Will Obama Election Change Travel Habits?

According to the folks at Travel Weekly, the recent presidential election may have positive implications for the travel industry beyond just Chicago, Washington and Hawaii. The article suggests the jubilant international reaction to Obama's election may be reason enough for American's to start pond-hopping once again. It's no secret that Europeans have, by and large, held a negative perception of the current administration. The article posits that the thought of a warmer Old World welcome might send previously skeptical Americans winging their way towards Europe.

Analysts are already predicting that inbound international tourism, especially to Obama-specific destinations such as Chicago, Washington and Hawaii, could see an increase.

But judging from the reaction overseas on election night, the reverse may also be true, as strained relations with European "frenemies" begin to thaw.

U.S. travelers, perhaps reluctant to travel to France, the U.K. or Germany during the last few years for fear they wouldn't be warmly welcomed, may now be eager to cross the pond and bask in our new international popularity.

Unfortunately for tourism boards and airlines, the economy isn't too vacation-friendly for most people right now. For the thirteen or fourteen of us that still do have jobs (does this really count as a job?), falling gas prices will also mean cheaper airfare. So get out that piggy-bank and start counting your pennies... fancy cheese, beer steins and really old buildings are just a plane ticket away.