Not just excuses. As soon as the war started, businesses started restricted all non-essential travel, in particular international, if not banning it all together. International travel (US base) is severely depressed due to two classes of people: 1: Those who are too nervous to be away from home during these politically unstable times. The war is still lingering, and the increased threat of terrorism continues to exist, as hatred towards the US by extremists intensifies. 2: There are people who just assume stay home and visit with family or take a road trip, doing something patriotic and supporting america rather than visiting a foreign country.