PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cathy Keefe (TIA)
202.408.2183
ckeefe@tia.org, www.tia.org

March 14, 2007

TRAVEL INDUSTRY APPLAUDS SENATE ACTION AS ‘IMPORTANT INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE SECURITY AND IMPROVE AMERICA’S IMAGE’

WASHINGTON, DC — Travel industry leaders applaud Senate action to strengthen security and send a more welcoming message to international visitors, calling amendments adopted as part of the 9/11 legislation passed yesterday “important initiatives to improve America’s image around the world.”

The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) and Travel Industry Association (TIA), strategic partners in advancing the industry’s interests in Washington, said they will be working closely with Senate and House leaders to ensure the measures are retained when the two chambers conference in coming weeks to produce a final 9/11 bill.

“Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ted Stevens (R-AK), George Voinovich (R-OH) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) deserve special recognition for their leadership in addressing critical needs in the travel experience for visitors to the United States,” said Roger J. Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association. “Being a secure nation should not exclude us from being a welcoming nation. The proposed legislation is key to improving our nation’s visa and entry problems, and will help remedy our image around the world.”

Based on proposals from the Discover America Partnership – a travel industry coalition comprised of major companies and associations spearheaded by TBR and TIA – three amendments aimed at improving U.S. visa policy and procedures at U.S. ports of entry were passed as part of the Improving America’s Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (S.4).

The 9/11 bill contains amendments offered by Senators Inouye and Stevens creating “model ports” at the top 20 international inbound airports in the U.S. to focus on improving efficiencies when processing international travelers as they enter the country and authorizing Customs and Border Protection to hire 200 more officers at those airports.

In addition, Senators Voinovich and Feinstein have authored separate amendments, which strengthen and expand the Visa Waiver Program, including requiring the Department of Homeland Security to fully implement the exit portion of US-VISIT at America’s airports.

As chair and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and key architects of the bill, Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) also played a pivotal role in ensuring these important travel provisions were included in the final bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade and Tourism Byron Dorgan (D-ND) also helped carry these amendments through to final passage.

“In a bipartisan manner, Congress is finally recognizing the important economic and diplomatic contributions of travel to our nation. The passage of these reforms in the Senate is a first step to finding the right balance between secure borders and open doors,” said Jonathan M.

Tisch, Chairman of TBR and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. “But for the U.S. to remain a competitive destination, our policymakers must also go one step further and recognize the need to ensure that international visitors feel welcome upon arrival.”

The industry has also recommended proposals to require the State Department to report on efforts to reduce visa wait times to 30 days or less; permit the State Department to explore more efficient visa interviewing processes including videoconferencing and “mobile” visa interviews; enhance customer service at ports of entry; develop an international registered traveler program; and pilot biometric collection from travelers overseas. The travel industry will continue to press for these improvements as outlined by the Discover America Partnership in upcoming legislation.

According to a Discover America Partnership survey, international travelers who have visited America are 74 percent more likely to have a favorable opinion of the nation. U.S. travel and tourism is a $703 billion industry.

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