That is "overseas" and does not include Canada and Mexico, unless an ocean has been added the last time I was back there.

Sorry, am a Limey. Overseas is synonymous with going to another country.

Does that mean that 61 million yanks have passports?

Seriously, what countries did they visit? That's the whole population of Thailand.

61 million? where did they all go. Poland? Popping over to Catalina dosn't count.

Again "overseas" means transoceanic travel and from this clip: "UK No. 1 destination for Americans traveling overseas last year (2005)" Source: AP

They wouldn't need passports if they went overseas to Puerto Rico, or, is Hawaii being counted?

The last I heard about 20 percent of Americans have passports.

That 60 million US travel abroad figure per year can't be right. It sounds like they count any crossing. Some people cross from Mexico to Tijuana all the time, and there is a core of people who make several trips abroad every year. I would guess Canada tourism is down because of the weak US dollar. No passport needed for Puerto Rico and Hawaii is a state!

They wouldn't need passports if they went overseas to Puerto Rico, or, is Hawaii being counted?

You guys just won't believe that Americans do travel will you? "Overseas includes all countries except Canada and Mexico" from US Department of Commerce and ITA. However I stand corrected, read the wrong tables and the first number is all countries including Canada & Mexico and the correct number for overseas is around 33Million.

and Hawaii is a state!

Yes, but it's still "overseas".

TBB, they all hate us because they are all jealous of us!

I don't know if the above was meant to be ironic (I thought irony was our forte) but it, perhaps unintentionally, crystallises exactly why many people do dislike Americans.

It was a joke!

One reason I find that Americans do not want to travel internationally is because they're afraid. What little international news we hear in the U.S. is usually bad, scary or violent things about other countries. I know a lot of people that have told me I am crazy for leaving our borders and that they never would because they would constantly feel unsafe. It's stupid, I know, but thats what I have heard.

One reason I find that Americans do not want to travel internationally is because they're afraid. What little international news we hear in the U.S. is usually bad, scary or violent things about other countries. I know a lot of people that have told me I am crazy for leaving our borders and that they never would because they would constantly feel unsafe. It's stupid, I know, but thats what I have heard.

That's a good point TRIPxCore, there are a lot of places in the world now that Americans are nervous about travelling to, seems the UK is not one of them though.

They wouldn't need passports if they went overseas to Puerto Rico, or, is Hawaii being counted?

You guys just won't believe that Americans do travel will you? "Overseas includes all countries except Canada and Mexico" from US Department of Commerce and ITA. However I stand corrected, read the wrong tables and the first number is all countries including Canada & Mexico and the correct number for overseas is around 33Million.

That sounds more like it.

And I assume that an individual would be counted EVERYTIME he goes, so the small core of jet setters make up a fair chunk of tht.

With a population of approx. 300M it seems inconceivable that 61M would be traveling overseas each year. That's 1 out of every 5 people.

Edit: Posted before tywais adjusted this figure. And what percentage of this number is due to business trips? Or multiple overseas trips by some individuals? Without an accurate breakdown one cannot assume that 33M travel overseas for holiday each year. The figure would translate to 1 out of every 10 people, then. From my personal experience here that is not at all the case. Far from it.

TBB, they all hate us because they are all jealous of us!

I don't know if the above was meant to be ironic (I thought irony was our forte) but it, perhaps unintentionally, crystallises exactly why many people do dislike Americans.

It was a joke!

One reason I find that Americans do not want to travel internationally is because they're afraid. What little international news we hear in the U.S. is usually bad, scary or violent things about other countries. I know a lot of people that have told me I am crazy for leaving our borders and that they never would because they would constantly feel unsafe. It's stupid, I know, but thats what I have heard.

yep, I got that impression from a few people.What International News they did watch, did not look too good for your average yank.It could very easily put off a first time traveler.

True, a lot of Americans are very afraid of foreign travel.

It is funny really if you visit many neighborhoods of most US big cities.

Talk about dangerous!

Man, I would have to take my piece and hit up a few gas stations before I could afford a ticket to Thailand. Yankee money only works for you when you get to where you're going.

