them big shots of adrenaline.  There was a record high number of war tourists during the war in Afghanistan – as well as reported cases of visitors who lost their lives. For the more peaceful, less danger-seeking war tourists, there are groups that specialize in visiting inactive war zones, where things can be a little more relaxing for everybody involved.

2. Fertility Tourism

Maybe some will rush to connect this specific type of tourism with sex tourism, but they better think twice. Fertility tourism – or reproductive tourism, as it is also called – is completely legal and innocent.  For that matter, it can be considered a subset of what is known as medical tourism. Thousands of couples every year, most from advanced countries, travel to find the perfect sperm donor. This type of tourism exists because some nations have liberal legal regulations about sperm donation or lower costs for the whole procedure, since costs differ dramatically from country to country.  Various statistical studies seem to suggest that the countries populated by tall, blond, blue-eyed men are strongly favored over nations that don’t have large numbers of men like this. Looks matter, after all.

1. Suicide Tourism

Without a doubt this is the most macabre type of tourism we could ever imagine, and unfortunately, in most cases, for these “holidays,” the airplane ticket is one way with no return.  As the title suggests, suicide tourism is related to suicide and euthanasia.  Most people who embark on these tours want to bring their lives to an end. Usually they are either people with physical disabilities or patients suffering from emotional problems such as clinical depression. Suicide tourism is mostly organized for large groups of people seeking destinations where euthanasia is permitted.   The main goal of some people on suicide tours is to achieve the decriminalization of euthanasia in countries around the world, but there are also smaller groups seeking ideal scenic sites as places to end their lives.  In the US, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is one of the most popular.

Kinds of tour/types of tourism

• 1. 'Dark tourism' is a different type of tourist attraction. It is the travel to sites associated with death and suffering. Dark tourism or than otourism is tourism involving travel to sites associated with death and suffering.
• 2. Armchair/Virtual tourism Not travelling physically but exploring the world through internet, books, TV, etc.
• 3. Cultural tourism It includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums and theaters. It’s the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region’s culture, especially its arts.
• 4. Pop-culture Tour This tour is by visiting a particular location after seeing it in a film or reading about it.
• 5. Perpetual Tour A wealthy individual always on vacation, some of them for tax purposes, to avoid being resident in any country.
• 6. Niche Tourism Physical activity or sports-oriented that includes the following: ~>adventure tourism, agri-tourism, audio tourism, educational tourism, extreme tourism, heritage tourism, garden tourism, health tourism, eco- tourism, ancestry tourism, rural tourism, bio- tourism, bookstore tourism, creative tourism, music and dance tourism, mystical tourism and winter tourism.
• 7. Adventure tourism is a type of niche tourism involving exploration or travel to remote areas, where the traveler should expect the unexpected. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity as tourists seek unusual holidays, different from the typical beach vacation. It also involves travelling into remote inaccessible and possibly hostile areas. It may include the performance of acts that require significant effort and effort and grid and may also involve some degree of risk.
• 8. various agricultural technology. It describes the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation to enjoy, be educated or be involved in activities. Farm based tourism, helping to support the local agricultural economy.
• 9. A u d i o - t o u r i s m
• 10. Education al tourism It may involve travelling to an educational institutional; a wooded retreat or some other destination in order to take personal-interest classes, such as cooking classes with a famous chef or crafts classes.
• 11. Extreme tourism It is a type of niche tourism involving travel to dangerous places or participation in dangerous events. It overlaps with extreme sport. The two share the main attraction, adrenaline rush caused by an element of risk and different mostly in the degree of engagement and professionalism.
• 12. Visiting botanical gardens famous places in the history gardens such as Versailles and the Taj Mahal.
• 13. Health tourism It is usually used to escape from cities or relieve stress; perhaps for some „fun in the sun‟,etc. Often to “health spas”.
• 14. It is sustainable tourism which has minimal impact on the environment, such as safari(Kenya), rainforest(Belize) and hiking(Lapland) or national parks.
• 15. Ancestry tour (also known as genealogy tourism) It’s aim is to trace one’s ancestry, visiting the birth places of these ancestor’s and sometimes getting to know distant
• 16. Rural tour It implies not only natural elements such as forest and mountains, but also the indigenous local characteristics such as traditions, customs and folklore. Direct experience with local people can be a unique selling point to attract tourists.
• 17. Bio Tourism

