Tighter security discouraging foreign visitors to US
The latest travel industry figures show the number of foreigners coming to the US is disappointing to tourist officials
“That is slowing the recovery of hotels, airlines and other businesses that are counting on a surge in commerce from the weak US dollar,” concluded the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.
Overseas travel to the US this year is expected to be 15% below the peak year of 2000, according to the Travel Industry Association (TIA).
The number of international visitors should have been above 60 million this year, instead of an expected 46 million, said Roger Dow, TIA’s CEO.
The decline was attributed to anti-Americanism sentiment because of the war in Iraq, but perhaps even more to the “hassle factor” associated with new visa applications and security procedures, tourism officials say.
But they add aggressive campaigns by other countries to lure tourists have also had an impact.
Visitors from abroad accounted for more than $93 billion in spending and economic activity in the US last year, according to Commerce Department estimates.
In another sign of lowered US popularity, visa applications from foreign travelers dropped by one-third since 9-11 levels. Fewer foreign students are also applying to US schools.
Several tourist associations are lobbying the US government to ease entry into this country and to spend more money promoting tourism.
“Some US travel executives — including those who run Disneyland and Walt Disney World — think the government needs to do more to improve the country’s image with foreign tourists who increasingly are choosing other places for their vacations,” said New Target Network.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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