I am from the UK and the percentage is around 90%. I fear it is much lower across the pond!
2006-10-22 07:30:37 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Other - Destinations
I'm really asking because it may be linked to many Americans' lack of understanding of different cultures and beliefs. I truly believe that travel broadens the mind.
2006-10-22 07:43:03 · update #1
It is lower but there isn't an actual figure issued by the government. Some people put it at 22%, some 34%...
It is a bit sad but one has to consider that in the US you can travel far, see a region radically different than your own backyard, experience a different culture and meet people with radically different views just by travelling within the United States. You can travel 2,000 miles and still be in the US which is not true for most of Europe.
I'm not excusing US citizens lack of foreign travel - I myself am constantly travelling abroad and encouraging others to do so. There is just a lot to consider when discussing what's involved with travel. We can't just hop on a train and see 5 different countries like you can in Europe. Most foreign travel (besides Mexico and Canada) involves flights and that's not cheap. Certainly not as cheap as hopping in the car and driving to the mountains or desert.
2006-10-22 07:37:08 · answer #1 · answered by misskate12001 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was on business in the States about 5 years ago. A local told me that the 65% of the population of the city I was in had not left the city boundary and 85% had not left the state. Therefore no more than 15% of that city's population would have had a passport. The statistic was regarded as slightly below national average because the traditional business of the area was farming. Most of the travel was done primarily because of work and business. As a consequence, most of those who do travel out of state or have passports do so because their work requires or required it in the past. I am not sure where this guys got his statistics from or how reliable they are. However, the anecdotal evidence he gave of his city/state certainly fits in with my observations.
2006-10-23 01:51:52 · answer #2 · answered by Penfold 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how many Americans have a passport. I'm American and my husband and I both have one.
I think that maybe many Americans don't travel internationally because it can be expensive.
2006-10-22 07:40:26 · answer #3 · answered by Jester 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was speaking to a U.S. Customs officer recently and he told me that only 2% of Americans have passports.
2006-10-23 06:20:36 · answer #4 · answered by Norman B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have thought it was quite high as they would obviously have their picture on it and being so vain and having their heads up their own arses so much,i'm sure they would get one for the above fact only,no need to travel, and save the rest of the world from listening to that dreadful monotonous disfunctional dialect they've invented for themselves, and try to tell the rest of the world they speak English !
2006-10-22 10:48:19 · answer #5 · answered by ukfool666 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Never thought about it. Almost certainly lower than you Brits.... Perhaps we are more content here since our country has such a variety of things to see, places to go, etc.
2006-10-22 07:40:24 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Peachy® 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