Not long after Los Angeles was selected as one of 11 American cities to host next summer’s FIFA World Cup, tourism officials started predicting the potential economic impact. Among the most optimistic? That the weeks-long tournament could pour almost $600 million into the local economy, mostly from international fans.
Pessimism has since taken over.
At a time when the U.S. should be preparing to roll out the proverbial welcome mat to the world, President Donald Trump’s erratic immigration policies and draconian rhetoric are instead scaring tourists away. Stories abound of travelers with visas in hand being denied entry at the border over minor infractions or, in some cases, being held for weeks before being allowed to return home.
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