The U.S. Travel Association has paid tribute to former Congressman William D. Delahunt (D-MA) for his leadership in revitalizing the international perception of the United States as a welcoming country after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Delahunt's efforts led to the creation of Brand USA, an organization dedicated to marketing the U.S. to travelers worldwide. Under his leadership, Brand USA successfully increased international visits to the U.S. and generated significant economic benefits. Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, expressed gratitude for Delahunt's visionary leadership and his role in fostering international goodwill and understanding through travel [06f461a4].
The travel industry in the United States has been slowly recovering from the pandemic shutdown. According to a report by Business Traveler USA, the U.S. travel industry currently ranks 17th out of 18 major international destinations. In 2023, the U.S. welcomed 67 million international visitors, which is only 84% of the number in 2019. The report attributes the slow recovery to long visa wait times, outdated airport screening technology, and a lack of government leadership. While the U.S. scored well in brand and perception overseas, it scored poorly in government leadership on travel issues and safety metrics. The report recommends cutting visa processing times and adopting new technologies at security checkpoints to attract more tourists [153ded90].
Another study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association highlights the decline of the United States as a global travel destination. The study cites decades of underinvestment, lack of focus, and coordination from federal policymakers as reasons for the decline. The U.S. ranked third in total visitation, behind Spain and France, and welcomed nearly 67 million international visitors in 2023, down from 79 million in 2019. The study emphasizes the U.S.'s underperformance in the categories of National Leadership and Identity, Security, & Facilitation. The U.S. ranked last in government leadership on travel-related issues and the strength of its national travel strategy. The study also points out the U.S.'s lag in safety, with excessive visitor visa interview wait times, underutilization of biometric security screening capabilities, and limited visa-free travel for only 42 nations. To address these issues, the U.S. Travel Association has launched the Seamless and Secure Travel Commission to modernize the travel experience and enhance U.S. competitiveness [e72451cb].
The U.S. Travel Association warns that extended waits for visitor visas could result in the U.S. losing 39 million visitors and $150 billion in spending over the next decade. The association calls for faster visa processing times and a government focus on courting foreign visitors. The U.S. needs to prioritize improving its entry process and implementing measures that make it a more attractive destination for international travelers [7ebfccf8] [d9bdeac3].
In an effort to enhance the United States' position in the global travel market, hundreds of travel industry professionals gathered on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Travel Association's Destination Capitol Hill event. The event aimed to highlight the travel sector's role in the American economy and job creation. Participants engaged in over 300 discussions with policymakers, focusing on lower visitor visa wait times, lower customs wait times, full funding for the office of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism for FY 2025, and advancing the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. The travel industry contributes significantly to the American economy, with $1.3 trillion in direct spending in 2023, supporting over 15 million American workers and generating nearly $165 billion in total tax revenue. During the event, U.S. Travel awarded Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with the association's Legislator of the Year award [06f461a4].
On May 28, a meeting titled 'Travel Works for America Power Hour' was held in Gettysburg, featuring U.S. Congressman John Joyce and over 20 leaders from the Gettysburg travel and business community. The session emphasized the importance of travel in boosting local businesses and the regional economy. The agenda covered issues such as reducing the waiting period for U.S. visitor visas, decreasing wait times at U.S. Customs, expanding the H-2B worker visa program, implementing facial identity verification technology at TSA checkpoints, securing funding for the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, and supporting Brand USA as the official destination marketing organization of the United States. Congressman Joyce and attendees also toured the historic Mansion House 1757 after the discussion [900871d1].
Fred Dixon has been appointed as the new President & Chief Executive Officer of Brand USA, effective July 15, 2024. He will succeed Christopher L. Thompson, who announced his retirement in July 2023. Dixon, currently the President and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions, brings over 30 years of experience in the travel industry and is expected to lead Brand USA in its next phase of growth. Thompson will continue to work with the company through September 30, 2024, as an advisor. Dixon's appointment is seen as an opportunity to drive growth and further strengthen Brand USA's position as a global leader in destination marketing. Brand USA is the destination marketing organization for the United States [eaa213d0] [db73ffde].
The challenges faced by the United States in attracting international visitors and the slow recovery of the travel industry highlight the need for the country to take action to improve its competitiveness in the global tourism industry. The U.S. Travel Association's efforts to address visa processing times and enhance the travel experience through the Seamless and Secure Travel Commission are steps in the right direction [2bbcf330].