So I travel a lot.
And what I find amazing is that despite all the talk of being a ‘global economy’, a ‘connected World’, a ‘smaller World’ … whenever I go to Western countries, I tend to see road/street/office/airport signs in the native language whereas when I am in Asia, I generally see them written in both their native language and English.
OK, so you could argue that because not everyone speaks English they’re still being prejudiced, but I’d say you’re being a pedantic prick …
The fact of the matter is that the Asian market – be it for business or just tourism – has become one of the most, if not the most, important regions in the World and so while we are happy to sit back and take their cash, we do everything we can to make them feel uncomfortable or not welcome.
When I am overseas and getting on an Asian bound plane, the airport security do everything in their power to make the Asian passengers feel like they are guilty of something.
On the way back from Seattle, I saw immigration officers literally interrogating every Asian passenger and demanding to see how much money they were ‘taking back home’.
OK, so in places like the US, UK and Australia, the immigration and custom departments official policy seems to be anyone not from their home country [or from their home country, but black] is viewed as a potential terrorist, scam-artist or illegal immigrant and should be treated as such … but what I’m talking about goes way beyond just the airport experience.
I’m not denying Asian countries have their prejudices, hell they’re prejudiced about an incredible amount of things – many based on myth and legend – and I’m also not denying that Asian countries set themselves up to ultimately favour their home-grown companies [like every other country tries to do] however even if it’s just on a superficial level, the experience an international visitor gets in Asia is far more welcoming and considerate than they offer Asian people back home [and no, giving them a Chinatown doesn’t count] and so if Western markets really do want to attract Asian customers and business, making them feel welcomed and valued might actually go some way to making it happen.