Florida’s support of a travel ban is surprising some in the state’s tourism industry.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi joins a dozen states in urging a San Francisco federal appeals court to reinstate President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban.
Dan Fesenmaier of the University of Florida’s Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute says the action is surprising considering tourism is the state’s top industry.
“The industry here in the state has to be going crazy and concerned very much about what happens if the travel ban actually gets implemented.”
He says the proposed ban already is discouraging international travelers from visiting the state, although it is too soon to know the full scope of its impact.
Claudia Menezes of Pegasus Transportation says her business is suffering.
“We still need to get the image that they are welcome here. It’s not like they’re not welcome here. And so that’s where we’re fighting for, in trying to get the positive message out.”
The states say the ban is within the president’s authority and does not target Muslims.
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