Megatrends Video: Brands Embrace Diversity Message Amid Rising Neo-Nationalism

In January, Skift published a Megatrend asserting that U.S. President Trump’s isolationist policies, including his three versions of the travel ban, and his racist rhetoric were forcing travel brands to get political in order to survive. Most travel brands are deeply invested in the free international movement of people, and anything that threatens that movement will alienate customers and hurt revenue.

This idea is even more true midway through 2018 as at the beginning of the year. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the most recent version of the travel ban, which targets countries that are predominantly Muslim.

Also in June, the Trump administration instituted a wildly unpopular “zero tolerance” policy at the U.S.-Mexico border, in which those who cross illegally face criminal prosecution, leading to thousands of children being separated from their parents. Trump continues to voice his desire to build a border wall and have Mexico pay for it, the possibility of which Mexico’s last three presidents, and its newly elected incoming president, deny vehemently.

Despite the revolving door on the current administration, Trump himself has another two and a half years in office, so travel brands will have to find ways to cope with neo-isolationism. Check out this video for a quick recap on how this geopolitical climate came about in travel.