TravelMole managing director Graham McKenzie has asked for a meeting with President Donald Trump so he can explain why investment in tourism is good for the US.
McKenzie has tweeted the most powerful man in the world to say he’ll be in Washington DC next month for tourism event International Pow Wow and would like to meet.
The tweet says: "You don’t want @BrandUSA any more @POTUS? Why not meet in DC in 10 days at #ipw17 I will as a foreigner explain why that’s bad for the USA.
The tweet follows news plans to ditch the tourism marketing agency were included in Trump’s federal budget document.
The plans have caused alarm in the industry, with, for example, US Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow, saying the move would ‘surrender market share at the worst possible time’.
Arizona Office of Tourism deputy director Stephanie Dowling welcomed McKenzie’s call for a meeting with Trump: "I’m really happy to hear this. We need people who can voice how important travel is to the US from a global standpoint. It’s really important. We do appreciate Graham reaching out."
So far, the President hasn’t responded.
McKenzie said: "This is such an important issue. I’d urge everyone in the industry to re-tweet my tweet and to share on global media. I’m hoping that if it goes viral, he will have no excuse not to meet me."
