They are for me, as the late journalist AA Gill once mused, “magical portals of escape and romance”.
I can’t imagine then, the horror of the 109 passengers who had the misfortune of being born in one of the seven countries blacklisted by President Trump and who happened to be mid-transit when news of last week’s Executive Order emerged; their excited family reunions swapped for interrogation and holding cells.
The ink was barely dry on Trump’s signature before the protests began. And it was heartwarming to note travel was one of the industries shouting the loudest.
Within hours, airlines including Emirates, Etihad, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were giving refunds to affected passengers, and Airbnb’s chief executive was encouraging its hosts to volunteer free housing to refugees and travellers affected by the ban.
Open letters were also issued. Intrepid’s global boss highlighted that “it’s not governments or nations (or even executive orders) that have the greatest capacity for change. It’s ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
David Scowsill, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council stated that the order “goes directly against the fundamental right of freedom to travel”.
And Responsible Travel’s Justin Francis cited another fitting quote by AA Gill, pointing out that “tourism is a greater force for peace, harmony, economies, than the UN and every NGO bundled together in Bermuda shorts”.
Donald Trump it seems then, could do with a holiday. This time a year ago he was a comedic figure; now his laughable views are becoming law, it’s not so funny.
The travel industry can have a powerful voice – the louder we shout, the more difficult it will become not to listen.
