Following the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the US Department of Commerce has unveiled a new policy targeted at encouraging foreign tourism. By 2027, the initiative aims to welcome 90 million international visitors and generate $279 billion in yearly expenditure.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated that the government must do more to encourage the recovery of travel and tourism since "a lot of industries are well past COVID—travel and tourism are not." Raimondo also seeks "more resilient, sustainable, and equitable" travel. Aside from defining international tourism targets, the government agency wants to modernize and streamline admission procedures for international visitors as well as decrease COVID-related restrictions that make visiting difficult. She has expressed her dissatisfaction with the United States' requirement that tourists produce proof of immunization and that foreign aviation passengers test negative before traveling. The testing methods constitute a "barrier" to the travel industry's revival, and she has expressed her dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden and his administration.
On June 6 in Orlando, Florida, Brand USA CEO Chris Thompson and Grant Harris, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis, revealed the four pillars of a new US tourist strategy. The approach aims to boost tourism by forming new collaborations with firms like Disney, Comcast, and each state's tourism office.
"Travel tourism strategy has four pillars," Harris said. "First, promote the United States as a travel destination; second, facilitate travel to and within the United States; third, ensure diverse, inclusive, and accessible travel experiences; and fourth, foster resilient and sustainable tourism."
The United States Travel Association praised the Biden Administration's new plan but said there is still much work to be done, beginning with the elimination of pre-departure testing requirements.
According to the American Society of Travel Agents' annual report, the United States welcomed 79.4 million international tourists in 2009, but that number will drop to 19.2 million in 2020 and 22.1 million in 2021 as a result of the epidemic. Due to the global pandemic, international tourism spending fell to $81 billion in 2011 from $239.4 billion in 2009.
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