GLOBAL INCOME PER CAPITA - PUBLISHED 2005

finfacts

That's nice and all, but it doesn't mean a thing. $45,000 a year is not much when you take out rent/house payments, bills, car payments, car insurance, health insurance, food, gas, income taxes (federal), taxes for the state like property taxes.

Some of these are once a year, some once a month, others once a week. I had a job once that paid me $35,000 per year. No way in hel_l I could have left the country. Even for a few weeks. I would have lost my job, I would have gotten behind in all my payments and so forth.

Most Americans save for a very long time to take a trip. They always have to wait untill the build up enough off time from their jobs so that they don't lose their jobs. Most companies given their employees a week of paid vacation for each year worked. Not alot of time to spend in Thailand. Which is another reason why American don't leave the counrty often. If you only have a week's vacation how far can you get? From where I am at to Thailand I would lose a whole day!

Yes, if a yank wants to travel they can make it happen, but not over night, and it won't be often. The ones that leave are either with money and/or great credit, in the armed services, or the gave up a lot to move about the globe, like backpackers.

USA (2004)Income 41400

NZ (2004) 20310

huge difference.

travelling comes down to the attitude of the individual.If you really want it you will find a way. losing a whole day is nothing.Fly anywhere from NZ and see how much time you lose.

Most young Kiwis quit their jobs and go travelling when they are young.Again it's an attitude thing.What they lose in salary, they make up in experience.

If you want your house freehold at a young age, a pickett fence and 2.5 kids, then you are likely not to travel at all.Depends on what you have as a prioity and how much you want to see the world.

I see your point. I am not trying to compare US with NZ either. I just know that for me and many people I have know trying to get out of the country takes too much for those of us living hand to mouth.

True, a lot of Americans are very afraid of foreign travel.

It is funny really if you visit many neighborhoods of most US big cities.

Talk about dangerous!

L.A. '92 & we are worried about travel aboard!

It's a sad reflection on the state of U.S. froeign policies that most Americans I meet nowadays feel obliged to say that they are not supporters of Bush and his policies. As a nation they are increasingly out of step with the rest of the world. As individuals they are the same as everybody else.

I also notice that many american travellers have trouble understanding or living with different cultures; I wonder if this is the result of growing up in a reatively isolated monoculture?

TBB, they all hate us because they are all jealous of us!

I don't know if the above was meant to be ironic (I thought irony was our forte) but it, perhaps unintentionally, crystallises exactly why many people do dislike Americans.

That's for sure...

I think you may have misunderstood me. I wasn't saying that people dislike Americans because they're jealous of them. I was saying that people dislike Americans because of the braggarts in their midst.

How about a little respect for other people's intelligence? Knowing Boon, I'm sure that he got it the first time.

I know that I did.

As I said, I wasn't quite sure if his irony gland was sufficiently developed. At least I didn't SHOUT.

Pretty much every nation has it's share of good and bad apples, whose actions get taken as an example of their country as a whole. It all boils down to our base tribal instincts, "our group" is our family, and is always better than "your group", which doesn't look/act the same as us and is therefore a potential threat.

I don't have a dislike for any particular nation, though there are many individuals from many nations that I don't particularily care for.

Like the two American couples, sitting in a German restaurant in Germany. After looking at the menu for a bit, they called the waitress over and asked her "Don't y'all have any American food in this place ?"

They got up and left in a huff. I laughed, as I knew the nearest "Junk Food" restaurant was at least 50 kilometers away.

Then there was the Aussie guys in Victoria. Bunch of them in one of the more popular bars, one guy sees two girls sitting at a table, asks one of them to dance. She turned him down (as they were waiting for their boyfriends to arrive).

The Aussie steps back from the table, and in a voice loud enough to cause people on the dance floor to stop, he exclaims "Whot ! Are you a pair o' lezzies or whot ?" (I'm pretty sure he went home alone that night)

Then there was......never mind. I could spend hours typing about stuff like that.

Suffice to say, there are good and bad in every nation/race/group. Like the news though, we generally only hear, and remember, the bad stuff.

