Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, applauded Senator Mazie Hirono's (D-HI) bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to help Hong Kong become eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The program helps increase international travel to the United States and boosts U.S. growth.
"The U.S. travel industry applauds Senator Hirono for identifying a simple fix that would help pave the way for Hong Kong to be considered for the VWP. It is important for Congress to continue to look for opportunities, such as the one presented by Senator Hirono, to drive increased visitation and spending in the United States. America and Americans will only benefit," U.S. Travel says.
Nearly 129,000 travelers from Hong Kong visited the United States in 2011, U.S. Travel says. These visitors brought with them all of the economy-boosting benefits of international travel, which in 2012 supported nearly $30 billion in U.S. wages and generated more than $19 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.
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