The Different Types of Tourism

• 1. The Different TypesThe Different Types of Tourismof Tourism
• 2. A Choice BetweenA Choice Between Two Categories of Tourism:Two Categories of Tourism:  Mass Tourism:  The organized movement of large groups of people to specialized tourist locations.  A consequence of the increase of people traveling for pleasure; developed to cater to huge numbers of tourists.  Examples: whole resort towns, theme parks, tourism business districts, cruises, packaged vacations, all- inclusive resorts, etc. MASS TOURISM V.S. ALTERNATIVE
• 3. Mass TourismMass Tourism
• 4. A Choice BetweenA Choice Between Two Categories of Tourism:Two Categories of Tourism:  Alternative Tourism:  Individually planned activities to gain and experience first- hand knowledge about local cultures and environments.  Focus on secluded areas, occur during non-peak travelling times, can include arranging own flights and accommodations.  Example: a self-planned biking trip through Vermont, while camping or arranging accommodations “as you go.” MASS TOURISM V.S. ALTERNATIVE
• 5. Alternative TourismAlternative Tourism
• 6. A Quick Comparison between MassA Quick Comparison between Mass and Alternative Tourismand Alternative Tourism Mass Tourism Alternative Tourism large groups singles, families, friends traditional recent trend fixed program spontaneous decisions focus on “sights” focus on “experiences” little or no background research careful preparation and research desire for souvenirs desire for memories / knowledge purchase items while there bring items to give away may involve loud social activities quiet, low impact snapshots and postcards photography and painting no language preparation learn local language
• 7. The Different Types of TourismThe Different Types of Tourism (A General Overview)(A General Overview) We have already discussed the travel variables that influence people to travel, or to stay at home. When travel motivators and barriers combine with these variables, they affect the travel destination and what type of travel experience the tourist signs up for. Today, the tourism industry offers many specialized forms of tourism in order to meet the increasingly diverse and the unique requests of a demanding public. People want to be able to choose from a variety of options based on to their needs and desires!
• 8. The Different Types of TourismThe Different Types of Tourism (A General Overview)(A General Overview) These “types of tourism” categories are a useful way to start looking at where tourists go, why they go there, and what they do while on vacation. However, it is important to note that these categories are not always as clear cut as they suggest, as travelers will engage in variety of activities while on vacation, many of which overlap into more than one category.
• 9. Pleasure TourismPleasure Tourism  To improve the physical or spiritual condition of an individual .  Examples: yoga workshops, detoxification clinics, spas, etc.
• 10. Business TourismBusiness Tourism • To complete a business transaction or attend a business meeting / conference.
• 11. Nature TourismNature Tourism • To enjoy a natural setting or wildlife, including ecotourism.
• 12. Cultural TourismCultural Tourism • To experience the history, folklore, and culture of a people.
• 13. Social TourismSocial Tourism • Travel that involves the company of others, such as tour-bus travel or family visits.
• 14. Recreation TourismRecreation Tourism • To escape the routine of daily life, such as camping or going to a beach.
• 15. Active TourismActive Tourism • Has a set objective, such as climbing a mountain or learning a new language.
• 16. Sports TourismSports Tourism • To experience a sport or sporting event, such as ski holidays or the Olympics.
• 17. Religious TourismReligious Tourism • Involves visiting a place of spiritual significance.
• 18. Health / Medical TourismHealth / Medical Tourism • To improve one’s health, such as a visit to a health resort or weight-loss camp.
• 19. *Adventure Tourism*Adventure Tourism • Involves challenges and adventure, such as trekking through a tropical rainforest or rock climbing. * Types of Sustainable Tourism, a movement, which started around 2000.
• 20. *Wilderness Tourism*Wilderness Tourism • To experience something very different from everyday life in remote wilderness areas. * Types of Sustainable Tourism, a movement, which started around 2000.
• 21. *Ecotourism*Ecotourism • Stresses low-impact adventure in a natural setting; sometimes called “green tourism.” * Types of Sustainable Tourism, a movement, which started around 2000.