Creating Jobs Through Increased Travel to the U.S.
Adopted at the 78th Annual Meeting in 2010
WHEREAS, travel and tourism is a powerful economic generator in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, accounting for $704 billion in expenditures, $113 billion in local, state and federal taxes and 7.4 million jobs in 2009; and
WHEREAS, across our nation, no less than one in every nine non-farm jobs is created directly or indirectly by travel and tourism; and
WHEREAS, travel is America's leading service sector export, generating $121.2 billion in 2009 from international travelers (including international passenger fares); and
WHEREAS, travel and tourism creates one of the nation's only balance of trade surpluses, valued at $23.2 billion in 2009; and
WHEREAS, the world travel market is expanding, but the U.S.'s share has declined 34 percent over the past 17 years; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. welcomed 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors in 2009 then in 2000; and
WHEREAS, visitors from overseas are walking stimulus packages, each spending an average of over $4000 per visit; and
WHEREAS, the failure to simply keep pace with the growth in international long-haul travel since 2000 has cost the U.S. economy an estimated $509 billion in total spending and $32 billion in direct tax receipts; and
WHEREAS, in 2008 and 2009 alone, a total of 400,000 U.S. travel industry jobs were lost.
WHEREAS, all major industrialized nations except the United States have national travel promotion programs and spend significant funds to promote their destinations overseas, and, in turn, see substantial returns on their investments; and
WHEREAS, the Travel Promotion Act was enacted into law by President Obama on March 4 2010, after passing Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support; and
WHEREAS, the Travel Promotion Act will create a public-private partnership to educate travelers about U.S. travel policies and promote the United States as a destination of choice; and
WHEREAS, the Travel Promotion Act will benefit every state, create jobs, enhance national security, contribute to a favorable balance of trade for the U.S. economy, and improve our national image around the world; and
WHEREAS, the facilitation of secure, yet efficient, travel across American borders must be a priority of the federal government; and
WHEREAS, educating international travelers about changes in U.S. travel policies will help dispel negative perceptions about the entry process and provide a more welcoming experience for visitors; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must institute a travel promotion fee to help fund the new travel promotion programs.
WHEREAS, in large foreign countries, lack of access to U.S. Consular Offices creates a significant deterrent to travel for millions of potential visitors to America; and
WHEREAS, the cost, planning, uncertainty and delay associated with traveling hundreds if not thousands of miles for an in-person interview at a U.S. Consulate keeps many travelers from even attempting to apply for a U.S. visa; and
WHEREAS, increasing the number of countries permitted to join the Visa Waiver Program will result in the increase of international visitors to the U.S. and allow communities across America to sell more of their goods and services to these visitors and which will ultimately create new American jobs.
WHEREAS, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits visitors from specified allied nations to travel to the United States for short durations without the expense and delay of obtaining a tourist visa; and
WHEREAS, overseas visitors from VWP countries are the largest source - comprising 65 percent - of inbound overseas travel to the U.S.; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors calls upon the U.S. Congress to work with DHS and the Department of Commerce to ensure that funding is available for the Corporation for Travel Promotion in order to successfully implement the first ever national U.S. marketing effort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the federal government to improve visa and entry policies and procedures - including but not limited to the strengthening and expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, the reduction of visa interview wait times, the use of advanced technology to streamline visa interviews and the entry process, and improved customer service at air, land and sea ports of entry - to create a balance between increased security and travel facilitation.