Obama to streamline US visa requirements for tourists
President Obama is to streamline the visa process for some nationalities to make it easier for them to visit the US.
Announcing his plans at Walt Disney World in Florida yesterday, he said he wants to reduce the time it takes for travellers from China and Brazil to get visas.
Standing in Main Street at the theme park, he said: "I want America to be the top tourist destination in the world. The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work. It is that simple."
He also called on Commerce and Interior departments to develop a national tourism strategy to highlight America’s national parks, and cultural and historic sites.
"The steps the president took today are significant and will boost travel to and within the United States," said Roger Dow, president of the US Travel Association.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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