Transcript Improving Travel for the International Visitor

President’s Initiatives & Brand USA, Visa Reforms &
Waiver Program, Global Entry Program
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The White House has begun to realize the travel and tourism industry is a
major commodity to our economy and have pushed many efforts to
reform the industry
Through reducing barriers to international travel by formulating a
National Travel & Tourism Strategy, improving visa wait times and waiver
programs, and expanding the Global Entry Program, internationl group
and leisure travel will become an even bigger asset to our country
Attract 100 million visitors by end of 2021,
spending an estimate of $250 billion annually
Promoting the United
States
• Expand promotional
efforts to market the
United States
• Communicate tourism
opportunities in
America to a larger
domestic and
international audience
• Coordinate with Brand
USA
• Provide new resources
to visitors to identify
destinations and plan
trips
Enabling and
Enhancing travel
and tourism to and
within the United
States
• Reduce
international
barriers
• Expand the Visa
Waiver Program
• Enhance U.S. visa
processing
• Expand trusted
traveler programs
• Improve processes
for arrival and
aviation security
screening
Providing worldclass customer
service and visitor
experience
• Ensure Federal and
private sector
workers are
equipped to serve
and maximize
business
opportunities
• Provide dynamic
content in the most
in-demand
languages
• Continually respond
to new language and
information needs
Coordinating
across government
• Prioritize support
for travel and
tourism
• Reinvigorate the
Tourism Policy
Council
• Encourage
coordinated Federal
participation in
public-private
tourism
collaborations
• Establish a national
travel and tourism
office
Conducting
research and
measuring results
• Conduct high-quality
research on travel
and tourism issues
and trends
• Use performance
metrics and
accountability to
ensure continual
progress on goals
and strategies
outlined in the
National Strategy
January
• President Obama issues an executive order charging several agencies with efforts to increase travel
to and within the U.S.
• USTA met with DOI, DOC, and other travel associations to discuss recommendations
February
• DOC and DOI partner to co-chair a task force to develop a strategy
• Agency personnel present short-term goals to increase travel to and within the U.S. this summer
• Federal Register notice issued to solicit comments and recommendations from the public
• USTA and USTTAB submit policy recommendations for strategy
March
• Final ideas for short-term travel gains issued
April
• Longer term national strategy submitted to the President
May
• President releases the first-ever National Travel &
Tourism Strategy
•Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010 to spearhead the nation's first
global marketing effort to promote the United States as a premier travel destination
and communicate U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures.
•Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion, the public-private entity began
operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA.
•Brand USA works in close partnership with the travel industry to maximize the
economic and social benefits of travel. Through its call-to-action—
www.DiscoverAmerica.com—Brand USA inspires travelers to explore the United
States of America's boundless possibilities.
May-July 2012
Brand USA Global Campaign launches in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan
The U.S. Visa Process
EFFECTS
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Since 2000, long-haul arrivals to the U.S. have
increased by less than two percent, from nearly
26 million to 26.4 million in 2010, despite a
worldwide increase of 60 million long-haul
travelers over the same decade.
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Between 2000 and 2010, the United States'
share of global long-haul travel fell from 17
percent to just 12.4 percent.
1200000
1000000
34%
800000
42%
600000
2010
2011
400000
200000
0
China
Brazil
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Since June 2011, visa wait times have decreased 34% in Brazil from
93 days to 32 days by December 2011. Visa wait times in China have
decreased 16% from 48 days to 8 days.
Throughout 2011, USTA pushed policymakers to consider
opportunities to expand the visa waiver program to include Brazil,
Argentina, Chile, and Poland. Currently, the visa waiver program
allows for 90-day visa-free travel for 36 countries.
In January 2012, the State Department announced a pilot program
waiving visa interview requirements fro the following low-risk
applicants:
◦ Individuals who are reapplying for a visa that has expired within
the last 48 months
◦ In Brazil only, children under the age of 15 and adults over the age
of 66
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50 new consular officers being assigned to China and
Brazil
A new embassy consular facility will be opened in
Beijing to increase visa interview capacity in Beijing by
50%
some consular posts in China and Brazil are staying
open for 12 hours per day to process visa applicants
Visa interview wait times at all 5 posts in China are less
than 6 days
Wait times at one consular office in Brazil is 10 days but
wait times in others are still too high
Setting a ten day visa processing
standard
Allowing more countries to qualify
for the visa waiver program
Incentivizing travel from Canada
Permitting the state department to
extend visa validity periods
Providing visa incentives to
travelers during low-peak seasons
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Increase non-immigrant visa processing capacity in
China and Brazil by 40%
Ensuring 80% of non-immigrant visa applicants are
interviewed within three weeks of receipt of
application
Increasing efforts to expand the Visa Waiver
Program
Expanding participation in the Global Entry
Program
Visa Waiver
Program
Enhanced
Security &
Reform Act
Secretary of
State formally
nominated
Taiwan for the
visa waiver
program
Israel added to
list of countries
eligible for E-2
Visas
U.S. and Brazil
commit to work
together to
ensure entrance
of Brazil into
the VWP
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Allows enrollees to move through inspection
process in less than one minute by using an
automated kiosk for entry
More than 246,000 members and 131 Global Entry
kiosks at 20 airports
White House will expand Global Entry to four
additional airports- Minneapolis, Charlotte, Denver,
and Phoenix
Global Entry Program and expedited clearance
available in airports that service approximately 97%
of all international visitors