Lawmakers grapple with critical tourism issues
Lawmakers in Washington, DC looked at some neglected tourism action as a bill was introduced in Congress to halt the stall in oversea visitors and a debate intensified over President Obama’s efforts to raise airline taxes.
United States Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who head up the Senate Tourism Caucus, introduced a measure that would speed up the wait for visas for foreign travelers entering the US.
"By making it easier to travel to the United States without compromising important national security safeguards, we can stimulate local economies and help our businesses grow and thrive,” Klobuchar said.
A growing and often neglected problem for US tourism is long wait times to receive a tourist visa. In countries such as Brazil, that wait can last up to 150 days, according to recent reports.
In 2010, each overseas visitor to the US spent an average of US$4,000 during their stay, the senators said. The industry added nearly 106,000 jobs in the first seven months of 2011, representing 10 percent of all jobs created so far this year.
"The international travel industry has grown by 40 percent over the past decade," Blunt said. "Unfortunately, America’s share of the international travel market has remained stagnant, in part due to our country’s visa policies,” he said.
“Over the last decade, the number of travelers worldwide has increased by 60 million, but the number visiting the United States has not kept up with that growth,” writes Robert Amano, a hotel executive in the LA Times. “And our main competition for foreign travelers, such as England and France, are reaping the economic benefits.”
One of the biggest obstacles to increasing the number of foreign travelers is a burdensome visa system, he writes. He uses the example of China, where those who want to visit here often face waits of more than 145 days.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the airline industry continues to warn against tax and fee increases proposed by President Obama.
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) said Obama’s proposal to increase passenger security fees and add a new US$100 per takeoff charge to airlines would harm the industry
The administration also wants to increase passenger security screening fees from $2.50 per passenger to $5 per passenger.
“Airlines worry the increased costs will hit their fragile bottom lines and discourage business and leisure travel in an already frugal environment. The fees are part of Obama’s deficit reduction plans,” writes the Phoenix Business Journal.
“The proposed new taxes will impact fares and reduce service, which equates to a one-way ticket to the unemployment line for thousands of Americans,” said ATA President and CEO Nicholas Calio. ATA worries the new taxes will prompt airlines to cut flights by 2.3 percent.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026