Tensions are high after President Trump’s recent comments about countries he described with quite “colorful” language – could this, along with the overall political climate in the United States, affect the number of incoming international students?
Research shows the number of international students is declining, according to a Nov. 2017 Inside Higher Ed article.
“After years of growth, enrollments of international students at American universities started to flatten in fall 2016, and a downward trend in new enrollments appears to be accelerating this academic year, with nearly half of universities surveyed (45 percent) reporting a drop in new international students this fall.”
While universities are generally seen as liberal environments, the number one reason foreign students cite for not wanting to study abroad is the United States’ political climate.
How does this reflect on the average American, though?
Many of my friends and acquaintances are welcoming of foreign students and immigrants, regardless of their political orientation. However, individual experiences don’t change the headlines people abroad see.
A concerned U.S. parent may not want to send their child to study abroad because of horror stories published in the media, like a student going missing. However, parents in other countries are concerned about U.S. politics in general – or specifically our Commander-in-Chief.
International headlines about the United States are not helping attract international students, or even tourists for that matter.
The U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office and the U.S. Department of Commerce have reported that U.S. tourism dropped four percent in the past year. An article in Forbes magazine labeled the drop the “Trump Slump.” A small drop in tourism can have a large effect, according to Forbes.
“In 2016, the U.S. travel and tourism industry generated over $1.5 trillion in economic output, supporting 7.6 million jobs, according to SelectUSA, an international trade analyst firm. That represents 2.7% of overall GDP.”
The lower rate in tourism has triggered a response from the tourism industry. Basically, they’ve created a PR group for the entirety of the U.S.
President Trump has triggered something akin to a public relations crisis in the United States. For someone so business savvy, one would think he would be smart enough to know the financial damage his words may cause.
