Perhaps this issue is hyped up more than it really is. The recent US government shutdown has sent many non-essential government employees home including “3,000 aviation safety inspectors, employees charged with making sure that aircraft operate safely and according to regulations” (Forbes).
The real focus should be the threat to safety, not the loss in revenue. I can see that the suspension of airline safety checks could deter potential tourists visiting the US, thus harming businesses in the US tourism sector, but the autumn season isn’t a peak tourist season. The loss of potential tourists in the short-term now would not be as large a loss as the upcoming winter season. If the government shutdown were to prolong, then perhaps there might be a larger need for worry.
Airline safety checks are also rather infrequent and “mostly random” anyway. Sure, tourists already travelling within the US might not be able to visit their favourite museums and attractions, but tourists will most likely continue to board their planes to get from point A to B. Above all, the tourism industry should be concerned with the safety of consumers to reduce the risk of ethical considerations and massive PR issues.
Check out the article here.
Image sources:
http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/photo/a/ai/airfare-safetycheck-def.jpg
Bender, Andrew. “Government Shutdown Means Airplane Safety Checks Are Suspended.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 02 Oct. 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.