The Numbers Speak

In Europe — exhausted by the events of the late war, and still in the stage of repair and reconstruction thanks to the Marshall Plan — the tourism and summering season of this year (1950) is counted the greatest season Europe has known so far, and the most abundant in material profit. American tourists to Western Europe number three hundred and fifty thousand, and American tourism in Britain, France, and Italy is the greatest resource of a Europe thirsty for dollars, for these Americans spend there no less than two hundred and twenty million dollars, apart from the costs of travel across the ocean.

Last year the Americans spent in Switzerland alone fifteen million dollars, and most likely they will spend a larger sum this year. As for Britain, tourism has yielded her quantities of dollars exceeding any sum she obtains from selling wools, whisky, and motor-cars to the United States. The experts and those in charge of the plan for the reconstruction of Europe among the delegates of the United Nations expect the tourist seasons, throughout the life of the Marshall Plan, to add a sum of one thousand five hundred million dollars to the aid coming through that plan.

For America's present policy aims at encouraging tourism in Europe, out of a desire to help her to rise again. This was one of the objects of the Holy Year in Italy: for the Americans and others, when they come to Rome on pilgrimage or as tourists, do not content themselves with that visit, but turn aside to Britain and France and then push on into Switzerland and Austria after passing through Holland, Belgium, and Spain.