Obama Aims to Boost Travel to United States

President Barack Obama traveled to Disney World today to announce steps to increase the number of foreigners who visit the United States.

That’s important for the economy because the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that one job is created in the U.S. for every 65 international visitors. In 2010, nearly 60 million foreigners visited the U.S.

That number could—and should—be higher, Obama said. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011, the U.S. has lost market share as a global tourist destination due to security measures and visa hassles that made international visitors feel unwelcome. In 2000, the United States had 17 percent of the global long-haul travel market, according to the U.S. Travel Association. That share fell to 12.4 percent in 2010.

Obama wants the U.S. to become the No. 1 tourist destination in the world, and he’s directed administration officials to come up with a strategy to accomplish that goal.

“The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work,” he said.

This can be accomplished without sacrificing security, he said.

The president announced his administration is taking the following steps to make it easier for foreigners to visit the U.S.:

• The Global Entry program will be expanded. This program allows frequent travelers to undergo a background check and then get expedited clearance through customs when they arrive in the U.S.

• More nations, starting with Taiwan, will be added to the Visa Waiver Program. Citizens of 36 countries can now visit the U.S. without getting a tourist visa—all they have to do is be precleared online by the Department of Homeland Security.

• The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security will shoot for a 40 percent increase in the number of visas processed every year for citizens of China and Brazil, two countries with large visa backlogs and a fast-growing middle class that wants to travel abroad.

These steps will boost business travel, as well as tourism, in the United States.

“Nearly half of the travelers will come to attend conferences and trade shows,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

The president’s timing for this travel initiative “could not be better,” he said.

The Global Business Travel Association also praised Obama’s moves.

“The administration’s decision to expand the Global Entry program will make international air travel far more efficient for today’s business travelers,” said GBTA executive director Michael McCormick.

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Kent Hoover is the Washington bureau chief for bizjournals.