Pandemic puts the brakes on sister-city visits

There may not be many official visits between La Crosse and its sister cities for a few months. 

Members of La Crosse’s international committee have discussed the chances of international travel in 2021, while the pandemic continues. 

La Crosse now has seven sister cities: Bantry, Ireland; Dubna, Russia; Epinal, France; Friedberg, Germany; Luoyang, China; and The Republic of Cameroon, Kumbo, West Africa.

The committee discussed the possibility of donating money from the group’s annual budget of $5,000 to several of the cities, instead of paying for travel.     

Political tensions between the U.S. and other countries like China and Russia are another reason for cutting back on visits to the seven foreign communities that La Crosse is partnered with.  

The International Committee states it has representation from each of the sister cities and from citizens interested in promoting international awareness and citizen diplomacy.