More than 90% of travelers from Southeast Asia say that gun prevalence in the United States influences whether they will visit, according to a new survey.
The study — which surveyed 6,000 international travelers from the six countries — showed that respondents perceived Hawaii to be the safest state in terms of gun violence, while Texas was deemed the least safe, from a list of eight options that included New York, California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Washington D.C.
Yet, 56% of those in the survey, commissioned by CNBC Travel and conducted by the market research firm Milieu Insight, said they are likely to visit the United States in the next few years.
This figure rose to 59% among those who had visited the U.S. at least once before, even though among this group, 74% said they perceive gun violence to be a bigger issue in the United States today than in the past.
“This suggests that firsthand experience, while heightening awareness of issues, doesn’t necessarily deter future visits,” said Antarika Sen, an associate research director at Milieu Insight.
However, nearly 80% said the likelihood that they would attend a mass gathering — such as a concert or music festival — would be greatly or moderately affected by the number of guns in the United States.
The survey was conducted in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand from Sept. 9-18, after the first assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in July and coinciding with the second assassination attempt on his life on Sept. 15.
Country differences
Southeast Asians who showed the highest levels of concern about gun violence in the United States also showed the highest levels of interest