The US Travel Association proposed changes to visa policy as a way to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Through partnerships with corporations, the association hopes to increase the number of international exports and expedite the visa application and interview process for tourists and business visitors from abroad.
The visa application process can take as long as 145 days in Brazil and 120 days in China. Long wait times for interview appointments create doubt that applicants will be able to obtain visas.
A USTA survey of 1,500 travellers from Brazil, China and India showed that many international travellers find it difficult to visit the U.S because of an inefficient and uncertain application process.
The ultimate goal of the partnerships is to create up to 1.3 million new jobs, many in the hospitality industry, and add $859 billion to the U.S. economy by 2020.
A commerce department report found an increase in travel and tourism revenue in each of the last 10 years. But Cathy Keefe, USTA media relations manager, said the decade was not as lucrative as the association wished. The country’s share of international tourism visits decreased from 17% of the world’s international travel to 12.4% from 2000 and 2010.
“We want to make it known that we’re missing out on a major economic opportunity,” Keefe said. “If we can improve that process, we can improve our economy. Travel and tourism are easy ways to do that.” She acknowledged that the government needs stricter requirements for potential visitors from some countries with links to terrorism.
Roger Dow, the association’s president, said that to attract more international travel and exports it is essential that visa policy be reformed. International travellers have to wait too long to get tourist visas, and Chinese tourists’ visas don’t last long enough.
“As a nation, we’re putting up a ‘keep out’ sign,” Dow said. “The United Sates imposes unnecessary barriers on international visitors, and that inhibits our economic growth.” Dow called for a four-step plan to develop a better visa policy, which he called “the ultimate no-brainer.” The plan suggests that the U.S. open more consulate offices in foreign countries to make obtaining a visa a smoother process.
Because the US fell behind in the growth of international travel from 2000 to 2010, the country has lost the opportunity to generate $606 billion, which would create about 500,000 jobs. “This is economic warfare, and we’re not in the fight,” Steven Hacker, president of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, said.
President Barack Obama set a goal to double the amount of international exports by 2015, but Hacker said there is no hope of reaching that goal if the US maintains a visa policy that deters oversees travellers. “We have always been a nation of immigrants, and we seem to have gotten away from that,” Hacker said.
Joseph McInerney, American Hotel and Lodging Association president said that while a more efficient visa policy is needed a new policy is also needed to maintain the high levels of diversity the country has long been known for. McInerney said that, because the US is such a popular tourist destination, people are waiting for the chance to visit but, without reform, the burdensome visa policy will continue to deter visitors.
“The US is like a dinner party – great food, great location and great people,” McInerney said. “Everybody wants to come, but we haven’t sent the invitations.”
