President Obama Promotes Tourism Initiatives

In a speech this week from Cinderella's Castle in Disney World, President Obama promoted tourism initiatives designed to increase foreign tourism to the United States. 

The speech highlighted the substance of an Executive Order issued January 19, 2012, in which Obama ordered changes that will result in a 40% increase in visitor visa processing capacity for Brazilian and Chinese nationals and cut the wait time for 80% of visitor visa applicants down to 21 days in most cases. 

Another goal of his tourism initiative is to expand the list of countries who can participate in the "visa waiver" program.  Citizens of countries participating in the visa waiver program can apply for U.S. visitor visas online and do not need to appear in person for an interview at a U.S. Consulate.  Eliminating the in-person visa interview would reduce the overall cost of traveling to the U.S., since the U.S.'s in-person visa interview requirement frequently requires an expensive trip to a city where a U.S. Consulate is located. 

Additionally, an inter-agency task force will be working to develop recommendations for a National Travel and Tourism Strategy to encourage foreign visitors to travel to our national parks and other sites.

These anticipated changes are designed to promote America as the world's top travel destination.

For more information, click here and here.