The Telegraph: Does the Lack of Gun Controls Put You Off Visiting the US?

Europeans assess the risks of travel to the United States after a shooter orchestrated a siege on a crowded concert in Las Vegas, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500. The Telegraph reports that Las Vegas is the sixth most popular US destination, welcoming more than 3 million foreign visitors each year. Tourism accounts for more than 40 percent of the area’s labor force. “In short, in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in US history, Las Vegas will be keen to ensure there is no lasting impact on the world’s desire to keep visiting,” explains Hugh Morris. Las Vegas planners may not worry. Tourism did not slow after another massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and that city saw a rise in visitors for the year. Visitors express greater hesitancy about the Trump presidency and policies including a travel ban for seven countries and limits on immigration. “The United States ranks 12th in the world for gun deaths, with 10.5 per 100,000 people,” Morris notes. “Statistics show that the more guns a population has, the more gun deaths there are.” Tourism did slump after terrorism attacks in Paris, Brussels and Egypt. – YaleGlobal