Obama’s progress on travel and tourism revealed in new report
The White House released a progress report today on its national Travel and Tourism Strategy. The report, released by the Departments of State and Homeland Security outlines the administration’s efforts to boost the $1.4 trillion dollar travel industry in the United States.
The report tracked progress on issues like faster visa and foreign visitor processing goals and the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program.
Along with the Executive Order Progress Report, the White House also announced a travel and tourism "Listening Tour" which will bring administration and cabinet officials to cities across the U.S. to "listen" to small business owners, travel and tourism officials and other key stakeholder organizations on the state of the travel industry in America. Additional details on the tour will be released soon.
Highlights of the Executive Order Progress Report include:
–Visa wait time is down. 88 percent of applicants worldwide are interviewed within three weeks of submitting applications. In key markets like Brazil, consular officers have brought wait times down by 98 percent.
–Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The Department of Homeland Security is currently evaluating Taiwan for the program. Meanwhile the DHS is working with other Federal government agencies to boost the number of travelers from VWP countries like the United Kingdom.
–1.5 million travelers have been enrolled in the Trusted Traveler or Expedited Screening Program. DHS processed 500,000 more Global Entry passengers in 2012, compared to the same time in 2011. South Korea joined the other 40 countries currently participating in the program.
Other aspects of the Progress Report include better customer service by Customs and Border Protection officers, faster service at airport checkpoints and expedited baggage movement between the U.S. and Canada due to the Beyond the Border initiative.
Sources: U.S. Travel Association, Departments of State and Homeland Security
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