Increasing visitor numbers to National Parks, like Yosemite, is a priority for the government

"The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work," says Mr Obama (Image – Obama.net)

U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to significantly increase tourism to the United States has been applauded by the country’s major travel industry organizations.    

The new initiatives, which include the expedition and simplification of the visa application process as well as the creation of a task force to promote travel to and within the United States, have been designed to make the U.S. “the world’s top travel and tourism destination” and are part of overall efforts by the White House to spur job creation.  

U.S. Travel Association president and chief executive Roger Dow said the initiatives represented “significant steps” in boosting travel to and within the country, and most importantly would lead to jobs growth in a “moving economy”.

“This is the first time our country has had a national strategy and set goals for the amount of visitors we want to welcome to our country,” Mr Dow remarked.

“Not only will this increase traffic to America's wonderful destinations and attractions, but nearly half of the travelers will come to attend conferences and tradeshows.”

Echoing Mr Dow was NTA president Lisa Simon, who said the initiatives put the travel and tourism industry under the spotlight as a “key contributor to the nation’s economic vibrancy”.

“With President Obama’s action today, the travel and tourism industry has reached an all-time high in terms of vigor and visibility,” Ms Simon commented.

“His executive order, combined with the recent creation of Brand USA and ongoing Congressional hearings on travel issues, shows the vital economic contributions of tourism.”

Key to Mr Obama’s executive order is improved visa processing in China and Brazil, whose visitor numbers to the United States are expected to grow by a whopping 135 per cent and 274 per cent respectively by 2016 (compared to 2010).

Under the new scheme, the U.S. will look to increase non-immigrant visa processing capacity in China and Brazil by 40 per cent this year, as well as ensure that 80 per cent of visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks of receipt of application.

According to the Department of Commerce, Chinese and Brazilian tourists currently spend more than $6,000 and $5,000 respectively each, per trip, which is well above the international average of $4000.

“Streamlining and enhancing the visa application process for international visitors to the United States without compromising our national security, is of vital importance to the U.S. airlines in continuing their contribution to the U.S. global economy,” Airlines for America (A4A) president and chief executive Nicholas E. Calio said in praise of the administration’s efforts to improve visa processing times for Brazil and China.    

Amongst the strategy’s other initiatives is the rule to expand on and make permanent the Global Entry program (for low risk travelers to the U.S.), and the nomination of Taiwan to the Visa Waiver Program.

Additionally, the plan will see the appointment of 32 new private sector CEOs to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.