President Obama gives a boost to tourism by easing visas to Brazil and China citizens

"We want to welcome you," Obama said from in front of Disney's Cinderella Castle. "We've got the best product to sell. I mean, look at where we are. We've got the most entertaining destinations in the world. This is the land of extraordinary natural wonders."

"Every year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America," Obama said in a statement. "And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work. We need to help businesses all across the country grow and create jobs, compete and win."

Obama specifically ordered the State and Homeland Security departments to boost the capacity for issuing visas in China and Brazil by 40% this year. He said he wanted to ensure that 80% of non-immigrant visa applicants from foreign countries are interviewed within three weeks by U.S. consular staffs.

The White House estimated that more than 1 million U.S. jobs could be created in the next decade if the country increased its share of the international travel market.

"The steps the president took today are significant and will boost travel to and within the United States," said Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association. "Most importantly, they will lead to new American jobs and get our economy moving."

But Dow said, "His (Obama's) timing could not be better. Travel is an essential industry for our nation and a bipartisan issue that can unite our country and rally us forward."

Restoring tourism to 2001 levels could create 1.3 million jobs and add $860 billion in economic activity by 2020, tourist and business groups like Dow's say.

According to his order the need for visitors from Taiwan to get visas at all to visit would be eliminated— something as citizens of 36 nations, mostly in western Europe and from Japan and Australia, now enjoy.

And he is making permanent the Global Entry program, which allows travelers who undergo rigorous background checks to breeze through customs.

Sources:

USATODAY
Economic Times

newsy.com

The Rio Times