As the United States sends stockpiles of weapons to Ukraine, another transatlantic mobilisation is underway. Freed from two years of Covid restrictions and testing requirements, Americans are once again travelling in large numbers. Market observers have predicted a six-fold increase in American tourism to Europe compared to summer 2021. If you're wondering what shipments of weapons and planeloads of tourists have in common, the answer is: quite a bit. Tourism has long had a way of getting mixed up in international politics.
It is easy to overlook tourism's political importance. After all, most Americans journey abroad seeking fun or exposure to a country's history, food, and art. The goal is usually to escape news headlines, not study them in detail.
