“EUROPE PINES FOR BIG-SPENDING AMERICAN TOURISTS:”

In Britain – the most popular destination for American tourists to Europe – figures for the first half of 2003 show an 11 percent decline in US visitors. In Italy, it’s more than 20 percent, while in France, it’s even worse: an estimated 26 percent drop this year.

“Until Sept. 11, about 45 percent of our clients were Americans,” laments Mauricio Mistarz, head receptionist at a small three-star hotel on the Left Bank in Paris. “Now, on a good day, Americans fill 20 percent of our rooms.”

The protracted slump in US visitors to Europe is alarming for the millions of Europeans who profit from their dollars – from the travel agent to the taxi driver, the postcard vendor to the tour guide.

American visitors tend to stay longer and spend more than any other tourists. In France last year, the Americans spent more than British and Irish visitors combined, despite being outnumbered 5 to 1. In Britain, the average American spends $1,000 a trip, far outstripping European visitors.

All of this means that US reluctance to travel costs European tourism dear.

The Europeans seem to think that it’s fear of terrorism that’s keeping Americans home. I don’t think that’s quite it.

UPDATE: Michael Demmons says he’s done his part to keep European economies afloat. And scroll up for a definitive post on political ideology.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Note to Matthew Yglesias: “a” is a different word from “the.” Just as the Dutch are different from the Danes. . . .