Have You Ever Been Out Of Your Country?
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
April 3, 2016 10:33am CST
I have been posting about my travels recently, and have been surprised at the number of MyLotters who say they haven't been out of their own country.
I did a bit of digging and unearthed some interesting facts:
About 80% of British people possess a passport, but only about 40% of Americans do. The Chinese seem to be one of the the least amount of people with a passport - only about 8%. (I say 'about' because different sources come up with different figures, but I've used the figures from the higher end).
I know that Americans don't get the same amount of paid vacations that Europeans do, so that could be a factor in them not travelling. Also, their own country is huge and there is so much to see that they may not feel the need to travel abroad.
In contrast, England is tiny - it would easily fit into the state of Florida, and there is nowhere that is more than 80 miles from the sea. We English couldn't even do the equivalent of the distance from one American state to another before falling into the ocean. And as there are so many other countries 'on our doorstep', we travel abroad a lot.
As for the Chinese - I'm not sure why they don't travel so much - perhaps it's because on average, per capita, they are still relatively poor.
Have you been out of your own country?
99 people like this
120 responses
@Juliaacv (48397)
• Canada
3 Apr 16
Because of the close proximity to where we live and the border to the US, we have been to the state of Michigan numerous times. We have family residing on that side of the border, my husband attends sporting events over there, we've been to concerts, shopping and dining out.
But Canada is a very large and vast country. I have not been out of the province of Ontario, and I still have not seen all of it!
The only reason that we have a passport is because of the border laws to cross into the US, and the fact that we have so many family members over there that we visit.
9 people like this
@Juliaacv (48397)
• Canada
3 Apr 16
@jaboUK Its within the last 10 years that we require a passport to cross. In my opinion its an unnecessary expense, but they mandated it, not us, and given what happened to them in New York I can understand.
I love our province. We have been to the central part of it quite a number of times, and never bore of it. One day I'd like to get out to Calgary for the Stampede in July-I love all things cowboy.
3 people like this
@birjudanak (14319)
• India
3 Apr 16
i am from india and lots of people travel around the world in vacation as i went out of country 3 times but for work and i enjoy lot at Sri Lanka , as i am from surat city and one survey done here that in each plane there is one person in every flight from my state and i am very glad for it...
8 people like this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
4 Apr 16
I have loved India. I loved it more after I read the novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert entitled "Eat, Pray, Love." I dream of going to India someday and make some friends there.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@birjudanak You people from Surat are obviously prolific travellers. I've not been to Sri Lanka.
2 people like this
@birjudanak (14319)
• India
3 Apr 16
@jaboUK yes first i not believe it but its true and it known from one survey because my city know for diamond and there for lots of people travel all around world for work....
7 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Apr 16
I have been traveling out of my country since I was a child. Many Americans can't imagine even wanting to go to another country. It is just a part of the American identity, "there is no place like home". I have been to 6 Canadian Provinces, Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Portugal. England Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. I plan to visit more given the opportunity,
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (157545)
• United States
3 Apr 16
@annierose It is not wasteful to travel as you learn a lot. The memories and experiences are priceless.
3 people like this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
It is so nice and wonderful having an opportunity to travel to many countries as you like. I hope I can do that too in the future but my mom always scold me whenever I say that I want to travel and I already have savings for it. She thinks that is a complete waste of time and money but I do not think so it is.
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@BelleStarr I was surprised that a lot of Americans don't want to travel, but the huge distances involved must be a bit off putting.
The list of places you've visited is very impressive Isabelle, and you are not finished yet 
3 people like this
@DianneN (246685)
• United States
3 Apr 16
Yes, Being an American, I have traveled to almost every state. I've been out of my country too many times to count. I've been around the world twice and to all but two continents. Many people can't afford to travel, are ill, or are afraid.
6 people like this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
3 Apr 16
Americans are very privileged people. I think that being in a powerful country makes you go around the world easily.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@DianneN Yes, I know that you are one of the much travelled Americans. I must admit to being surprised at the 40% statistic (in some places it was estimated at only 22%), as there always seem to be a lot of Americans in our cities, especially in the summer.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Apr 16
I have traveled to England, Scotland, France, Italy, Monaco, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico and Canada.
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@JohnRoberts - you are very well travelled - any favourite destination?
. It wasn't that long ago
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
4 Apr 16
I have traveled to other countries before, but not very often. I remember when I was still a toddler, we didn't have a passport on our own, and mine was attached to my mom's password. We went to our neighbor country - Singapore. That's the only country I have traveled with my parents.
Then, I only traveled to Australia for my tertiary studies and Taiwan to visit my boyfriend (now husband). My husband and I visited Thailand once, and I have been on business trip to Taiwan once.
That's all! 
I think I really do not travel much. I have friends who travel to other countries every year, I think I just don't have the interest to travel so much, even locally. Moreover, budget is one of the concerns as well.
As for Chinese, I am not so sure about the reason, but perhaps it's also because there are many nice places to visit in China since it's so big, and it's really far for them to go to other countries, hence the air fare might be more expensive.
I think I really do not travel much. I have friends who travel to other countries every year, I think I just don't have the interest to travel so much, even locally. Moreover, budget is one of the concerns as well.
