Airbnb Responds To Supreme Court “Travel Ban” Ruling

Travel changes a person. The more one experiences away from home, the more one sees how all humanity shares one planet and one common destiny. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that President Trump has the authority to ban travelers from certain majority-Muslim countries if he thinks it is necessary to protect the United States

Airbnb Co-founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk have always believed that the travel ban is fundamentally wrong. “We are profoundly disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the travel ban — a policy that goes against our mission and values. To restrict travel based on a person’s nationality or religion is wrong,” the company’s founders say.

“Travel is transformational. To restrict travel is to limit human potential,” the company’s founders say.

Last year, after the travel ban was first announced, Airbnb partnered with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), which wors to support the release of those who are unlawfully detained upon arrival to the U.S.

IRAP is on the front lines of this fight, working around the clock to fight for legal solutions and protect the rights of thousands of affected individuals worldwide.

Trump-Induced Travel Industry Woes

Trump’s travel ban and an inhospitable political climate could punch an $18 billion hole in U.S. tourism by international visitors over the next two years.

“The travel ban, such as it is, would affect less than 0.1% of all visitors. But the whole rhetoric around it has damaged the U.S. brand as a destination,” says Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics. “It’s a very discretionary market. It takes very little for them to shift their travel plan and preferences.”