Expanding Visa Waiver Program and Improving the U.S. Entry Process Will Help America Realize ‘Enormous’ Growth, Says U.S. Travel Head in Testimony Today
Washington, D.C., 2013-05-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — In testimony today before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, detailed the benefits created by $2.0 trillion in output associated with travel spending. Dow also stressed the importance of enacting the “Jobs Originating through Launching Travel (JOLT)” Act and fixing the U.S. entry process.
“In 2012, direct travel spending in the United States totaled $855 billion, which generated a total of $2.0 trillion in economic output and more than $129 billion in tax revenue. Travel also directly employed 7.7 million Americans and was among the top 10 employers in 48 U.S. states and the District of Columbia,” stated Dow. “Today, travel is our nation’s No. 1 service export and is growing fast. Just last week, in an otherwise disappointing quarterly trade deficit update, the Commerce Department reported that travel exports rose 5.7 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012, a rate three times faster than the rest of American exports.”
Dow applauded the work of Brand USA to promote the U.S. as a destination and the U.S. Department of State for easing inefficiencies in the visa process. He also highlighted as “good news” the introduction of the JOLT Act in the House (H.R. 1354) and the inclusion of its provisions in the Senate immigration bill. The JOLT Act would expand the Visa Waiver Program, reduce visa processing delays and enhance travel to the U.S. during low peak seasons, among other benefits, and Dow urged passage of its provisions.
Dow went on to note that all that good work will be ineffective unless we also improve the entry experience at our borders. Citing a U.S. Travel-commissioned survey of overseas travelers from earlier this year that found the U.S. entry process to be a barrier to travel, Dow said that the most important takeaway was that almost two-thirds said that eliminating long lines and wait times would make the U.S. a more attractive destination. “In other words: if we fix it, they will come,” he said.
Dow also called for replacing the inefficient, one-size-fits-all aviation security system with a risk-based approach, citing the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Pre™ program as a successful example. U.S. Travel commended TSA yesterday for expanding Pre™ for international travel.
Findings released today in a report from Oxford Economics for U.S. Travel titled The Role of Business Travel in the U.S. Economic Recovery were also highlighted by Dow. He shared with Congress that companies that spent the most on business travel through the last recession are posting higher revenues and profits than others who reduced travel spending.
Dow concluded his testimony by highlighting the importance of cost-effective government travel.
A copy of Dow’s testimony may be downloaded here.
Contact:
Cathy Keefe (202) 408-2183
The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.0 trillion in economic output and supports 14.6 million jobs. U.S. Travel’s mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.
Visit www.ustravel.org.