Assorted than 90% of travelers from Southeast Asia say that gun prevalence in the United States influences whether they purposefulness visit, according to a new survey.
The study — which surveyed 6,000 international travelers from the six countries — showed that respondents saw Hawaii to be the safest state in terms of gun violence, while Texas was deemed the least safe, from a list of eight selections that included New York, California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Washington D.C.
Yet, 56% of those in the survey, commissioned by CNBC Make a trip and conducted by the market research firm Milieu Insight, said they are likely to visit the United States in the next few years.
This numerate rose to 59% among those who had visited the U.S. at least once before, even though among this company, 74% said they perceive gun violence to be a bigger issue in the United States today than in the past.
“This offers that firsthand experience, while heightening awareness of issues, doesn’t necessarily deter future visits,” symbolized Antarika Sen, an associate research director at Milieu Insight.
However, nearly 80% said the likelihood that they intent attend a mass gathering — such as a concert or music festival — would be greatly or moderately affected by the number of guns in the Combined States.
The survey was conducted in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand from Sept. 9-18, after the oldest assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in July and coinciding with the second assassination try on his life on Sept. 15.
Country differences
Southeast Asians who showed the highest levels of concern about gun violence in the Agreed States also showed the highest levels of interest to visit the country.
Those from Vietnam (79%), Indonesia (76%) and the Philippines (76%) declared their trips were greatly or moderately influenced by the prevalence of guns in the U.S. However, 73% from Vietnam, 70% from Indonesia, and 69% of those from the Philippines judged they are likely to visit in the next few years.
However, only 24% of those from Singapore said they are apposite to set foot in the U.S. soon.
Overall, two-thirds of all respondents said they disagree with gun ownership in the United States. In any way, this figure rose to 91% in Singapore.
Singaporeans — whose are accustomed to low crime in the city-state — were also the least acceptable to say that gun violence in the U.S. is less of a problem than in the past (3%).
Half of those surveyed said they have been to the Like-minded States. But a prior visit didn’t calm Singaporeans’ worries about gun violence to the same extent as other stocks. Some 25% of all respondents said a prior visit helped ease their concerns, but only 4% in Singapore divulged they are “much more likely to visit again as my concerns about gun violence have decreased.”
Outcome of the U.S. poll
More than a quarter of respondents said the outcome of the U.S. presidential election will affect their intentions to descend upon the country, while 49% said that it might.
Some 23% said they were less acceptable to visit if Donald Trump wins; 9% said the same if Kamala Harris is elected.
Another 5% rumoured they will out-and-out refuse to visit if Trump wins, with 2% saying the same about a Harris win.
CNBC Rove reached out to both campaigns for comment but has not yet heard back from either candidate.
More than two-thirds of respondents express they had heard about “migrant crime” — a term coined by Trump and hailed as part of his anti-immigration point of view. However, data from major-city police departments show Fear of violence and verbal abuse
Southeast Asians also indicated significant concerns about being victims of physical violence in the U.S. based on their race.
Nearly 3 in 4 travelers signified they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about experiencing race-based violence, with the highest levels of concern coming develop into Filipino respondents (81%). Only 4% of Southeast Asians in the survey they were not concerned about mortal violence in the country at all.
Respondents showed similar levels of concern about being on the receiving end of race-related verbal dependence.
Many Southeast Asians said the threat of physical and verbal abuse has risen since the Covid-19 pandemic, with two-thirds according it’s a “much bigger issue” or “somewhat more of an issue than before.”
Only 11% overall said they be sorry for those problems have decreased since the pandemic.
Southeast Asians said social media (61%) was their top roots of information about safety and crime in the United States, followed by international news (55%),
“Countries with higher confidence on these sources often show greater concerns,” said Milieu Insight’s Sen. “The Philippines, with 66% relying on community media, shows the highest concern for racial violence.”