Dan Peltier

Much of the European tourism industry has emerged from the doldrums of 2015 and 2016 stronger than ever, but not without fault lines to keep track of, such as hotels and alternative accommodations. The latter is proving it's a sector that's holding its weight against hotels across much of the continent.

Crocodile Dundee is a nostalgic figure in the U.S., and it appears as though Tourism Australia could be hoping to score with an ad on Super Bowl Sunday. A campaign could get younger and older generations interested in Australia. But would a pricy spot during the Super Bowl be worth it?

Many cruise passengers sail because it's a more economical way to visit a destination. Caribbean countries like the Bahamas have known this for years and are getting more ambitious about trying to attract more flights — a perennial problem — and hoteliers that can help do a better job at growing their economies in the long term.

Interior Secretary Zinke said last year that 30 percent of the park service's employees were "disloyal to the flag." Employees, as well as the national parks and monuments themselves, have become political pawns. The advisory board members who resigned were tired of serving as cover for an Interior Secretary who wouldn't mind chopping down the forest.

If the travel industry's lobbying and trade associations have any more tricks up their sleeves, they'll need them if they will have any chance of reversing what is essentially the Trump Administration's anti-visitor stance.

Europe's 2017 tourism story is nearly the opposite of its 2016 downward twists and turns. It wasn't a perfect year and some destinations on the continent are still struggling, but it's also a sign that many Europeans are choosing to travel closer to home to stick to their budgets.

It's becoming clearer that 2017 has gone down as one of the worst and most challenging years for U.S. tourism in recent memory. In 2018, many destinations will likely step up their marketing of discounted options to get more foreign feet and spending power through their doors.

It's a complicated world and the State Department is trying to make it a little less complicated for U.S. travelers wondering if it's safe to travel somewhere. There will likely be a learning curve to understand the new system and how other countries respond to them.

The U.S. travel industry doesn't feel its approach to the Trump administration in 2017 was sufficient, and it's taking the next step. The old playbook for dealing with the White House is no longer relevant as travel and related industries try to find their footing.

We knew 2017 was going to be a wild ride for U.S. tourism and that's certainly how it played out. Although many of Trump's policies did more harm than good for the travel industry, some could have been much worse.