Spain Overtakes America's Spot as 2nd Most Traveled-to Nation Globally

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It seems as though Europe, even if threats from terrorists continue to grow, is still being considered a growing factor in the entire world's travel industry. With people from all around the world gathering to visit countries like France, Spain and the UK; they remain mindless of terror attacks that have occurred recently.

A recent report suggested and confirmed that Spain had overtaken the United States' spot as 2nd most traveled-to nation in the world; behind only France. Let's take a look at why, even amid threats in both nations, the US is slacking and Spain is soaring:

Spain's Threat

The European paradise of Spain is virtually one of the most threatened nations by terror groups like ISIS, specifically last year in 2017 where it suffered a consecutive streak of days filled with terror attacks in Barcelona, Cambrils and Alcanar.

In August of 2017, an explosion was triggered at what reportedly was a 'bomb-making' factory for an operating cell in Catalonia, Spain, in the town of Alcanar. One person had died and upwards of 6 others had been injured; all of which were terror suspects.

A day after the Alcanar house bombing, before police even realized there was any threat at all, other suspects coincided with that cell conducted an ambush in Barcelona's Las Ramblas tourist shopping street; mowing down scores of civilians and tourists leaving 13 dead and up to 130 others hospitalized in the vicious attack.

As the suspect(s) got away from the scene, it seemed it may have been all over. However, the next day, a nearby Catalan resort city of Cambrils was struck again. A vehicle slammed into at least six civilians, killing one, before police killed all of the suspects involved in planning another major attack in Spain.

Another threat to Spain's tourists has been the violence and threats surrounding what could've easily formed into a civil war revolving around the Catalan independence run, of which resulted in over 1,000 injured during a deemed 'illegal referendum' by Madrid. Violent crackdowns by Spanish police formed massive protests in streets that had been deemed violent as well, gathering millions of Barcelona residents.

America's Threat

The United States was also majorly threatened this year by terror attacks and massively violent attacks that weren't politically-motivated. In Las Vegas, the deadliest mass shooting in American history left 58 people dead and hundreds of others hospitalized. The attack has yet to be declared motivated by anything, which could be worrying for any of millions of tourists that visit Vegas yearly.

In Sutherland Springs, Texas, the worst mass shooting in a place of worship in America's modern history left 25 people dead and dozens of others hospitalized. A gunman managed to shoot everyone inside of the church. Though not in a tourist area, many people didn't feel safe visiting the US with the soaring of mass shootings.

In New York City, a man drove a vehicle at a high speed through a bike path near the World Trade Centers leaving 8 people dead and over a dozen others injured. The attack was conducted in the name of ISIS. Unfortunately, out of the 8 fatalities, six of them were foreign tourists. Five from Argentina, and one from Belgium.

Also in New York City, an explosion in a metro station (commonly used by tourists) or also known as a Port Authority bus terminal left 5 injured in an apparent failed massive terror attack near the Holiday season in response to President Trump's movements of the US Embassy to Jerusalem in recognition of Israel's capital city.

In Michigan, a man from Montreal pulled out a knife in an area of which security wouldn't allow him to and ambushed a security agent, stabbing him, before being neutralized by nearby police. It was called yet another failed terror attack.

In New York City, police, the FBI and the RCMP foiled a terror attack by an Ontario-Quebec man and potential group of people of which plotted violent attacks in America's most populated city; New York. They planned on bombing metro/subway stations as well as concerts and highly dense downtown streets.

In Charlottesville, a white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer sped and drove his vehicle into a crowd of protesters. His motive for conducting the attack and whether or not the reason he had been protesting was 'right or wrong' was put up for debate by the President; but in reality, this terror attack left 1 woman dead and 25 others injured.

Northern California also saw a mass shooting that involved targeting an elementary school; police confirmed that the man had 'psyche problems' and was not conducting the attack in the name of a terror group; though was firing at the elementary school windows leaving at least 4 injured.

Hurricane seasons devastated America in many high-tourist areas; specifically in Florida, Louisiana and Texas of which were devastated by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and a few others that left some damage. The major hurricanes flooded neighborhoods, threatened dam collapses, and claimed lives of American civilians. Puerto Rico, a major tourist area, was one of the worst impacted US areas.

Wildfires ruined numerous tourist areas in California, inevitably shutting down tourist attractions and threatening many like Disneyland amid the consistent record-breaking 2017-2018 fire season. Dozens have died in California's wildfire season, and thousands of buildings have been damaged.

President Trump's toxic strategies of threats with North Korea's supreme leader lead to numerous US territories including Guam and Hawaii to be left on high alert of anytime potential of a nuclear war outbreak. A recent scare left thousands of tourists, millions of people running in the streets of Honolulu and all other Hawaiian islands as well as trying to escape and evacuate the island amid a false alarm of an incoming ballistic missile coming from the DPRK. It sure shook up the island's international view for tourists.

But make the decision yourself - would you consider the US, or Spain, safer to travel to right now?

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