US Travel Association Pushes to Lessen the Wait Times for US Visitor Visas

The US Travel Association has applauded a number of significant Senate victories for the nation’s travel and tourism business, including the creation of a new federal position specifically for the sector.

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, lauded the Omnibus Travel and Tourist Act’s passage as “a huge win for travelers, the travel industry, and America’s economy.”

The measure will establish a new position for an assistant secretary of travel and tourism within the US Department of Commerce, giving the sector dedicated representation at the highest level of government in the country.

“The idea to create a presidentially appointed, US Senate-confirmed position to lead federal travel policy has been around for decades,” said Freeman. “Thanks to a bipartisan and bicameral group of congressional leaders, the United States will now join all G20 countries with a senior federal official focused on travel.”

The incumbent, according to Freeman, will be essential to the association’s efforts to lobby the US government, in particular, for action on reducing the wait times for US visitor visas, which the association claims can range from 400 to 800 days for prospective arrivals from some important source markets.

“The assistant secretary will play an important role as we partner with government to lower visitor visa wait times, modernise security screening and leverage new technologies to make travel more seamless and secure,” added Freeman.