They make a point that both Gridania and Ishgard have become more open in recent years, particularly due to necessity. The need for adventurers forced Gridanians to accept outsiders into the Shroud and after a while all but the most hard core have become less standoffish. This would be particularly prevalent since the leadership has been driving a more open moderate cultural viewpoint. Its not like everyone in those places are going to be racist. In Ishgard its still pretty apparent but Ishgard has been facing a hell of a lot of cultural upheaval lately and we have seen people swing in both more conservative and more progressive viewpoints.