As for Chinese, I am not so sure about the reason, but perhaps it's also because there are many nice places to visit in China since it's so big, and it's really far for them to go to other countries, hence the air fare might be more expensive.4 people like this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
10 Apr 16
@jaboUK Because these countries are nearby. It'd be really costly for us to travel to Europe. One of my friends didn't go traveling anywhere, even in our own country for about 10 years, because she wanted to save the money to travel to Italy. Glad that she did visit Italy finally, for about a week.
2 people like this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
5 Apr 16
Where are you from Anna? Does your work require you to live in a foreign country. My dream after 10 years is to work and live in many countries as much as I can. For some it sounds crazy but not for me.
3 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
4 Apr 16
You've never been to London? *gasps* ... what, not even on a school trip?
2 people like this
@cessy_08 (306)
• Dublin, Ireland
4 Apr 16
I have traveled outside my home country and lived elsewhere for the past 7 years of my life. I lived in Singapore for a year, Melbourne for 3 years and now I am in Ireland with my husband. My nature of work (Consultant) also requires me to travel a lot and I enjoyed it when I was still unmarried and no kids. But now that I do, I don't accept any travel assignments (so far) and work from home. It was a nice time when I was able to do that.
3 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
I've been to quite a few countries.
A few years ago I traveled more or less every week whereas now I hardly ever even go out
Even though the UK is tiny I haven't even been to every county yet...most but not all.
If I lived in the US I doubt I'd go anywhere else
Also we've got 20 or so countries on our doorstep within a few hours travel...people in the middle of massive country have to travel a long way to get anywhere else
Even though the UK is tiny I haven't even been to every county yet...most but not all.
If I lived in the US I doubt I'd go anywhere else
Also we've got 20 or so countries on our doorstep within a few hours travel...people in the middle of massive country have to travel a long way to get anywhere else3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 16
@Mike197602 Any particular reason that you don't go out now Mike?
I've been to most counties in England, but not Scotland and Wales.
You're right - you could spend a life time travelling round countries like the US and still only scratch the surface.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 16
@Mike197602 Thank you for explaining Mike - I hope you didn't think my question was too intrusive.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 16
@jaboUK To cut a very long story short I used to have quite a bit of money.
Then I had some issues with an illegal substance that I spent a lot of money on.
I got into a mess and ended up clean but with severe agoraphobia which has taken me a few years to start getting over.
I do go out maybe once per week to get my food shopping and occasionally go to my sisters for a week or two at a time but apart from that I do prefer not to go out.
My social life is pretty much through the internet now.
1 person likes this
@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
3 Apr 16
l have travelled so much,got my first passport when l was 19 years old, im in my mid 40s now and i need a 4th passport,all the others got filed with Visas from my travels.
But in the recent years,I must admit im scared to fly.
As you say,most Americans dont travel abroad alot, i don't think i will need a foreign vacation either if i were from the US.
The place I`ve never been is Australia,l dont know why,maybe the distance
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
4 Apr 16
@miniam You being European like me have a lot of countries within easy access. If you don't like to fly now perhaps you could try cruising - that's a great way to travel, though of course you've got to get to the coast first.
I've never been to Australia either - as you say it's a really long way.
@marguicha (215346)
• Chile
3 Apr 16
The fist passfort I had (not owned) was one I had at 11 years of age. At that time, passports were issued for the parent with the minors. So the picture had our mother plus my siblings and I. We went then with our parents for a year and a half to the US. My father went to work there.
From then on, I have been on many trips abroad, with my husband, with friends and with family. I love to travel.
3 people like this
@marguicha (215346)
• Chile
3 Apr 16
@jaboUK I´m starting to check now my next big holidays. As I will go with my daughter and her children, the dates depend on school breaks.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@marguicha I know (from reading your posts) how much you like to travel. Me too.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
3 Apr 16
Nope, never been out of the US. I do have a passport expiring this summer Thoigh. My booklet is empty with no stamps brand new as ever.
3 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
3 Apr 16
@jaboUK Really? They don't need to stamp them anymore. It was cool to see my sisters books filled. I got the passport because we were planning to travel as a family, but then school got in the way, then work so I never used it. And since I got it under a certain age, my passport expires sooner than the usual. I think mines 10 years?
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@infatuatedby Why did you get a passport if you weren't going to use it? Btw - alot of countries don't stamp passports now - I used to like looking through them.
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48922)
• United States
3 Apr 16
Yes I have. The first time I left was to move to your country 
that was many moons ago.
that was many moons ago.3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@Tampa_girl7 Yes, I know your father was in the military and so you were in Europe a fair bit when you were a child. Have you been abroad since?
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48922)
• United States
3 Apr 16
@jaboUK the last time I was out of the states was in 1986.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
3 Apr 16
i've been through canada gettin' to alaska - does that count?
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx It must have been a great experience though.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx Of course it counts - Canada is another country for you. So you've been to Alaska? Wonderful.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
3 Apr 16
@jaboUK yes ma'am, many eons 'go. back 'fore mankind'd taken its hand so heavy 'pon the lands. alaska's beautiful, but i t'weren't too fond'f the frigid cold 'n darkness'f winter there.
2 people like this
