Hillary Clinton just called President Elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on being elected as the 45th President of the United States. A world is in disbelief, and times of uncertainty will overshadow also the world tourism industry.
It was the hottest ticket in London on election night to be invited to CNN’s “Election Night at World Travel Market (WTM): Trump or Clinton?”
Tourism leaders from every corner of the world are currently in London attending WTM. A tourism world with president Trump was simply unthinkable even last night when the CNN election party started in London at the Seymour Leisure Center.
CNN went all out to attract their tourism advertisers and friends to be part of a night that would change America and the world. American dancers serving hamburgers and fries, Budweiser beer and Margaritas, and a packed room of tourism leaders from around the world set the scene. An all-star team from CNN London and live feeds from CNN International in Washington, DC, were part of the set up.
CNN invited an elite group of 550 top VIPS in the global travel and tourism industry to see Hillary Clinton get elected to the White House. International delegates in a mock election, in fact, elected Hillary Clinton 94%, Donald Trump 6%.
In the real world, Republicans won the US House, and when this article was published, Trump enjoyed a clear lead to become the next President of the United States of America. Hillary Clinton told her fans to go home, and she would talk to them in the morning and called Trump to congratulate him.
Should Americas tourism leaders currently in London be proud of America and excited? This waits to be seen, but as the Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO Mmatsatsi Ramawela puts it, in a different way, “The world is very worried.”
Will the United States remain a welcoming country for visitors? What will happen to Brand USA? 10% of the jobs in the US are directly and indirectly related to tourism.
How safe will American travelers be in a world under President Trump?
On Wednesday, a ministerial meeting at WTM organized by UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) may face a different world order.
Also on Wednesday night, there was a cocktail party where some were invited by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) with CEOs attending from the 100 largest companies of the world tourism industry who may face also be facing a different world tonight.
In the meantime, Louis D’Amore, founder of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, will continue with his event at WTM at 1530-1630 in platinum suite 1 at the London Excel Exhibition Center, where the World Travel Market is held. eTN Publisher Juergen Steinmetz is expected to address the audience this afternoon.
Today will not only go down in history as one of the biggest political upheavals in a United States presidential election, but it wall also make history in the global travel and tourism industry. The world has to face the reality of having US President Trump as the new leader of the free world.
Mmatsatsi Ramawela, the Chief Executive Officer of TBCSA, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, told eTN at the CNN event, she fears a world under leadership by US President Trump. Let’s hope Mmatsatsi is not correct.
Many world leaders and tourism professionals today may be in fear and in disbelief.
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