The Dude is American and always enjoyed the Americans that he met in Thailand. He cannot say this about all other nationalities

TBB, they all hate us because they are all jealous of us!

I don't know if the above was meant to be ironic (I thought irony was our forte) but it, perhaps unintentionally, crystallises exactly why many people do dislike Americans.

It was a joke!

One reason I find that Americans do not want to travel internationally is because they're afraid. What little international news we hear in the U.S. is usually bad, scary or violent things about other countries. I know a lot of people that have told me I am crazy for leaving our borders and that they never would because they would constantly feel unsafe. It's stupid, I know, but thats what I have heard.

I west my case. Maybe a slight lack of non-sitcom humor?

...Firstly Americans are very ignorant about what goes on in the rest of the world and their knowledge of geography in general is non-existent.

...I was totally starved of international news whilst I was there. Most of the TV news channels may have one story at most. The newspapers might have one paragraph on international news buried somewhere at the back, and it's usually a human interest story.

Now, whether Americans just aren't interested, so the media reflects this, or, they are ignorant to world affairs because of the lack of news, I couldn't say.

...The second thing that stands out is the overt patriotism. You'll see Ol' Glory flying everywhere.

People have flagpoles in their gardens and run up the flag everyday. ...

If you are from somewhere else and state your preference for your own country, the conversation can soon get nasty. The Americans in America are unshakeably convinced that their country is the absolute best, and if you don't agree, then it must be jelousey.

Americans that have travelled around and seen a bit of the world are a different species from the stay at home type.

Yeah, I have to agree on the geography issue. Most ordinary Americans are like this, but there are a lot who are not, such as my friends and people at university. I always had the bug to travel, so as a kid I was always pouring over maps and National Geographic Magazines, becoming self-educated in the process.

International news, hmmm, perhaps you were simply looking in the wrong places. If you are reading small town newspapers for international news, or simply looking at local news stations, then no, you are not going to find it. But we have a few good national newspapers, such as the New York Times and others, as well as good national news programs. Even as a high school drop-out, I was an incredibly well-versed and well-informed kid on international news and politics. I got that way from reading newspapers, news programs, and alternative political journals in the states. So, I really don't think you were looking in the right places.

American patriotism - bugs me too. I also can't stand the "we're #1" mentality. I call it the baseball team syndrome.

Have to agree with you on Southerners being the friendliest Americans

I grew up in the South and all I can say is, see how freindly they are if you are not white.

Ain' that the truth.

.... He saw northerners as hypocrites and southerners as honest.

Anyway, attitudes are changing in the south, especially in the cities.

Yes, I've heard this stated many, many times.

I know what Americans are like..................

.........I watch them every day on the Jerry Springer Show.

Oh yeah, and those are "real" Americans, and "real" scenarios

... And the guys out on the prarie are illegals.

...the females of the species are especially adept at emasculating their menfolk , often mercilessly reducing them to jibbering balding wrecks dependant on loony psychiatrists and lying lawyers to sort out their woes.

I think that's a bit of a blind comment. I've seen plenty of loud, domineering women from other countries. Equality doesn't need to be emasculating, unless you need an unequal playing field to feel masculine. However, we do have some of the best laws and legal rights for women than most other Western countries. That was an outgrowth of our Civil Rights Movement, and I must say, that's one thing that I am proud of.

That dosn't wash for Kiwis and Aussies.If anything, travel is more expensive for us, but we do it.

What's your cost of living though?

Depends on where you are living, but on an average I would say that the yank is much better off.

Sorry, chuhok, but merely quoting per capita income doesn't cut it. You have no idea how many hours are required to earn that income, health benefits, vacation time, whether or not it is one or two jobs, and the actual real value of that income compared to the rest of the economy. I think there is also a lot more disparity in the American economy than in the Kiwi economy, but I could be wrong.

