Gun Violence Concerns Significantly Impact Southeast Asian Travel to the US
A new survey reveals that more than 90% of travelers from Southeast Asia cite the prevalence of guns in the United States as a major factor influencing their decision to visit. The study, commissioned by CNBC Travel and conducted by Milieu Insight, polled 6,000 international travelers from six Southeast Asian countries, highlighting significant concerns about safety and the impact of political climate on travel plans. Despite these concerns, a notable percentage still intend to visit the US in the coming years, painting a complex picture of perceptions and travel intentions.
Key Takeaways:
- Over 90% of Southeast Asian travelers say US gun prevalence impacts their travel decisions.
- Hawaii perceived as the safest state, Texas as the least safe.
- Despite concerns, 56% still plan to visit the US in the next few years.
- 80% say likelihood of attending mass gatherings is significantly affected by gun presence.
- The US presidential election outcome also strongly influences travel intentions.
Country Differences in Perception and Intentions
While concerns about gun violence were widespread, the level of concern and the consequent impact on travel intentions varied across countries. Vietnam (79%), Indonesia (76%), and the Philippines (76%) reported the highest levels of concern. However, a significant portion from these countries (73%, 70%, and 69% respectively) still expressed intentions to visit the U.S. in the next few years. This contrasts sharply with Singapore where only 24% expressed likelihood of visiting. This disparity could reflect differences in cultural norms, media portrayals, and previous personal experiences with the US. Interestingly, two-thirds of all respondents disagreed with gun ownership in the U.S., rising to a staggering 91% in Singapore. The study suggests the perception of gun violence is not uniformly distributed across the region and is influenced by various factors.
The Impact of Prior Visits
The study also explored the impact of previous U.S. visits on perceptions of gun violence. While 50% of the respondents had visited the U.S. before, prior experience did not uniformly lessen concerns about gun violence. A mere 4% of Singaporean respondents, even after a previous visit, felt their concerns had significantly decreased. This is significantly lower than the overall average of 25% across all respondents. This suggests that prior positive experiences may not fully mitigate the anxieties surrounding gun violence for all nationalities.
The Influence of the US Presidential Election
The upcoming U.S. presidential election is another significant factor influencing travel plans. More than a quarter of respondents stated that the election outcome would affect their intentions to visit, with another 49% indicating a possibility of influence. The reactions showed a clear division based on the prospective candidate with 23% less likely to visit if Donald Trump wins and significantly fewer, only 9%, expressing the same sentiment about Kamala Harris’s potential victory. A harder stance was taken by 5% who directly stated that they would refuse to visit if Trump wins, compared to only 2% who took the same stance with regard to a Harris win. CNBC Travel contacted both campaigns for comment, but no response has been received as of the time of publication.
The “Migrant Crime” Narrative
The survey also touched upon the impact of the “migrant crime” narrative, frequently used in political discourse. While over two-thirds of respondents had heard about it, data from major U.S. city police departments contradicts this assertion, showing no evidence of a significant rise in crimes committed by migrants. Despite this lack of factual basis, 27% of Southeast Asian respondents considered “migrant crime” a major factor influencing their decision to visit the U.S. This highlights a significant influence of media narratives on travel perceptions, especially in the absence of easily accessible verified data.
Fear of Racial Violence and Abuse
Beyond gun violence, the survey revealed significant concerns about racial violence and abuse targeting Southeast Asian visitors. Nearly three-quarters of respondents professed very or somewhat significant concern about facing race-based violence, with Filipinos showing the highest level of concern at 81%. An equally concerning 72% were concerned about verbal abuse. These anxieties demonstrate a clear intersection of safety concerns, extending beyond gun violence to encompass possible racial discrimination experienced during a visit. A significant majority, two-thirds stated that these threats have worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a link between heightened social anxieties and increased concern about racial incidents. This contrasts distinctly with only 11% believing these concerns are decreasing.
Information Sources and Influence
The study also examined the sources of information respondents used to inform their perceptions of safety and crime in the US. Social media (61%) emerged as the most popular information source, followed by international news (55%). Milieu Insight’s Sen noted that countries with higher reliance on social media, such as the Philippines (66%), exhibited greater concern for racial violence. This underlines the potential for mis/disinformation spread through these channels to skew perception and influence travel decisions significantly.
In conclusion, this survey underscores the multifaceted nature of safety concerns impacting Southeast Asian travel to the U.S. While gun violence remains the most prominent concern, influences such as the political climate, prevalent narratives, and perceptions of race-based violence all significantly shape these decisions. The significant gap between expressed concerns and the persistent intention to visit suggests a complex interplay of factors that extend beyond simple risk assessment leading to multifaceted and nuanced decisions in travel planning.
