Dear Mr. President... (Part II)

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If you're not in a cave somewhere, you're probably already fully aware that today is election day in the U.S., and we encourage all of you registered voters to go out and perform your civic duty. As part of our election coverage, we're continuing the conversation we started yesterday with our readers, and presenting the rest of contributing editor Christoper Elliott's "Dear Mr. President..." essay from our November/December issue of Traveler. In the essay, Elliott outlined a series of travel-related items that are likely to be on the new president's agenda, and we're taking this opportunity to let our readers discuss how they'd like to see them sorted out.

STRUGGLING AIRLINES

The post-9/11 recovery made by the domestic airline industry was short-lived. High energy prices have pushed a poorly managed industry to the brink of yet another wave of bankruptcies. Passengers now feel the IRS offers better customer service; routes are being slashed; additional fees are now being tacked on for everything from bags to pillows. Some people are talking re-regulation. Should the airlines be held accountable for their customer service shortcomings with the passing of a passengers' bill of rights? Or should the next President focus on the health of the airline industry, ensuring that government policies allow air carriers an unobstructed path to profitability? And what about the nation's antiquated air-traffic control system? Should making the necessary upgrades be a top priority?

SECURITY HASSLES

Since the 2004 election, the government has imposed a series of new requirements for air travelers, including a ban on liquids and gels, plus new passport and ID rules - causing many passengers to opt to stay home. The travel industry is pushing the government to reduce the hassle factor at borders and checkpoints, and the Travel Industry Association of America has launched an ad campaign to persuade candidates to address these problems. Some changes are on the horizon, including more efficient airport screening and the loosening of visa requirements for some visitors. What is the appropriate balance between security and unimpeded travel? Should visitors to the United States be fingerprinted and eye-scanned? Do liquid-and-gel bans at airports work, or are they nothing more than "window-dressing," meant to make passengers feel safer? Do "no-fly" and watch lists protect travelers-or needlessly detain thousands of innocent people?

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

The U.S. government currently maintains limitations on travel to several countries. Many travelers disagree with this policy and would like the new President to relax the travel restrictions to Cuba and allow Americans to spend more time in North Korea. While this might not be likely for North Korea, there is some speculation that the recent leadership change in Cuba could lead to a loosening of U.S. travel rules. David Guggenheim, a Cuba expert and president of 1planet1ocean, a conservative group based in Washington, D.C., believes that opening Cuba to America would be a good thing, saying that, "Without formal diplomatic relations, visitors to Cuba become ambassadors." Do you agree? Does travel feed a repressive government or promote democracy?

THE BOTTOM LINE

Just how important are the needs of travelers to the new President? Not very, experts say. However this year several issues have resonated with a broader population. And with travel being a critical part of the American economic engine, the new President's inevitable focus on the economy may be just what we need.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Photo: Stephen Quinn

Comments

[ML Harris]

#1- The airline industry. Would reregulation help? The airlines are clearly not capable of running their industry in an unregulated manner, so perhaps some return to the 70's might be good... Back in the 70's, the primary competition among airlines was on service, since prices were regulated. While dereg has made alternative business models viable (Southwest, RyanAir, JetBlue) and some not viable (the premium only class airlines), perhaps there's a way to incorporate that into a regulated fee schedule.

2- Travel restrictions: Our Cuba policy is coming up on 50 years old, without a real revision. And, it's not working. It decreases happiness for all players (Cubans in Cuba, Americans who would go but who would also honor their government). It isn't forcing a revolution against the communists and it isn't forcing the communists to be anything but stronger. I'm not calling for a complete normalization of relations (that'd be too much too soon) but lifting the travel ban and reconsidering the trade embargo might go a long way.

3- Travel clearly promotes good things more than it feeds repressive governments. If you go somewhere, you talk to the people. You share ideas. They get a new perspective. It moves the culture a little and the culture moves you. You turn around and talk to your government and maybe vote differently. They turn around and have something new for their repressive government. I want folks to remember that it wasn't militarism that tore down "that wall." It was blue jeans, pop music and western culture. And for the most part, that's worked out pretty well.