I know that for most other Western countries, there is a much better social welfare system in place, that minimizes the risk of picking up and travelling for extended periods. That is simply not true for most ordinary Americans. For example, in England, I know that recent graduates can travel while their loans are postponed until they return (this could of changed, I don't know). Many Western Europeans can also continue to collect welfare while they travel, even if they didn't have a job previously! Most working Americans only get 2 weeks paid vacation! If you are lucky, you get 1 month. I wish this wasn't the case, but it is, which is why I left it. But I did so at a much greater risk than the other traveller from a different Western country.

The attitude of Americans when O/S is enough of a concern that the US Govt has bought out a guide telling them how to act.

Some hints are;

Not to speak loud and brashly

Not to try and push their religion down others throats

Not to sound off about the US being number one

The US Govt is concerned about the image that Americans have overseas as bo9th ex pat and tourist.

The Australian Government should put out a guide telling it's citizens not to get drunk and rip up Kuta Beach.

Maybe something about tipping more than a dime in other countries as well.

Good one

... I also notice that many american travellers have trouble understanding or living with different cultures; I wonder if this is the result of growing up in a reatively isolated monoculture?

Monoculture??? Japan is a monoculture, the United States was from the beginning a nation of colonizers, indigenous, slaves, and immigrants

*edit

By the way, sorry about the quoting style of my previous post. My internet is just too slow and I can't cope.

Sorry, chuhok, but merely quoting per capita income doesn't cut it. You have no idea how many hours are required to earn that income, health benefits, vacation time, whether or not it is one or two jobs, and the actual real value of that income compared to the rest of the economy. I think there is also a lot more disparity in the American economy than in the Kiwi economy, but I could be wrong.

I know that for most other Western countries, there is a much better social welfare system in place, that minimizes the risk of picking up and travelling for extended periods. That is simply not true for most ordinary Americans. For example, in England, I know that recent graduates can travel while their loans are postponed until they return (this could of changed, I don't know). Many Western Europeans can also continue to collect welfare while they travel, even if they didn't have a job previously! Most working Americans only get 2 weeks paid vacation! If you are lucky, you get 1 month. I wish this wasn't the case, but it is, which is why I left it. But I did so at a much greater risk than the other traveller from a different Western country.

Sorry kat, but apart from the disparity in income and the cost of living, it comes down to a mind set, not just economics.(BTW, I always found most things to be quite cheap in the USA compared to NZ and wages were higher)

Almost every Kiwi that I have met(under 40yo) does an OE of sorts. Every person in my age group that I know, owns a passport.

The social welfare system does not come into it, although now (Last year or so) Student loans can now be put on hold for a few years

And you argue APART from cost of living and disparity????

...... and the differences in social benefits?????

Then in all honesty, you simply don't really want to compare the differing situations in real terms, you just prefer to pass judgement. I will grant you that mindset is part of it - gotta get that house, maintain that job, and save for retirement -- but a lot of this mindset is created by the stress of fewer safety nets that are taken for granted elsewhere.

And you argue APART from cost of living and disparity????

...... and the differences in social benefits?????

Then in all honesty, you simply don't really want to compare the differing situations in real terms, you just prefer to pass judgement. I will grant you that mindset is part of it - gotta get that house, maintain that job, and save for retirement -- but a lot of this mindset is created by the stress of fewer safety nets that are taken for granted elsewhere.

kat, that made me giggle a bit .

"Apart from cost of living etc" ment that the USA mob were better off.What did you think it ment?

Difference in Social benefits means nothing. of all the people that I know, not one would dream of asking for, or taking a benefit. It wouldn't even enter the thought process. If anything, the poople that do tend to take benefits, are not the type of people that normally travels.

"The stress of fewer safty nets etc" is complete <deleted>.Most people leave the country with enough money to get by for a few weeks.They then work their way around the world.No benefits overseas that I know of.

America the Beautiful - 1913

by Katharine Lee Bates

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.

Who more than self the country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the enameled plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till souls wax fair as earth and air

And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America ! America !

God shed his grace on thee

Till paths be wrought through

wilds of thought

By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale

Of liberating strife

When once and twice,

for man's avail

Men lavished precious life !

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till selfish gain no longer stain

The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till nobler men keep once again

Thy whiter jubilee!

