These types of characters (or caricatures) of Americans abroad behaving badly have been around at least since the days of Mark Twain and Henry James. What's striking is how little, in some ways, the depictions have changed between the late 19th century and the present age of smartphone-wielding mobs stalking the "Mona Lisa," and beery, breast-flashing collegians whom Latin Americans refer to, with eye-rolling exasperation, as los springbreakers.

Although doubts about Brazil’s readiness to host next year’s World Cup have focused on renovations at 12 stadiums, some Brazil trade experts say they are more concerned about travel logistics and whether airports, mass transit systems, hotels and railroads will be up to handling the crush of visitors. “The infrastructure behind the games is what will be complicated for Brazilians and foreign tourists,” said Marcelo Rocha e Silva Zorovich, a Sao Paulo business consultant who is a visiting researcher at the University of Miami.

The Philippine Department of Tourism’s (DOT), “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign has been successful, with memes that started with only four and now multiplied to 55,000, according to DOT. The campaign used powerful images, a catchy slogan, and a memorable theme song. However, Thng notes, that the country also fell short in allowing Hollywood film “Bourne Legacy” film in slum areas. “Personally, I wouldn’t have approved that,” she says, “because that is not the face of the Philippines.”

In Miami, the couple's short visit to Cuba triggered outrage. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said the trip was nothing more than a "wedding anniversary vacation not even disguised as a cultural program," while Sen. Marco Rubio accused the Carters of "funding the regime's systematic trampling of people's human rights."

BRAND USA has embarked on its first ever dedicated youth marketing campaign, signing at $4 million two-year deal with STA Travel. The youth tour operator is aiming to increase its global sales to the US by 30% over the period. The mainly online campaign has launched in the UK, northern and central Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa with a competition to win a road trip to the States.

In fact, Patients Beyond Borders reports Mexico now attracts more than a million patients a year, many of whom are Hispanics from California, Arizona and Texas. It’s this proximity to North America that makes Latin America’s medical tourism so attractive. Other factors include favorable exchange rates, bilingual healthcare officials, friendly cultures, tropical climates and exotic locations allowing for relaxing and scenic recovery time.

This funding will be one of the few sizable direct foreign investments in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake and will create jobs, generate business opportunities for small and midsize enterprises, promote sustainable growth in the tourism industry, and contribute to the reconstruction of essential business infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake.

Our neighbor’s tourism theme song “Malaysia Truly Asia” has been ringing in our ears for so many years that we can easily hum it. The campaign, presenting the country as a potpourri of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures living together in harmony, has succeeded in presenting a positive Malaysian image overseas.