Monday marked the arrival of the first wave of new visitors from countries recently admitted into the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) will join nationals from 27 existing visa waiver countries who can travel to the United States for up to 90 days through a streamlined online entry system instead of having to obtain a U.S. visa.  The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) expansion will strengthen U.S. security, boost America’s vital public diplomacy efforts and stimulate U.S. economic growth.

VWP expansion is an effective strategy that demonstrates how security and travel facilitation can go hand-in-hand.  To strengthen the integrity of the Visa Waiver Program, the U.S. negotiated stringent new security agreements with each of the new Visa Waiver Program countries and has already implemented extensive new security requirements for passengers.  For instance, each new Visa Waiver Country has agreed to share critical terrorism, immigration and criminal information to best identify potential threats to the United States and improve its travel document security.  In addition, each visa waiver traveler will be vetted against U.S. security watch list and receive a travel authorization to enter the United States prior to boarding a U.S. bound flight.    

The VWP will also further our potential for more “people-to-people” public diplomacy.  Surveys show that those who have visited the United States are 74 percent more likely to have a favorable opinion of America; and 63 percent of travelers surveyed said that they are more likely to support the U.S. and its policies if they have visited the country.  The expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, which welcomes new legitimate visitors to see and experience the United States, exemplifies the direction our country must take to strengthen our image in the world and enhance our public diplomacy efforts.

The economic benefits of expanding the VWP are also substantial.  In 2007, more than 15 million visitors to the United States arrived from countries in the Visa Waiver Program – roughly two-thirds of all U.S. overseas arrivals.  On average, these travelers spend $4,000 per person, per visit – nearly three times as much as domestic travelers – on hotels, rental cars, meals and entertainment, providing a much-needed economic lift to small businesses and local economies. The most recent expansion of the Visa Waiver Program is projected to bring approximately one million new visitors to the United States annually, adding billions in new economic activity and tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue.

Travel is an economic engine that supports one in every eight American jobs and is among the top ten industries in nearly every state and congressional district.  In 2007, international travelers spent $122.3 billion in the United States.  Yet, at a time when America’s economy needs a boost, two million fewer overseas travelers visited the United States in 2007 than in 2000.  Worse, the Department of Commerce estimates that overseas travel to the United States will decline further in 2009, possibly by as much as three percent.

As the dollar gains strength and the entire developed world teeters toward recession, the United States needs a clear strategy for increasing international visitors in a highly competitive environment.  America’s travel community will continue to work with Congress and the new Administration to champion common sense solutions, such as the Visa Waiver Program and the Travel Promotion Act, that will increase international travel to the United States while improving security at America’s ports of entry.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pm and is filed under Uncategorized .