For all the American patriots. Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

I'm a first generation immigrant (2 years old). As my parents liked to say, "Immigrants had the idea that America had streets paved with gold. Little did they realize that they were the ones who had to pave them."

The Dude is American and always enjoyed the Americans that he met in Thailand. He cannot say this about all other nationalities

The Dude is pretty good at coming out with simple truths that others seem to miss.

^^

Maybe he's biased?

^^

Maybe he's biased?

no shit

And you argue APART from cost of living and disparity????

...... and the differences in social benefits?????

Then in all honesty, you simply don't really want to compare the differing situations in real terms, you just prefer to pass judgement. I will grant you that mindset is part of it - gotta get that house, maintain that job, and save for retirement -- but a lot of this mindset is created by the stress of fewer safety nets that are taken for granted elsewhere.

kat, that made me giggle a bit .

"Apart from cost of living etc" ment that the USA mob were better off.What did you think it ment?

Difference in Social benefits means nothing. of all the people that I know, not one would dream of asking for, or taking a benefit. It wouldn't even enter the thought process. If anything, the poople that do tend to take benefits, are not the type of people that normally travels.

"The stress of fewer safty nets etc" is complete <deleted>.Most people leave the country with enough money to get by for a few weeks.They then work their way around the world.No benefits overseas that I know of.

I'm talking about the wider disparity of incomes within the states, as opposed to NZ. And when I say social benefits, I'm talking about those that are part of the national state apparatus, not special handouts. Therefore, it's not a matter of refusal, but automatic entitlement. For example, as much as Canadians and English complain about their national healthcare system, they DO have a health care system that entitles everyone to free healthcare. In the states, a preposterously high number of people do not have automatic healthcare. They have to rely on healthcare through their employers, who also set the amount of vacation time they can take. If you do not have state provided healthcare, and you are unemployed, then you are not covered for accidents or anything else. Your loan example is also important. In the states, students have 6 months, unless they enter school again.

So, what is the healthcare policy in NZ? What is the average length of vacation for those who are employed? How much debt on average do students accumulate to attend university? What are the social safety benefits for those who are unemployed upon return? If you are telling me that these considerations are <deleted>, then your whole rationale is <deleted>.

However, I do think that there is also a difference in mindset. I think that the Kiwis and Aussies are more culturally inclined to travel because of a mindset that is supported by their national governements, and as an extension of other Western European societies.

*spelling

I'm talking about the wider disparity of incomes within the states, as opposed to NZ. And when I say social benefits, I'm talking about those that are part of the national state apparatus, not special handouts. Therefore, it's not a matter of refusal, but automatic entitlement. For example, as much as Canadians and English complain about their national healthcare system, they DO have a health care system that entitles everyone to free healthcare. In the states, a preposterously high number of people do not have automatic healthcare. They have to rely on healthcare through their employers, who also set the amount of vacation time they can take. If you do not have state provided healthcare, and you are unemployed, then you are not covered for accidents or anything else. Your loan example is also important. In the states, students have 6 months, unless they enter school again.

So, what is the healthcare policy in NZ? What is the average length of vacation for those who are employed? How much debt on average do students accumulate to attend university? What are the social safety benefits for those who are unemployed upon return? If you are telling me that these considerations are <deleted>, then your whole rationale is <deleted>.

However, I do think that there is also a difference in mindset. I think that the Kiwis and Aussies are more culturally inclined to travel because of a mindset that is supported by their national governements, and as an extension of other Western European societies.

*spelling

NZ has a healthcare system.most people I know have Private Healthcare and the system is as much use as a cup full of snow.This doesn't normally come into the thought process of young travelers though.

Accidents is covered by Govt insurance. A compulsory charge is levied to all workers to cover this as an extra tax.(2-5%)

The student loan thing just came in 6 months ago.....

The mind set is the one though.I have known people to bugger off with a plane ticket, US$600 and an address of a mate in the uk.

The flight of the Kiwi has got so bad, that the government are calling it the "brain drain". Not enough skilled workers around..they are all working in the UK or USA.

They are going to bring in 4 weeks compulsory paid leave a year...to try and bring some people back.