The United States Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) Executive Committee met with Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) and chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, in Palm Beach, FL, during the Arts and Tourism Action Forum to develop USCM’s agenda regarding travel and tourism before issuing its policy recommendations to Congress and the next president.
The USCM's list of issues includes:
* Passing the Travel Promotion Act to promote international travel to the U.S.
* Developing security processes to expand the Visa Waiver Program for countries that meet requirements
* Implementing the model airports program for easier entry for approved international visitors
* Increasing staff and customer service training for U.S. Custom and Border Protection officers at air, land, and sea ports
* Improving the country’s air travel system to eliminate the delays and other flying hassles
“Wisely addressing the issues that
deter travel, both domestically and internationally, can make the
difference between creating jobs and generating tax revenues or
experiencing even greater job loss and diminishing tax receipts,” said
Tisch.
The U.S. travel industry is the nation’s largest service sector export,
producing $740 billion in revenues, $116 billion in tax receipts and
more than 7.7 million jobs in the U.S.